i dont understand...elf on a shelf

amiamish

Can someone please tell me ALL about the Elf on the shelf. I mean, I think he's supposed to scare the kids into good behavior because he'll tell Santa, but... I don't understand all the staging him in bad behaviors.

Just color me confused.

JenniC1135

That's the gist, I think.  Ours doesn't do bad things, just funny things, like joyriding with Barbie in her VW Bug.  And I have the kids tell him one extra-good or nice thing they did each day, in hopes it will make them focus more on being good rather than just not being bad because they are being watched.  But last year, yeah, he left a note telling them Santa said to straighten up.

It's all in good fun.  The kids like drawing him pictures to take back to Santa each night, and like looking for him each morning.   I have fun putting him in silly places. 

amiamish

so what is the reason for staging the bad behavior?

DevonPow

I have never heard of staging bad behavior....the premise is that every night he travels to the North Pole to meet with Sanra, so every morning when he comes back he is in a new place and DS needs to find him. We occasionally do funny-ish things like having him hanging from Christmas lights or something, but the main fun is the hunt to find him very morning. DS talks to "Whizby" and tells him how he was during the day or what he wants for Christmas. Occasionally we say, "don't forget Whizby is watching", but that is about it.

Mc_Newlywed

I think people (parents) are bored with just moving him each night so they try to make it a little more exciting for themselves.  

I thought it was silly at first too.  But then one night - after we forgot to put her craft supplies away - I staged the elf to look like he had been cutting paper snowflakes and left the clippings all over the floor.   My daughter FREAKED out.  She thought it was the funniest thing ever.  And that was the start of a few shenanigans.   

I don't do "shenanigans" every night but when I do it gets a big response so I'll probably continue.  We don't have our elf do anything terribly naughty though.  

ppants

Mc_Newlywed:

I think people (parents) are bored with just moving him each night so they try to make it a little more exciting for themselves.  

I thought it was silly at first too.  But then one night - after we forgot to put her craft supplies away - I staged the elf to look like he had been cutting paper snowflakes and left the clippings all over the floor.   My daughter FREAKED out.  She thought it was the funniest thing ever.  And that was the start of a few shenanigans.   

I don't do "shenanigans" every night but when I do it gets a big response so I'll probably continue.  We don't have our elf do anything terribly naughty though.  

This is so funny.  My kids would love it too. 

Andrewsgal

We don't use ours to scare into bad behavior. My kids love it. This morning he was hanging from the fan and they laughed and laughed, just for that it is worth it.

amiamish

Ok now I'm understanding, thanks girls! We may do this next year. do they ever go on sale after xmas?

shopgirl78

Ours doesn't do bad things, hell..I can barely remember to move it at night. 

KatieLG04

Ours doesn't do bad things, but he does sometimes appear in parts of the house where DS typically has a difficult time doing what he is asked.  For example, one day he showed up in the bathroom so "Jerry" could make sure Ben brushed his teeth.  Ben will even give suggestions on where "Jerry" should appear next because it will help him listen lol.  He likes to talk with Jerry too so he can pass messages along to Santa.  He is so excited to find him every morning.

MotherBucker

You're supposed to move him every night????

 

Elf fail..