Elf On The Shelf

Dec. 6, 2011
Kate 4yr 8m ; Ivan 3yr 1m

My coworkers told me how "Elf on the shelf" help them to keep the kids behave in the holiday. So we decided to give it a try. Plus it is fun that the Elf likes to play "hide and seek" so the kids can also have something to play with every day.

Basically the Elf is sent by Santa to keep an eye on the kids. The Elf will report to Santa every day that is the kid behaving today or not which will determin the gifts the kid is going to get in Christmas day. Plus the Elf likes to play hide and seek so every day he/she will hide and wait for the kids to find him/her out.

I haven't read the book yet but today on the way home I told Kate that there is a friend, Elf wants to meet her and Ivan. He is sent by Santa here to watch and take note everyday how Kate and Ivan are doing. Kate was talking very loud earlier then she immediately lower her voice and asked "is he now in the car?"

This works out very well on a 4-year old kid because they totally understand and believe the story you told them. Ivan, a 3-year old, seems to be 50%. I don't think he totally gets it but he will do whatever Katie does.

Katie couldn't wait to meet Elf. When Daddy took him out of the box, she was afraid to touch him because she thought he is live. So I have to make up story along with her reaction and questions.

Kate: is the Elf going to move?
Mommy: No, Elf won't move. He just listens.

Kate: How can he hear? there is no holes in his ears?
Mommy: (mommy looked at Elf's ears and think...) Well, Elf has magic power he can listen very well. He doesn't need holes in his ears.

Kate: Will Elf get mad? Will he change his face when he gets mad?
Mommy: No, Elf won't change his face. Why Elf will get mad? You aren't mean to him.

Kate: Can Elf talk?
Mommy: No, Elf only talks to Santa.

(To make our life easier every day, I started to come out a story about the hide and seek part with Elf and also make sure Daddy is in the loop)

Mommy: Kate and Ivan, every night after you go to bed, Elf will fly to North Pole to report to Santa how you did today. Because he doesn't sleep all night, in the morning he is sleeping. So when you wake up in the morning, you will need to be quiet and not fuzzy. Then when you are back from school in the evening, he will be hiding somewhere in the house and waiting for you to look for him.

two purposes here:
(1) get them behaved in the moring
(2) give them something to do in the night time while waiting for the dinner to be ready

So welcome Elf and happy holiday!