Parents can use elf on the shelf to teach children about responsibility, kindness, and joy.
We all know Christmas is a time for giving, and it can be a wonderful opportunity to teach children about kindness and charity. But did you know there's another way of teaching these skills?
The Elf on the Shelf is a book that tells the story of Santa Claus sending elves to watch over children at Christmas time. In order to do so, the elves need to change location every morning so they can watch what's going on. As a result, children are taught to behave well in order not to let the elf get captured!
Parents can use The Elf on the Shelf as a teaching tool to help their children learn about responsibility, kindness and joy. Kids love it too because the elf brings magic into their homes.
Elf on the shelf is a cute tradition for Christmas
The Elf on the Shelf is a cute Christmas tradition, where you gift an elf to your child and they have to keep it a secret until Christmas. The idea behind it is that the Elf watches over them all day when they are not looking so Santa will know if they have been good or bad.
The adorable looking elves are available in different costumes, outfits and styles to suit your child's preferences. The first thing you need to decide is what kind of Elf would look best in your household? This can be based on the colours that you have chosen for your home decorations or also on the type of clothes that are on sale. Elves come in different shapes and sizes with some only slightly bigger than your child's hand and other elves can be as large as their forearms.
You can find an Elf on the Shelf in various outfits and sizes and you can even get 2-3 elves at once to make up a family of elves. An example of this is the 2-pack of elves that are dressed as a Nanny and a Mommy elf. They can be used for different scenarios, for example, they could be 2 people looking after your child or you could have 2 elves watching over one child. This way your Elf on the Shelf family gets even bigger with 2 more elves to make up a total of 2 parents and 2 children.
It brings magic into your home by being there in secret
The elf on the shelf has been a popular Christmas tradition for many families ever since the 2005 publication of The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Chanda Bell and Carol V. Aebersold.
The book tells a story in which Santa Claus puts elves in homes to report whether children are good or naughty through the season, and then flies back to the North Pole each night to make his list. The elves return home with him where they are cared for by the elf's mother, and readied for their next task at Santa's workshop.
The tradition is that each night children wake up to find that the elf has moved into a new position, often in a place where they can be seen by the children. This has spawned a popular line of similar products, including plush elves or other toy figures, often sold in sets to encourage this tradition. There are also other books that feature other characters which are used as alternatives to Santa's Scout elf.
A list of family traditions that we can all enjoy together as a family this year!
As we all know, the holiday season is packed full of fun and exciting family traditions. From getting the tree, to baking cookies and decorating your home with festive lights and ribbons, this time of year is always more special when shared with those you love.
But what about elf on the shelf clothes? While some families are able to look at a 2D illustration of a tiny little elf and instantly recognize his or her personality traits, some families may not have that kind of familiarity with this holiday staple.
This year you can purchase a silly elf that has his own adventures as well as one who stays in one spot and interacts with your kids each morning! These elves are super fun and easy to use for pretty much any age group.
The elf will also help kids learn how to be patient during Christmas time
1. Parents must purchase an elf! He can come in many shapes and forms.
2. Every night before laying your child to bed, they must check their behaviour that day by asking what good things they did that day. If they were not on their best behaviour all day, parents can tell the elf who will direct him/her in which direction (up or down) he/she should go on the shelf.
3. Once your elf is up on the shelf, you can begin to tell him where he should go depending on what your child did that day.
4. For a good boy or girl, the elf goes on a perch smiling.
5. If a child was not very nice, helpful or patient with others, the elf goes in the naughty corner.
6. If they were just okay that day, he can be sitting down and facing either direction.
7. The last two positions include the elf sleeping or spitting out a present at your child's feet as they wake up one of these mornings... Parents must use their imagination!
8. If children do not see the elf on any of these days, they must ask their parents where he is. At this point, parents can tell them that he is away working behind the scenes to make Christmas happen!
9. Kids may also notice during the 1st week in December, getting closer and closer to Christmas day, their elf might be "misplaced." At this point, parents can begin telling children that the elf is now getting ready for Christmas Eve!
10. On Christmas morning, your child will be amazed to see their elf on top of the tree!
This fun tradition helps teach children good behaviour and instilling a sense of excitement within them for this time of the year. This scene would have been unimaginable ten years ago, but now it has become normal in many homes around the world: a little elf coming in the night to leave little surprises for your children before Christmas.
