Many families have adopted the tradition of having an Elf on the Shelf during the holiday season. Some households even have more than one elf! These elves can offer a bit of fun and tickle your children's imagination, but the constant pressure on parents to come up with new, fun ideas, and remembering to move it EVERY night can be a big time commitment when Christmas is already such a busy season full of lists. But what are the real pros and cons of inviting this mischievous little elf (or elves) into your home?
So, why would parents want to add an Elf to their lives (and ever-growing to-do list)? Each family's elf is supposed to report back to Santa each night, encouraging children to behave well in order to stay on the "nice" list. I've even heard my own children apologizing to the Elf bad behavior, and asking him to let Santa know that they're sorry, as they launch into their Christmas wish list. Parents can have fun coming up with creative and elaborate scenarios for the elf to be found in each morning, sparking imagination in both children and adults. Oh the excitement! Children anticipate waking up to find the elf's new hiding place where it can hear and see all and report back to Santa.
Now the nitty gritty...oh what fun the pressure isn't (if you're one to feel anxious with another nightly check list item to complete.) Parents may feel pressure to come up with new and exciting elf scenarios every night, adding to the stress of an already busy holiday season. Especially with TikTok and Pinterest showing us how creative we can (or can't) be. And all of that effort may be for nothing if your children find the thought of a doll moving around the house at night to be unsettling or even scary. That could lead to anxiety or disrupted sleep, which creates the opposite of a happy, fun holiday season. It has also been argued that the Elf on the Shelf tradition places too much emphasis on materialism and surveillance, detracting from the true meaning of the holiday.
Ultimately, the decision to have an Elf on the Shelf in your home is a personal one that each family must make based on their own values and beliefs. While some may embrace the magic and whimsy of this tradition, others may prefer to focus on different aspects of the holiday season. Some thought should be put into handling kids at school talking about your elf, so you can be ready for the "Why don't we have an elf?" conversation. Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to create lasting memories with your loved ones during this special time of year, and remembering the true meaning of Christmas!