FAQs
The Quick answer for How does Elf on the shelf work is you get an elf on the shelf, and then daily he or she makes the kids smile by doing funny things around the house, hides in the house and sometimes brings little treats. After you get your elf, he or she will need to make an introduction and his first visit.
How does Elf on the Shelf work for kids? ›
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.
Do parents move the Elf on the Shelf yes or no? ›
Santa advises that no family member touch their Elf on the Shelf, but he does describe a few rare instances when an adult may use tongs or potholders to help an elf in an urgent situation.
What is the number one rule for 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. Little ones can share secrets and wishes with their elf as often as they'd like.
How do you end the elf on a shelf? ›
Usually elves travel by more magical means, but for a more official goodbye, pack up your elf in a box, write “To the North Pole” on it, and slap every stamp you can find on there. You don't actually have to send it anywhere, just make it seem like he's going on a trip to a very cold and faraway place.
What are parents supposed to do with 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.
Do you let your kids touch Elf on the Shelf? ›
Here's a breakdown of the few basic Elf on the Shelf rules: Don't touch your elf or their magic will disappear. Talk to your elf, but know that they can't talk back. Your elf reports to Santa nightly and can deliver letters to him.
What time does the elf on the shelf leave at night? ›
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.
Why you shouldn't do Elf on the Shelf? ›
One philosophy provides a compelling argument about the dangers of the Elf on the Shelf, namely that it is a lie, threatens the trustworthiness of parents, ultimately encourages gullibility in children rather than critical thinking and inadvertently teaches children that their behavior should be governed by potential ...
What happens if your Elf on the Shelf doesn't move? ›
They have a favorite spot in your home. When your Scout Elf flies back from the North Pole and lands in the same spot, chances are it's their favorite place to sit in your home. Just like you have a favorite spot on the couch, your elf has favorite spots, too! The spot has a great vantage point.
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.
Does Elf on the Shelf stay in the same spot? ›
An elf does not want to report a child's bad behavior to Santa. Instead of reporting naughty behavior, they will stay in their spot for a few days until there is something nice to report to Santa. If you want your elf to move, you better be good!
What are the 3 elf rules? ›
What are the three rules in "The Code of Elves"?
...
- Making gifts for Christmas (best)
- Making shoes while cobblers are sleeping.
- Making cookies in a tree (dangerous)
How long do you do Elf on the Shelf? ›
When does Elf on the Shelf come? The Elf on the Shelf website recommends your Elf arrive between November 24 through December 1. This is also known as Scout Elf Return week, a.k.a. the time when Santa's little helpers flee the North Pole and head out to the houses they'll be staying at until Christmas.
Does Elf on the Shelf always leave a note? ›
On the nights when your elf is ornery, he or she will leave a note apologizing for a mess. Elves also love to hide stuff (like stockings and candy canes) and there's notes with instructions to find…
How do you get elf to say goodbye? ›
Leave a note!
One popular way to bid farewell is to have your elf leave a special, personal message for your kid, whether it's a typewritten note or a message spelled out in candy or plastic letters on the fridge or on snow-painted window or mirror.
Are you supposed to cut your Elf on the Shelf hands? ›
Are you supposed to cut the tie between their 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.
What do Elf on the Shelf do at night? ›
The story goes that Santa's Scout Elves fly to the North Pole each night of December to report to Santa if your children have been behaving (or misbehaving). The elves then fly back and hide in a new spot for the children to find him the next morning.
Why can only parents touch the Elf on the Shelf? ›
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.
How do you move the Elf on the Shelf without touching it? ›
Perhaps you have the rule that adults can move the Elf on the Shelf, as long as they don't use their hands. This means using kitchen tongs, two forks, a spatula, chopsticks or any other kitchen utensil in your arsenal.
Write a letter from Santa to arrive with the elf.
For example, you can have Santa tell them that kids aren't allowed to touch the elf, that the elf comes every day until Christmas, and that it reports back to Santa in the North Pole every night. You can also have the letter be written by the elf instead of Santa.
How do I give my elf magic back? ›
What Happens If Our Scout Elf Is Accidentally Touched?
- Write a note to your elf or Santa apologizing for touching your elf. This is the most effective way to help your Scout Elf get back in action quick!
- Sprinkle a little cinnamon next to your Scout Elf. ...
- Sing a Christmas carol with your family!
Can you touch your Elf on the Shelf if you have gloves on? ›
The gloves protect your skin from touching the Elf, so that way your Elf will not lose its magic! Now the kids can touch their Elf! However, I suggest making the Elf Magic Gloves be something special that is only allowed some of the time!
What do you do if your elf gets touched? ›
What to Do If Your Elf Is Touched
- Write a nice apology note to your Elf telling your Elf how very sorry you are for touching him. This is a great way for your Elf to regain Christmas magic.
- Sprinkle some cinnamon near the Elf. ...
- Sing your Elf a Christmas carol with all of the family.
Does the elf go back every night? ›
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.
Is an elf long rest 4 hours? ›
An elf still needs to "rest" for "at least 8 hours" for a long rest. The benefit is that an elf may only sleep for 4 hours while taking watch for the other 4 hours (or do some other "light activity".
Do parents move the elf at night? ›
Elf moves back and hides in a new place in the morning. Children are allowed to send their wishes to Santa through Elf. Note: Parents should understand that there are two rules of placing the Elf on the Shelf officially. Firstly, parents should change the position of the Elf every night when their children are asleep.
Why do they want to cancel Elf on the Shelf? ›
'It's really a terrible message for kids. ' The concern is that the elf teaches children the wrong lessons when it comes to privacy and makes children acclimatized to be being monitored and passively accept constantly being watched by an unseen authority figure.
Does the Elf on the Shelf move everyday? ›
According to elf legend, the elf moves each night. Some mornings, though, kids might find themselves asking why the elf is still in its same place. Here are a few possible reasons that Santa's helper may not have found a new position in your home.
How many times can you touch a Elf on the Shelf? ›
The first and most important rule is that you must NOT touch your Elf. If you do, they will lose all their magic - and nobody wants that to happen. When scout elves lose their magic, they can't go about their Christmas duties. This means no presents for anyone in your family!
I looked at my oldest, and she confirmed, “Yep, apparently, the Elf on the Shelf now brings presents to kids every day before Christmas.”
What age is elf appropriate for? ›
We think Elf is one of the more family-friendly Christmas movies out there. It should be something kids ages 6 and up can handle in most cases. There are a few issues as noted above, but if these do not concern your family: enjoy Elf together this holiday season!
Why can only parents touch The Elf on the Shelf? ›
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.
Can The Elf on the Shelf ever be touched? ›
The official Elf on the Shelf website details the three rules to follow. The first and most important rule is that you must NOT touch your Elf. If you do, they will lose all their magic - and nobody wants that to happen. When scout elves lose their magic, they can't go about their Christmas duties.
What happens to an Elf on the Shelf when you touch it? ›
Per official Elf on the Shelf lore, a touched Scout Elf loses their magic. Learning this fact could leave your kids spiraling down an endless rabbit hole of unwanted outcomes — ending up on the naughty list and Christmas being cancelled being their chief concerns, according to my own kids.
What time does The Elf on the Shelf leave at night? ›
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.
How does Elf on the Shelf work for parents? ›
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.
Are you supposed to cut Elf on the Shelf hands? ›
Are you supposed to cut the tie between their 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.
How does Elf on the Shelf get his magic? ›
The Elf on the Shelf explains that scout elves get their magic by being named and loved by a child. In the back of each book, families have an opportunity to write their elf's name and the date that they adopted it.
How do Elf on the Shelf lose their magic? ›
Once your Scout Elf has their magic, they must preserve it as much as they can. Your family can help by never touching your elf. If you accidentally touch your elf, they could lose their magic and be unable to fly to the North Pole.
The gloves protect your skin from touching the Elf, so that way your Elf will not lose its magic! Now the kids can touch their Elf! However, I suggest making the Elf Magic Gloves be something special that is only allowed some of the time!