You can start Elf on the Shelf any time, but most families begin around late November (after Thanksgiving) or December 1st, with the ideal age for kids to understand and enjoy it often cited as 2-4 years old, though you can adapt it for toddlers or older kids. It's your tradition, so choose a start date that fits your family, whether that's the beginning of Advent, the day after Thanksgiving, or even a few days before Christmas.
Parent and Kid Reviews
While some families enjoy it as a holiday classic, others find its content confusing or inappropriate for younger audiences, highlighting underlying concerns about messages around Santa Claus and parental roles.
In a 'Guardian' study Psychologists pinpointed the age when children became Santa sceptics as 8 years old on average and 10 years old most commonly. Researchers found that little ones begin to distinguish fantasy from reality during their preschool years and most children will question the truth at some point.
At 2 years old, kids might be a little young to understand the concept of why an Elf is watching over them to sure they're behaving for this mysterious Santa guy, but they are young enough to love arts and crafts, a morning routine and seasonal activities!
The three rules of the Code of the Elves from the movie Elf are: 1. Treat every day like Christmas; 2. There's room for everyone on the nice list; and 3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear, as explained in this Pop Culture and Theology article and this Facebook post.
If an elf is touched then it loses it's Christmas magic and can't fly back to the North Pole. As for a reason outside the story, for us it's a good way to model boundaries.
Due to some of the violent scenes mentioned below, children under the age of 5 will need parental guidance to view this movie. Some children in this age group may still need some parental guidance. Children over the age of eight should be okay to see this movie with or without parental guidance.
The best age to start Elf on the Shelf is generally considered 2 to 4 years old, the "sweet spot" where kids grasp the magic but aren't overly skeptical, though you can start earlier (ages 1-2) for photo ops or later (ages 5+) as they get more imaginative, as there's no single "right" age, and it's about when your child is ready and you want the tradition. Younger toddlers enjoy the simple fun of finding the elf, while older kids (5-8) get more involved in the stories and rules, and older kids (9+) might need help understanding the "magic," sometimes becoming elf helpers.
According to Santa, no one in the family, not even the grown-ups, should touch a Scout Elf. Their magic allows them to fly back to the North Pole each night and report on your family's Christmas cheer. If they're touched by human hands, that magic can weaken. However, Santa understands that accidents sometimes happen.
Here are a few tips to consider when choosing an elf name:
On average, a child will stop believing in Santa Claus somewhere between the ages of 7 and 9.
Your kid is asking: “Can I believe in Santa even if you don't?” You can share that your beliefs are not the only answer, they're just yours: “It's tricky. I love the magic and story of Santa, and I believe those feelings are real. And I don't believe that Santa as a person is real.
The Tooth Fairy stops visiting children at different ages. Some may keep the tradition until all baby teeth are gone, but others think 12 years is a little too old to continue the game. One thing is for sure: children grow up too fast, so our two cents: keep the tradition alive as long as you can.
It also has scenes that might be scary for younger viewers, mild coarse language and sexual references. The movie is therefore not suitable for children under 5 years, and parental guidance is recommended for children from 6-8 years.
There's no single "right" age for an Elf on the Shelf, but most families start when kids are 2-4 years old, a sweet spot for understanding the magic, though you can start earlier for cute photo ops or later for older kids who enjoy the game. It's a tradition that can be enjoyed for many years, with older kids often helping keep the magic alive, and many parents continue it until children stop believing or even into their teens.
If you introduce the elf in conjunction with reading the storybook, the kid names the elf. Says so in the story. So when you buy it it comes with a cute book explaining who they are and asks to be named. However you wanna do it but if they're younger you can always guide them!
It's important to know that Elves don't move from place to place in your house throughout the day. There's only one time when they're allowed to move: at night. So if the sun is still shining and your kids are still awake, your Elf will patiently wait until your littles go to bed to switch up their location.
Santa advises that no family member touch their Elf on the Shelf, but he does describe a few rare instances when an adult may use tongs or potholders to help an elf in an urgent situation. Parents: read on to learn about special, few and far between cases where emergency help will be required.
You're not supposed to touch your Elf on the Shelf, as it makes them lose their magic and prevents them from flying back to the North Pole to report to Santa. Other "don'ts" include giving them human food (unless they're "sick" and need a little magic), forgetting to move them (which means they have a message for you), or making it too elaborate that it becomes a chore instead of fun.
The downside of Elf on the shelf:
Many moms struggle with the idea that an Elf is watching over their kids, and the motivation for good behavior all month long is based on a make-believe Elf. That's a fair argument, but it still isn't the basis of my hesitation (I'm not above bribery).
The three rules of the Code of the Elves from the movie Elf are: 1. Treat every day like Christmas; 2. There's room for everyone on the nice list; and 3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear, as explained in this Pop Culture and Theology article and this Facebook post.
Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.
The best age to start Elf on the Shelf is generally considered 2 to 4 years old, the "sweet spot" where kids grasp the magic but aren't overly skeptical, though you can start earlier (ages 1-2) for photo ops or later (ages 5+) as they get more imaginative, as there's no single "right" age, and it's about when your child is ready and you want the tradition. Younger toddlers enjoy the simple fun of finding the elf, while older kids (5-8) get more involved in the stories and rules, and older kids (9+) might need help understanding the "magic," sometimes becoming elf helpers.
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No, a 7-year-old should not watch It (the recent films); it's rated R (or equivalent) for intense horror, graphic violence, disturbing imagery, and strong language, with most parents and reviewers recommending it for teens (13+) or older due to its frightening content and themes, despite some kids handling it well or finding it fun. While some kids can handle scary movies, It's specific horror and gore, featuring a monster clown, are generally too intense and not suitable for this age group, even if they've seen milder horror.