How to give Elf on the Shelf

[elaine amj]

I see my cousin and her kids (8 and 5) on Sunday. I bought them an Elf on the Shelf. It’s in the box with the book and everything.

How do I give it to them? Do I wrap it up and give it to the boys? (I won’t see them for Christmas so this is my Christmas present)

I am staying overnight with them so it would be fun to be there when they are introduced to it.

Do I give it to their Mom and just tell her to introduce it to them? (I’m fine if I don’t get the credit). Do I stumble across it and yell for the boys to come check it out?

I don’t think my cousin does the Santa thing much but Christmas is a treasured celebration. Even if they don’t believe, I’m hoping to adds a touch of fun and whimsy to the days before Christmas. (Hopefully my cousin doesn’t kill me for the extra work I am giving her!)

Elf on the Shelf wasn’t a thing until my kids were grown so I don’t know a whole lot about it lol.

 

[barkley]

never done it myself but doesn't elf on the shelf entail active participation on the household's adult? if so then i would never gift it to kids or 'stumble across it' unless i already had their parent's permission. not trying to be a wet blanket but seems i've read holiday threads in the past where people regretted starting the tradition and/or resented that a well meaning family member had gifted it without their prior buy-in.

 

[leebee]

I think you are treading on thin ice. I'd think there are reasons that this mom has chosen not to do the Santa thing, and I'm not sure she'll appreciate your decision to add "fun and whimsy" to their holiday perspective. Also... the Elf is a PITA. Why do you want to start a tradition that celebrates bad behaviors? Sure, you don't HAVE to make him do "naughty" things, but the kids at school talk, and if you have a "good" elf, well... the comments are pretty harsh. Even if you have a "good" elf, and especially if you have a "bad" one, there is a lot of participation needed by the adults in the family for the elf to do his tricks. There's no way I'd give anyone an "Elf on the Shelf." At the very least, you should talk to her about it, first.

 

[mjkacmom]

Our elf was a slacker, fortunately the trend started when my kids no longer believed so it was fine that he only moved like twice every December. You should ask the parents.

 

[RogueX]

I would check with their mom. We hadn't bought one for our daughter when she was young because finances were really tight, so my mother asked if it would be ok to get one for her. We agreed and we had fun for several years (yes, it can get tiresome after) a while.

Now that my daughter is 16 the Elf is more of a joke prop for Christmas and even wore a Saw mask at Halloween.

 

[Kitty 34]

My grandkids will be spending the night next weekend and the parents are bringing the "Elf" for me to hide later. We did this last year when they were 3 and 4 and they were just astounded that the Elf had made his/her/whatever way to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

 

[mrodgers]

If my cousin gave my kids an Elf on the Shelf, they would be regulated to being distant cousins and would have to be satisfied that they created disappointment in said children.

 

[robinb]

I see my cousin and her kids (8 and 5) on Sunday. I bought them an Elf on the Shelf. It’s in the box with the book and everything.

How do I give it to them? Do I wrap it up and give it to the boys? (I won’t see them for Christmas so this is my Christmas present)

I am staying overnight with them so it would be fun to be there when they are introduced to it.

Do I give it to their Mom and just tell her to introduce it to them? (I’m fine if I don’t get the credit). Do I stumble across it and yell for the boys to come check it out?

I don’t think my cousin does the Santa thing much but Christmas is a treasured celebration. Even if they don’t believe, I’m hoping to adds a touch of fun and whimsy to the days before Christmas. (Hopefully my cousin doesn’t kill me for the extra work I am giving her!)

Elf on the Shelf wasn’t a thing until my kids were grown so I don’t know a whole lot about it lol.

If she doesn't do the Santa thing, why in the heck would she embrace Santa's little snitch?

 

[wenrob]

Did you ask your cousin if this is something she’d want to do?! If not and it were me I’d be furious to be put in that position. It’s a commitment for years which is why I chose not to do it. Please do NOT reveal this Elf to those kids until and unless you’ve spoken to their mother.

 

[HopperFan]

I don’t think my cousin does the Santa thing much but Christmas is a treasured celebration. Even if they don’t believe, I’m hoping to adds a touch of fun and whimsy to the days before Christmas. (Hopefully my cousin doesn’t kill me for the extra work I am giving her!)

Sounds like you didn't ask first ..... we received one and I didn't keep him.

It is so much work during a time I'm already too busy. We are a big Santa and fun celebration style house but keeping up with the Jones' elf antics is just too much stress.

 

[SG131]

Yeah, there's a reason despite all the Christmas festivities in my house we don't own an elf. If cousin brought that to my house, it would be sent right back home with them.

 

[DisneyElite4]

I see my cousin and her kids (8 and 5) on Sunday. I bought them an Elf on the Shelf. It’s in the box with the book and everything.

How do I give it to them? Do I wrap it up and give it to the boys? (I won’t see them for Christmas so this is my Christmas present)

I am staying overnight with them so it would be fun to be there when they are introduced to it.

Do I give it to their Mom and just tell her to introduce it to them? (I’m fine if I don’t get the credit). Do I stumble across it and yell for the boys to come check it out?

I don’t think my cousin does the Santa thing much but Christmas is a treasured celebration. Even if they don’t believe, I’m hoping to adds a touch of fun and whimsy to the days before Christmas. (Hopefully my cousin doesn’t kill me for the extra work I am giving her!)

Elf on the Shelf wasn’t a thing until my kids were grown so I don’t know a whole lot about it lol.

Please, please, please do not gift this to your cousin's children without telling the parents first. Someone did this same thing to us when my oldest was younger, and I am STILL mad about it. It is so much extra work for two working parents around the holiday season. Unless you personally are going to come over every night and move the elf, just don't do it.

 

[bluezy]

One of my older sons (he was about 22 yo at the time) insisted I needed to do an Elf on the Shelf for my youngest daughter about 13-14 years ago. I refused. He *loves* to do that kind of stuff so he asked if *he* could buy the Elf and take care of creating and setting up all of the Elf shenanigans. I said he could but if he decided after a few days that he didn't want to do it anymore, I was NOT taking over Elf duties and he better have a good story as to why the Elf wasn't doing anything anymore. He took care of everything for the weeks that the Elf visited our house. And then admitted that it was a lot more work than he anticipated (waiting until his sister was asleep for the night was not fun for him. She was a night owl and he liked to be in bed by 9:00) and that the Elf would not be returning the next year.

I would not give someone an Elf on the Shelf unless they've said they want it. And then I'd probably print out a bunch of ideas for them and maybe provide a few props. No way would I surprise someone with it. And if someone surprised me with one, I'd be less than happy and would remind them that paybacks are a bi***.

 

[dez1978]

I guess it depends on if you want them to believe in the whole elf magic thing, or if you mean for it to just be a fun thing they do. If you read the book or watch the movie, the elf is supposed to be assigned to the family by Santa, not bought or given as a gift. You can't touch the elf, etc. It's a whole thing and mom needs to be on board with that. If you plan for it to just be a fun thing where they know mom hides it every night then sure, go ahead and give it to them. But still make sure she's cool with it. If you want them to believe in the whole thing, put the elf in a fancy box on the front porch with a note introducing the elf and let the kids find it.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Adding to the chorus of voices to say this is something you need to clear with the parent(s) first. It’s one step beneath showing up with a puppy wearing a big red bow.

 

[nw6675]

Agree with those that say don't do it. It is such a pain and numerous have reported the darn elf is why kids found out the truth about Santa - my DD included. Just nooooo.

 

[Mysterian]

Why anyone would invite these little soul-thieves into a home is beyond me. They not only feed off guilt and paranoia, but at night they siphon your life-force in your sleep. No, not in-laws, Elf on a Shelf. You might as well buy a mogwai and feed it after midnight.

Protip: If you're stuck with an elf, pretend you're taking them on a trip hiking, then leave them behind in the woods, quickly. If you're not careful, they WILL return in your home. It's basically Jingle-Annabelle.

PS- If cornered, pour a circle of kosher salt around you, and keep a flamethrower handy.

 

[rigs32]

This is a horrible idea. You say "Christmas is a treasured celebration", but you don't say if that's for you, her, or both of you. There may be a very good reason why they don't do much with Santa. I would call her and ask for her thoughts and if she doesn't want the elf, return it.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Please don't burden their mom with an elf. Really.

If you presented my kid with an elf without my knowledge, we'd have a really messy situation on our hands (both in navigating how to get rid of it with our child AND with my relationship with you). We are NOT doing an elf in my house.

 

[dez1978]

Why anyone would invite these little soul-thieves into a home is beyond me. They not only feed off guilt and paranoia, but at night they siphon your life-force in your sleep. No, not in-laws, Elf on a Shelf. You might as well buy a mogwai and feed it after midnight.

Protip: If you're stuck with an elf, pretend you're taking them on a trip hiking, then leave them behind in the woods, quickly. If you're not careful, they WILL return in your home. It's basically Jingle-Annabelle.

PS- If cornered, pour a circle of kosher salt around you, and keep a flamethrower handy.

Yup. I stupidly bought into the elf when my oldest was 4 bc they had one at school and he wanted to know why our house didn't have one, was he too bad to have an elf? So I got the dang elf. Then kid 2 got old enough that I got a 2nd dang elf. so now I got 2 of these things I gotta remember to move every night. I draw the line at messy pranks tho. I clean enough as it is. No way in hell am I making flour "snow" angels or some other pintrest-y thing that I also have to clean up. It's hard enough just to find 24 different spots for them to hide every year. The best part of COVID was that our elves came back in a giant jar labeled quarantine and they stayed put for 10 days. I will be so very sad when my kids no longer believe, but I cannot wait to get rid of the elves.

The one tiny sliver of good that comes from the elves is that for 24 days my kids get out of bed with a quickness to find them. But idk that it's worth the hassle lol