Elf on a shelf- what is the lowdown on this?

[Mouse House Mama]

What exactly is this? Can anyone explain how this works or what they do? TIA?

 

[JodyLynC]

Is this the same as Magical Elves?

We do an elf tradition at our house that we started 2 years ago. I found a stuffed elf doll at a local store rather than buy one off the Internet. His name is Elvin. Elvin is sent every year in early December and accompanied by a letter from Santa. (I print up a letter and have a neighbor leave the elf and letter on our doorstep.) The letter introduces (or reintroduces) the children to Elvin. He is to watch over them and report to Santa. The girls also should watch over him. He enjoys crackers and water and a warm bed under the Christmas tree.

The girls love to tuck Elvin into "bed" every night. (Bed is usually old baby blankets.) And give him a dish of crackers and a cup of water (they use dishes from their play kitchen.)

Each night Elvin "does" something. The girls jump up every morning to see what Elvin has done. They might find him in the cupboard looking for snacks. (He stacks cans to make stairs and knocks boxes onto the floor.) They have found him in the TV room watching a movie. He and other stuffed toys/dolls are at the table playing a game. He has sent pizzas to our house. He has taken the unmatched socks from our laundry room and decorated the Christmas door. He has tried stringing lights in the house, but usually manages to get tangled in them. He has cut out paper snowflakes and left them around the house. He "eaten" leftover Halloween candy. He has baked cookies or made Krispy treats. If we get any boxes with Styrofoam, he can be found playing in it. He has been found on the computer.

He returns home with Santa every Christmas Eve. One of the gifts from Santa is marked "From Elvin." The girls love that he has made them each a gift. The night before Christmas Eve (23rd), there is always a party. When the girls get up on Christmas Eve, they find Elvin and their stuffed dolls in a frozen party scene. There is crepe paper hanging from the ceiling, drink cups and snack bowls everywhere, balloons on the floor, etc.

The girls absolutely love, love, love this. I highly recommend doing it.

If this isn't anything at all what you were asking about, I apologize for hijacking your thread.

Jody

 

[Tasmen]

I think the idea is that you hide the elf every day and play a game 'find the elf' up until Christmas. There is a book that comes along with it.

My mom got one for my dd (18 months old). I haven't opened the box yet and really looked inside. That is how she summarized it for me, though.

 

[JodyLynC]

There is a thread on the Families board: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2321254