Even true fans of Christmas lore may not have heard of The Elf on the Shelf, which is a fairly new Christmas tradition. It all started with a Mom who wanted to share her love of Christmas with her children. She put a toy elf on the living room shelf. The elf would “watch” the children and report their behavior to Santa Claus. Every day, the elf would be sitting in a new place after his return from the North Pole.
So many people loved this charming activity that it entered into Christmas lore. You can now visit elf on the shelf and purchase your very own Christmas elf, along with a storybook explaining how Santa knows if children have been naughty or nice and several activity books to go along with it.
Better still, Elf on the Shelf has one of the most delightful Christmas websites on the net. It allows you to explore a fully animated three-dimensional North Pole, play games, and engage in all sorts of activities while you explore Santa’s workshop and watch the elves in action.
A New Christmas Tradition
The idea of naughty-and-nice is hardly a new one — it’s been a part of Christmas lore as long as Santa Claus. You only have to look at the old songs to know that Santa’s very concerned with children’s behavior. Elf on the Shelf capitalizes on that tradition, allowing parents to place a visual reminder that “Santa Claus is watching” on a shelf.
Some people find the idea of “bribing” children to behave — or worse yet, threatening them — distasteful. But that’s not really what Elf on the Shelf is all about. The point isn’t as much that “the elf is watching” as it is that Christmas is real, the spirit is real, and the magic lives on in every child who believes in Santa Claus.
Have Fun!
Children love Elf on the Shelf. They love to give him a name, have conversations with him, and search for him every morning when he reappears. For teachers, Elf on the Shelf is a great creative tool (as well as a good way to encourage behavior in the busy Christmas season!): you can write stories about the elf’s journey, draw pictures of his true home in the North Pole, and engage in any number of other fun activities.
Elf on the Shelf is an inexpensive and enjoyable activity, so go ahead and treat yourself and your family to this piece of Christmas lore.
