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what do you do with an elf on the shelf

by Cary Bartell Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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6 Things To Do With That Damn Elf On The Shelf After Christmas

  1. Pack It With Your Thanksgiving Decor. Let's face it, some of us have the memory of a goldfish, and there is nothing wrong with that. ...
  2. Lock 'Em Up. If you're worried about the kids helping with decorating next year, consider totally locking him up.
  3. Donate It. ...
  4. Gift It To Another Family. ...
  5. Write A Goodbye Letter. ...
  6. Send A Postcard. ...

Elf on the Shelf
Elf on the Shelf
The elf on the shelf is Santa's—known as St. Nick's—best friend. This story describes how Santa's "scout elves" hide in people's homes to watch over events. Once everyone goes to bed, the scout elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa the activities, good and bad, that have taken place throughout the day.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › The_Elf_on_the_Shelf
is a Christmas tradition where a special scout is sent to your home from the North Pole to encourage kids to behave themselves. The idea is that Santa's little helper watches the children by day, and each night, it returns to the North Pole to report on whether they were naughty or nice.
Nov 19, 2015

Full Answer

What are some good Elf on the shelf ideas?

Funny Elf On The Shelf Ideas For 2 (Or More) Elves

  • Morning Coffee
  • Ready To Bake. Have your elves on the shelf ready for today’s fun festive activity with some printable accessories.
  • Tic Tac Bow. All you need is some washi tape and gift bows for a cute game of Elf tic tac bow. ...
  • Festive Breakfast. ...
  • Winter Wonderland. ...
  • Game On. ...
  • Treacherous Waters. ...
  • Elf Acrobatics. ...
  • Art Class. ...
  • Peekaboo Snowmen. ...

More items...

How does Elf on the shelf really work?

Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition where a special scout is sent to your home from the North Pole to encourage kids to behave themselves. The idea is that Santa's little helper watches the children by day, and each night, it returns to the North Pole to report on whether they were naughty or nice..

What are the rules for Elf on the shelf?

What are the rules for elf on a shelf?

  • He or she needs a name. …
  • He or she arrives whenever the heck you want. …
  • He or she moves every night while the kids are sleeping. …
  • He or she watches over the kids all day. …
  • The kids can’t touch their Elf. …
  • The Elf doesn’t move or speak while the kids are awake.

What is the deal with the Elf on the shelf?

The Elf on the Shelf ® is a fun-filled Christmas tradition that has captured the hearts of children everywhere who welcome home one of Santa’s Scout Elves each holiday season. The magical Scout Elves help Santa manage his nice list by taking note of a family’s Christmas adventures and reporting back to Santa at the North Pole nightly.

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What am I supposed to do with Elf on the Shelf?

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. ... Scout Elves must return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve to help Santa prepare for the next Christmas!

Where do you put the elf on a shelf?

Here are 25 places to hide your Elf on the Shelf:Above the stockings. Difficulty level: EASY. ... Inside the holiday wreath. Difficulty level: MEDIUM. ... Inside the family photo area. ... Tucked in the kids' toys. ... Poppin' out of a Rice Krispie cereal box. ... Scaling the wall with bows. ... Scaling the tree. ... On the coffee table display.More items...•

Do you leave Elf on the Shelf all day?

Not at all. You can start Elf on the Shelf any day you like. One mum told me last year that her elf only appeared at weekends when they were not up against the busy week-day rush. She told her children he had to go back to the North Pole to go to elf school and see his family during the week.

Are you supposed to touch Elf on the Shelf?

Can Adults Touch The Elf on the Shelf®? As an avid elf fan, you already know the number one rule about having a Scout Elf: no touching! This helps Scout Elves keep their Christmas magic so they can complete their important Christmas duties.

How do you do The Elf on the Shelf for the first time?

Writing in the first person, according to blogger Amy, from Oh So Savvy mom, makes the Elf feel even more real. In fact, she re-introduces the Elf to her kids when he arrives every year after an 11-month hiatus. Another way to introduce the Elf on the Shelf to your kids is to read the book to them.

When should you start Elf on the Shelf?

The Elf on the Shelf tradition can be started at any age, but most parents recommend waiting until your child is between the ages of 2 and 3. They claim it's the perfect sweet spot for children to appreciate and understand the elves' magic while establishing this family tradition at a young age.

Who moves the Elf on the Shelf?

Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition that sees parents moving an Elf on the Shelf (also known as a "Scout Elf") around the house every day to keep an eye on children ahead of Santa's visit.

How does the elf leave?

According to The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, the night before Christmas, an elf's job comes to an end. On December 24, most Scout Elves say farewell to their families and fly back to the North Pole following Santa's sleigh. This way, they can help him begin preparing for the year ahead.

Can kids touch Elf on the Shelf?

7. Children are not allowed to touch them. Elves are very fragile, and if they are touched by human children they lose their magic and ability to communicate with Santa.

Why did my Elf on the Shelf not move?

If your elf didn't move, they may be trying to communicate an important message to you! If your elf is accidentally touched, they may have just enough energy to get to the North Pole but not enough magic to create a whole new scene in your home.

Can adults touch an Elf on the Shelf?

But some parents are wondering: Can adults touch Elf on the Shelf? According to the official "Elf on the Shelf" website, "Christmas magic is very fragile, and if scout elves are touched they may lose their magic." It doesn't specify that this only applies to kids, so we're guessing this applies to any humans.

Are you supposed to cut Elf on the Shelf hands?

This is again a personal decision. Some people don't and some people do. The reason you would cut them would be to make your elf easier to position when placing him each night. I have also seen tutorials online that help teach you how to add wire to your EOTS's arms and legs, so you can bend them in fun positions.

Does each kid get an Elf on the Shelf?

Do I need one Elf per child or one per household? The choice is yours. We have included two Nice List Certificates and two Letters to Santa in each kit, as these items are personal. All the other items can be shared as a family.

How does the elf arrive?

As the story goes, elves arrive around Thanksgiving and keep watch of children up until Christmas Eve. Every night during this time, elves fly to the North Pole to report to the big guy, ya know, Santa, about the kids' naughty or niceness, then return to a new spot each morning.

How do you end The Elf on the Shelf tradition?

The official Elf on the Shelf website suggests sprinkling some cinnamon near your elf if this happens since cinnamon is like elf vitamins. This, they say will give him the energy to get back to the North Pole where the elf doctors can fix him or her up.

35 creative Elf on the Shelf ideas to try this year - TODAY.com

Whether parents are looking for elaborate or easy Elf on the Shelf ideas this year, here are 35 prompts from elf arrival to departure.

The 53 Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas | NYMetroParents

We asked for your best Elf on the Shelf ideas, and boy did you deliver! Whether you’re for or against Elf on the Shelf, one thing’s for certain: Our feeds are flooded with brilliant, easy, mischievous, laugh-out-loud ideas for your tiny visitor from the North Pole.. In case you’re not familiar with the Elf on the Shelf (though these days, it seems like everyone is…), it’s based on a ...

What do you do with an elf?

Just like no two families celebrate the holidays in exactly the same way, no two families hosts their Elf in quite the same way. Maybe you’ll send your Elf back to the North Pole, maybe you’ll give him his own bed in a tissue box, maybe you’ll take him on vacation. Santa is supposedly a pretty flexible employer.

How to make an elf stay at home?

If your kids have gotten particularly attached to your Elf and you're sensing impending heartbreak on the horizon, you might even want to consider making him a year-round addition to the family. Write up a letter from your Elf on Christmas morning explaining that he loves living at your house so much, Santa is making an exception and allowing him to stay all year (reporting back to the North Pole all the while). Who knows, maybe his presence will inspire them to be on their best behavior even during the off season! No need to keep hiding your Elf every night, but you might want to occasionally bring him out every so often to remind your kids he's around. Maybe he'll even find a hobby or two while he's on sabbatical.

How Long Can Your Elf On The Shelf Stick Around?

Surely after all his hard work as part of Santa's worldwide surveillance team your Elf deserves to sit down for a nice meal with the people he's been spying on for weeks, right? And it's safe to say any Elf would be thrilled to help open presents (it's just a shame he can't help clean up all the crumpled wrapping paper or wash dishes). And there's no reason why the Elf has to make himself scarce after bedtime on the 25th. Have plans for a post-holiday getaway? Why not bring your Elf along? Bonus points if you're headed someplace tropical. Elves don't exactly get the chance to soak up too many rays the rest of the year.

Why do elf helpers fly back to the North Pole?

And, in case your kids want to know, their return is necessary for several reasons: They're needed to help Santa answer letters, to take part in "special projects" like the building on marshmallow igloos, tend to the reindeer, hang with their friends and "pass Scout Elf Training Camp." Following that logic, one would think that the Elf's last night in your home would be December 23, but from the looks of social media, pretty much no parents at all get rid of their elf that early. Instead, most people seem to use Christmas Eve as an opportunity to give their Buddy (or Scout, or whatever you named your guy/girl) a big send-off. But... then what?

Can you evict an elf after Santa visits?

The truth is though, official website recommendations aside, there's no reason why you absolutely have to evict your Elf after Santa's visit. It's not like the Elf police are going to come knocking on your door. Who's to say your Elf can't join your family for Christmas dinner? And just think of what a festive addition the Elf would make to your Christmas morning traditions. Whether you pose the Elf under the tree with the presents, eating the crumbs from Santa’s cookies, or seated at the breakfast table with a freshly baked cinnamon bun, the Elf’s presence is bound to make everything just a little bit more magical.

Does Christmas Eve Have To Be Your Elf’s Last Day?

What, one minute the Elf is perched on a homemade zipline in the middle of your living room and the next he's relegated to a shelf in the closet? That doesn't seem very Christmas spirit-y to us. Yeah, he's a doll, but he's also sort of a family member. (Remember: Your kids think he's alive, sort of. Probably?)

When does Elf on the Shelf leave?

To top it off, there are many clever ways to "send off" the mischievous little elf. According to the toy's official website, Elf on the Shelf leaves on Christmas Eve to return to the North Pole. There, elves spend time with their friends, answer letters, and help make toys. So why not have fun with it? By playing along to the very last minute of the Christmas season, you can keep the holiday magic alive.

When does Elf on the Shelf leave a goodbye letter?

Traditionally, Elf on the Shelf leaves a goodbye letter before going back home on Christmas Eve. The general rule is to set this out the night before Christmas, but if we're being real, the holiday season can get really crazy. Don't worry if you need to do it after Christmas. You can type it out or find templates online, but either way, it's an awesome way to keep the festive cheer alive post-Christmas.

Can you lock an elf up next year?

It sounds harsh, but honestly, how else will the mischievous elf stay away from little wanderers? Maybe you have a filing cabinet or safety deposit box with some room to spare. If not, you can also tuck him away high up in your closet until next year.

Can you send a postcard to your house from the family elf?

You can also "send" a postcard to your house from the family elf. This is a darling way to let kids know that the magic doesn't have to fade after Christmas. Simply make or print a postcard, address it to your child, and miraculously "find" it in your mailbox.

Can you toss an elf in with the decorations?

The obvious answer might be to toss him in with the holiday decorations. However, there's a rhyme and reason to taking a different approach. I mean, we all know that holiday planning takes time, so you'll want to give yourself more room to think of awesome Elf on the Shelf ideas next year.

The Elf Needs a Name

The name tends to be something silly and cute, such as Chippey, Snowflake, Fisbee or Buddy.

The Elf Must Not Be Touched

Considered the most important rule, the Scout Elf must never be touched (of course, apart from when the parents move them around) as that will cause them to lose their magical powers.

Their Powers Can Be Restored

According to "Elf on the Shelf 101," if a Scout Elf was accidentally touched, their magical powers can be restored via one of the following methods:

You Can Talk to the Elf

Scout Elves are great listeners and kids can communicate with them by leaving written messages to share their wishes and secrets.

They Only Move When Kids Are Sleep

Parents will want to set an alarm as a reminder to move the elf before their kids wake up each morning and avoid forgetting to do so.

What does the elf do on Christmas Eve?

Your elf keeps track of all that the kids do until Christmas Eve when the elf returns back home with Santa Claus into his sleigh.

What happens if you touch an elf?

If a human touches the elf, there would be no more magic. From our testing and research, we have found that Santa’s North Pole magic is what makes the elf move and come alive after kids go to sleep.

What are some good names for elfs?

Kids will have a blast naming their elf! There are many different names for the elf, such as “Elfie” or “Elfy,” Other popular elf names include Twinkle or Sparkles . Whatever name you choose for your elf, it will be sure to put a smile on your child’s face every holiday season!

When does the elf arrive?

If you’re wondering when the elf arrives? It’s usually after Thanksgiving or the first week of December. Your elf will stay until Christmas Eve when the elf returns back home to the North Pole with Santa Claus.

How to spread Christmas cheer?

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

Is it easy to do Elf on the Shelf?

Moms, dads and grandparents, you’re in luck! I am here to show you how to do Elf on the Shelf for the first time. It’s super easy and will be so much fun for your little one.

Can you get an elf on the shelf?

You can get the Elf on the Shelf or any other type of plush elf doll. Once you purchase a doll, Santa will know! If your kids see you buying the doll, make sure they know this is all pure North Pole magic!

What is Elf on the Shelf?

Each Elf on the Shelf kit consists of the Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition book and a Scout Elf.

When does Elf on the Shelf come?

Your elf can appear any time you’d like, however many elves appear between November 24th and December 1st so they can have a month’s worth of fun until the elves fly back to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve night.

What age should you start Elf on the Shelf?

The Elf on the Shelf tradition can be started at any age, but most parents recommend waiting until your child is between the ages of 2 and 3. They claim it’s the perfect sweet spot for children to appreciate and understand the elves’ magic while establishing this family tradition at a young age.

How will Scout Elf find us?

It’s because Scout Elves have an excellent sense of direction, and they are able to find you through high-tech North Pole monitoring systems. Similar to how your elf knows just how to fly to your home, your elf will have no trouble using their keen sense of direction to locate your vacation destination. If they’d like, children can send a special invitation to their elf with all your travel details!

What do elves do on vacation?

When elves go on vacation they love to play up the theme by lounging in a hammock made out of a bandanna or packing their own box of clothes made to look like a suitcase. Children will love seeing what their elf is like while relaxing on vacation with your family!

Do all elf go on vacation?

Do all elves go on vacations? It’s important to remember that elves are only able to come on vacations if they’re not part of a special mission at the North Pole. Depending on the length of the trip, your Scout Elf’s North Pole duties, availability to travel and more, your elf may not be able to make your vacation.

What can you fill an elf with?

How cute are this elf's brown paper packages, tied up with strings? You can fill them with dollar-store trinkets, or pieces of candy, as a gift from your elf to your kids.

What to wear on a snowy slope?

White washcloths make a handy stand-in for snowy slopes! You can also improvise a scarf for extra coziness as they head down the hill.

How to reuse old K cups?

Here's one way to reuse those old K-Cups — just cut a straw in half and let them "drink" up. The candy-striped straw feels extra festive, too.

Can you make a snowman from melted snow?

You can DIY your own melted snowman, or buy one that comes pre-smushed. Either way, reassure your elf (and family) that he'll be right as rain once he freezes up again.

Do elves get weather?

Even elves find themselves under the weather from time to time. If yours feels the chills, get a doctor's note so they can take some much-needed time off. (Bonus: You get the day off, too.)

Is it a smooch the elf is after?

Is it a smooch the elf is after? No, it's a chocolate Kiss! But their cheeks look extra rosy when peeking out from a DIY kissing booth.

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1.36 Creative (and Easy) Things to Do With Elf on the …

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