Yes, parents are the ones who set up and move the Elf on the Shelf each night, creating fun and sometimes mischievous scenes for their children to discover in the morning as a Christmas tradition to encourage good behavior, though it can be a lot of work and some parents choose not to participate.
Should families participate in Elf on the Shelf? The answer comes down to your family's motivations, values and beliefs. For instance, if the primary motive is to add more magic or tradition to the Christmas season for parents and their children, then the Elf on the Shelf might be a fun way to do that.
Are grown-ups allowed to intervene? 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 also usually stage the elf in a different scene each night for the children to discover when they wake up. More than one-third (36%) of parents to young children (10 or younger) say that their household has an Elf on the Shelf.
Santa advises that no member of the family, adults included, should ever touch a Scout Elf. Their Christmas magic is delicate, and they need every bit of it to fly back to the North Pole each night and report on all the good deeds they've seen.
Write a nice apology note to your Elf telling your Elf how very sorry you are for touching him. This is a great way for your Elf to regain Christmas magic. Sprinkle some cinnamon near the Elf. Cinnamon is like Elf vitamins and will help your elf get back to the North Pole and make a full recovery!
At What Age Can You Start the Elf on the Shelf Tradition? You can start it at any age but usually parents start when their children are around 2 or 3 years-old.
"70/30 parenting" refers to a child custody arrangement where one parent has the child for about 70% of the time (the primary parent) and the other parent has them for 30% (often weekends and some mid-week time), creating a stable "home base" while allowing the non-primary parent significant, meaningful involvement, but it also requires strong communication and coordination to manage schedules, school events, and disagreements effectively.
The research, which has not yet been peer reviewed, found that for most children, disbelief crept in gradually about the age of eight – although some three- or four-year-olds had convinced themselves that Santa wasn't real, while other children believed in him until they were 15 or 16.
An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.
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.
You can tell your kid that her Elf on the Shelf has a secret message for her, the excitement of which will probably make her forget that she caught you moving her.
Official Elf on the Shelf Rules
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.
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.
There are just a few rules to remember! The most important—don't touch your Scout Elf, or they will lose their magic! Scout Elves can't talk, but they are great listeners.
"There is no such thing as being too old to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy," Kelman tells Yahoo Life. "Letting kids figure it out on their own is preferable to parents breaking the news to them.
Santa Claus is a magical figure rooted in the historical Saint Nicholas, but in modern times, the presents and the "magic" come from parents and family who embody the spirit of giving; parents are the ones who fill stockings and put gifts under the tree, making them the real-life Santa figures, while the idea of Santa is about generosity and kindness.
Not believing in Santa is also a normal developmental milestone. Children typically learn the truth at about seven years of age. Some kids experience brief sadness or betrayal. Despite this, research shows most children maintain trust in their parents and the disappointment over Santa is mild and fairly short-lived.
While parenting challenges vary, research and parent surveys often point to the middle school years (ages 12-14) as the hardest due to intense physical, emotional, and social changes, increased independence, hormonal shifts, and complex issues like peer pressure and identity formation, leading to higher parental stress and lower satisfaction compared to infants or older teens. Other difficult stages cited include the early toddler years (ages 2-3) for tantrums and assertiveness, and the early teen years (around 8-9) as puberty begins, bringing mood swings and self-consciousness.
The 7-7-7 rule is a parenting technique that involves dedicating seven minutes in the morning, seven minutes after school, and seven minutes before bedtime to connect with your child. This approach fosters a deeper, more nurturing relationship. It also creates a more supportive family environment.
5 Qualities of a Strong Parent-Child Relationship
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).
If you need a little background, the Elf on the Shelf only has 1 major rule: kiddos can't touch the elf, otherwise they lose their magic. Each morning, your kiddos will find your elf in another (usually mischievous) position…and that's where the fun comes in for parents.
As the days inch nearer to Christmas, families across the country are taking part in "Elf on the Shelf" festivities, where a small elf figurine is placed around the home every day to watch if children have been naughty or nice. According to elf legend, the elf moves each night.