Why Didn’t Our Scout Elf Move? | The Elf on the Shelf (2024)

When Your Scout Elf flies to the North Pole and returns to the same spot, it might prompt little ones to believe their elf didn’t move at all. But that’s certainly not the case! There are many reasons your elf chooses the same spot after returning from the North Pole. Read on for a list of those reasons, so you can help children understand why your elf may land in the same spot in your home the very next day!

Why Didn’t Our Scout Elf Move? | The Elf on the Shelf (2)

Top Reasons Your Elf is in the Same Spot

  1. 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!
  2. The spot has a great vantage point. When your Scout Elf was watching you yesterday, they couldn’t believe what a great view they had! That’s why they decided they needed another day to see you from this perfect vantage point.
  3. They wanted another day to see you do their favorite activity. Is your elf sitting in the kitchen again? That’s because they love baking, and they hope you’ll make a batch of cookies! If they’re in the living room, your Scout Elf may be hoping to watch their favorite Christmas movie with you. Whatever room they’re in, think of a fun family activity your elf may be waiting to see!
  4. Santa gave them a special duty at the North Pole, and they didn’t have time to create a new spot. When your Scout Elf returned to the North Pole, Santa needed them to complete a special task before departing for your home. So even though your elf had a brilliant idea planned, they decided they had just enough time to return to their awesome hiding spot from the prior day.
  5. They’re working on surprising you with something very special the next day. To create a fantastic surprise they dreamed up, your elf needed a little more planning time. As you slept, your Scout Elf got most of the surprise planned, but they need just one more day to make their terrific idea come to life!
  6. Your Scout Elf is trying to trick you! Bet you didn’t think your elf would show up in the very same spot—that’s why they picked it: to make you do a double take! After searching the house for your elf’s new spot, they just knew you’d smile to see them hiding in a familiar spot!
  7. They ate too many cookies at the North Pole. Mrs. Claus was just finishing a big batch of cookies when your Scout Elf arrived at the North Pole, and they happened to be your elf’s favorite kind! After indulging in the super sweet treat, your elf had just enough energy to use their sugar rush to fly back to your home. After that, they needed to take a rest in their pre-selected spot.
  8. Your Scout Elf forgot their spot from yesterday! With so many things to remember to tell Santa, your elf got back to your home only to realize that they forgot all the spots they’ve chosen this season. That’s why they accidentally ended up in a place they’ve already been!
  9. They heard someone and quickly picked a spot. Your Scout Elf was just looking around the find the perfect spot when they heard someone nearby grabbing a glass of water! They happened to be right near their spot from yesterday, so they quickly got into position to avoid being seen.
  10. They did move—take a closer look! It may appear as though your elf is in the exact same spot, but look closely: it looks like they’re sitting differently than yesterday! Perhaps they’re testing your observation skills.
  11. Someone touched your elf. 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. It’s easy to help your Scout Elf get their magic back, just read these ideas!

Want the answers to some of your burning questions about Scout Elves? Check out North Pole Knowledge to find out everything you need to know!


Why Didn’t Our Scout Elf Move? | The Elf on the Shelf (2024)

FAQs

Do scout elves move on their own? ›

The truth is, Scout Elves only move when they are certain noone else is around. This is because when they're with you, they must fulfill their duty for Santa, watching and listening to every single thing that happens in your home.

Why are my elves not moving? ›

If your elf didn't move, someone might have touched them without your knowledge. This means that your elf might have lost some of their magic to move to a new spot.

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. Parents: read on to learn about special, few and far between cases where emergency help will be required.

Does the Elf on the Shelf move every day? ›

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. 1.

Is my Elf on the Shelf real? ›

Santa's official Scout Elves always come in an official The Elf on the Shelf® box, and they are accompanied by a children's storybook, just as shown above! You can tell Scout Elves apart from other elves at the North Pole because they arrive in an official solid red jumpsuit.

Can parents touch a Scout Elf? ›

Elf on a Shelf Rules

A scout elf cannot be touched. Christmas magic is very fragile and if a scout elf is touched, it may lose that magic and be unable to fly back to the North Pole. A scout elf cannot speak or move while anyone in the house is awake! A scout elf's job is to watch and listen.

What happens if your Scout Elf is accidentally touched? ›

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. Cinnamon is like vitamins for your elf, and it will help him or her get back to the North Pole where the elf doctors can give them a quick check-up! Sing a Christmas carol with your family!

What are the Scout Elf rules? ›

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!

Why is my elf not coming back? ›

Your elf ate too many treats from Mrs. Claus' Sweet Shop™. It can happen to the best elf (or human) when so many tantalizing treats are floating around during the holidays! Your Scout Elf may need an extra day or two to digest his or her holiday treats and get back into tip-top flying shape before returning.

Can you touch Elf on the Shelf on Christmas Eve? ›

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 day 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.

Do you cut the tag off Elf on the Shelf? ›

You are NOT supposed to cut that tag off. Please, for heaven's sake, don't let your elf near anything sharp. This is of the utmost importance…

Can Your Elf on the Shelf stay all year? ›

We've got the answer below! These fuzzy, friendly pals, the Elf Pets® Reindeer, Saint Bernard and Arctic Fox, are able to live with their families all year! They help Santa complete important Christmas duties such as flying his sleigh around the world, and they need your help!

What does Elf on the Shelf do at night? ›

What is Elf on a Shelf? Started by mother-daughter duo Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell, the Elf on the Shelf rules are simple: The Scout Elf watches over your family during the day, and then checks in with Santa each night to reveal who is being naughty and who is being nice.

When should the elf on the shelf move? ›

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.

Do parents hide elves? ›

Each morning, the elf chooses a new vantage point from which to keep an eye on the kids. The night before Christmas, the elf flies off one last time to spend the year with Santa until reappearing next season. Every night, a parent hides the elf in a new place.

How do I tell my child Elf on the Shelf isn't real? ›

When they do come to you and tell you that they without a doubt no longer believe in Santa and Elf on the Shelf isn't real, then you can come clean. Explain to them that while they may not be “real” in the sense they once believed; their overall message is still important.

Do the elf pets leave? ›

Where do Elf Pets® live during the year? We've got the answer below! These fuzzy, friendly pals, the Elf Pets® Reindeer, Saint Bernard and Arctic Fox, are able to live with their families all year!

How old is a Scout Elf? ›

Scout Elves are as old as Christmas itself. No one knows for sure the exact age of a Scout Elf, but tales have said Scout Elves are over 1,000 years old. How quickly do elves load the sleigh? Loading Santa's sleigh is no easy feat.

Is it OK to touch your elf by accident? ›

First, don't worry! We can assure you any Scout Elf can get their Christmas magic back in a snap.

Can you touch your elf 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!

Is there a black Elf on the Shelf? ›

Is there a Black Elf on the Shelf? If you are looking for a Black Elf on the Shelf doll, you are in luck! Yes, there are diverse Elf on the Shelf dolls. In fact, as CCA & B company has grown, there are now different colored Elf on the Shelf dolls and different genders.

What is the job of a Scout Elf? ›

Scout Elves are able to deliver and sort letters to Santa in a snap, manage the Legends and Lore Room at the North Pole and make quick work of baking cookies with Mrs. Claus, all thanks to Christmas magic.

What state is banning Elf on the Shelf? ›

Santa Claus may have to find a new way to spy on children in Cobb County, Georgia after a blistering court decision banning the Elf on the Shelf in homes throughout the area.

Is each kid supposed to have 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.

Does the elf on the shelf come on your birthday? ›

From the Manufacturer

Now, at the request of children around the world, Santa has given special permission for his scout elves to share that tradition with the families who love them. But an elf cannot come to a birthday party unless it is invited.

What happens if your Elf on the Shelf disappears? ›

Write a Letter to Your Elf

Although the North Pole may be a long ways away, your Scout Elf is always easily reachable online. Kids can write to their elf or Santa through our online portal or on our Facebook page, and one of Santa's mailroom elves will be sure to send back a kind reply!

How do you get a real elf? ›

Visit an official Scout Elf Adoption Center.

At these special adoption centres, which are typically only open during the holiday season, you and your family can visit and pick out your very own Elf on the Shelf® to take home. Find an adoption centre near you.

What is an elf mate? ›

Introducing Elf Mates®! Elf Mates® are adoptable elves who partner with children to give Santa Claus a helping hand by bringing back the true spirit of Christmas.

Should I 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.

What age does a child stop believing in Santa? ›

In 2019, House Method surveyed more than 4,500 families across the United States, and found the overall average age for no longer believing in Santa Claus is 8.4 years old. (But it varies by state: Kids in Mississippi generally believe until they're 10, while kids in Oregon stop believing at 7.)

How old is to old for Santa? ›

Most Americans (67%) stopped expecting Santa to shimmy down their chimney by the time they entered seventh grade. Half (49%) of Americans say they stopped believing in Santa before the age of 10 – with a quarter (23%) reporting that they lost sight of him between the ages of seven (10%) and eight (13%).

How old is Elf on the Shelf? ›

The Elf on the Shelf tradition started back in 2005 when Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell self-published the book “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” along with a special box with a small Scout Elf inside.

Can Elf on the Shelf arrive late? ›

They've got millions of toys to design, construct and wrap up, all in time for Santa's big delivery on Christmas Eve. So it's no wonder a few of the elves get a little delayed when they're heading for their December homes!

Where does the elf go at 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.

Why shouldn't teachers do Elf on the Shelf? ›

It undermines trustworthiness

For the uninitiated, the Elf on the Shelf observes children's behavior and heads back to the North Pole nightly to report on their behavior (naughty, nice, or otherwise).

Why you shouldn't use 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 ...

How many days do you hide Elf on the Shelf? ›

Some elves make their debut the day after Thanksgiving. Others don't show their face until December. Even so, that's still 24 days of creativity. Here are a few Elf on the Shelf hiding ideas to get you through the holidays that are easy to pull off in an apartment.

How can I make my elf work again? ›

Sprinkle some cinnamon

Cinnamon is like vitamins for your elf, according to the Elf on the Shelf website. So, sprinkle some of this life-giving substance around your elf to help it regain strength and restore its magic if your Elf on the Shelf is touched.

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.

Why does my elf bar flash but still work? ›

If your elf bar is flashing, then its battery is likely to have run out. Hence, this is a sign for you that it's time to start hunting around for a new elf bar. It's highly likely that your e-liquid would also be running out soon, and you wouldn't want to get a burnt taste when you vape anyway!

What if my kid touched the Elf on the Shelf? ›

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.

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