What age do you start Elf on the Shelf?

The Elf on the Shelf tradition can be started at any age, but most parents recommend waiting until your child is between the ages of 2 and 3. They claim it's the perfect sweet spot for children to appreciate and understand the elves' magic while establishing this family tradition at a young age.


When should you start 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.

How do you start Elf on the Shelf for the first time?

How do you introduce Elf on the Shelf to your kids?
  1. Print out a welcome letter. ...
  2. Read them the book, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. ...
  3. Just plop them in your house to announce their arrival.


What are the rules about Elf on the Shelf?

Official Elf on the Shelf Rules
  • Never touch Elf on the Shelf. Elves lose their magic when touched by humans. ...
  • Talk to your Elf. Your Scout Elf can't talk, but they are always listening! ...
  • Elf on the Shelf must return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.


Can 2 year old touch the 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.


At what age does Elf on the Shelf stop coming?



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.

Are kids supposed to touch Elf on the Shelf?

The Elf Must Not Be Touched

Considered the most important rule, the Scout Elf must never be touched (of course, apart from when the parents move them around) as that will cause them to lose their magical powers. In some cases, they could also disappear when touched, such as when a dog might get a hold of them.

Why are they banning Elf on the Shelf?

In the order, Leonard wrote that the Elves are a distraction to school students and a "risk to the emotional health and well being" of children. "When these Elves do not move, it leaves our children of tender years in states of extreme emotional distress," the order reads.


Do you move Elf on the Shelf at night?

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.

How often do you change Elf on the Shelf?

Elf On The Shelf Rule #2

Every morning, the Scout Elf returns to its family and is found in a new spot in your home. This means, parents – each night you'll need to come up with a new and exciting location for your mischievous Elf to appear, so the kids can find him when they wake up.

What does the elf on the shelf do the first night?

The Elf on the Shelf does come with a book that is intended to be read on his first night in your home every holiday season, but you can omit that or combine it with another fun celebration. This is a tradition that you can tweak to work best for your family!


How long do you leave Elf on the Shelf?

After spending the holiday season with your family showcasing crafty surprises and reporting nightly to Santa, it's time for your Scout Elf to return to the North Pole! According to The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, the night before Christmas, an elf's job comes to an end.

Where do you put Elf on the Shelf?

Here are 25 places to hide your Elf on the Shelf:
  1. Above the stockings. Difficulty level: EASY. ...
  2. Inside the holiday wreath. Difficulty level: MEDIUM. ...
  3. Inside the family photo area. ...
  4. Tucked in the kids' toys. ...
  5. Poppin' out of a Rice Krispie cereal box. ...
  6. Scaling the wall with bows. ...
  7. Scaling the tree. ...
  8. On the coffee table display.


What to do if your child touches the elf?

What to Do If Your Elf Is Touched
  1. 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.
  2. Sprinkle some cinnamon near the Elf. ...
  3. Sing your Elf a Christmas carol with all of the family.


What is the most common elf name?

According to the pros over at elfontheshelf.com, these are the top 20 names that families swear by when it comes to their elves.
  • Buddy.
  • Snowflake.
  • Elfie.
  • Jingle.
  • Jingles.
  • Sparkle.
  • Jack.
  • Holly.


What happens when your Elf on the Shelf doesn't come 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.

Why shouldn't teachers do Elf on the Shelf?

It erodes intrinsic motivation

As a classroom management system, the Elf on the Shelf is pretty terrible. Having a spy in the classroom doesn't exactly promote an environment conducive to respect, kindness, and learning.


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)


What state is Elf on the Shelf illegal?

In a scathing decision last week, a Georgia judge ordered a ban that could hurt children's chances of making Santa's nice list this Christmas: The Elf on the Shelf is forbidden in Cobb County. The elves, Robert D.

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 do you say goodbye to Elf on the Shelf?

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.

How do you stop Elf on the 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 happens if parents touch Elf on the Shelf?

Elves are very fragile, and if they are touched by human children they lose their magic and ability to communicate with Santa.


What happens if a kid touches the Elf on the Shelf?

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.

Do you have to move Elf on the Shelf everyday?

It's tradition to move the elf every single day because, in theory, the elf returns to the North Pole every night to tell Santa how the children he's been watching over are behaving.