Elf on the Shelf is a fun holiday activity that has become a tradition in many homes.
In this post, you are going to learn:
- What The Elf on the Shelf shenanigans is all about
- How to plan out your Elf on The Shelf
Let’s get started.
What is The Elf on the Shelf?
It’s a book that was written in 2005 by a mother-daughter team Chanda Bell and Carol Aebersold. The duo paired the book with an actual ‘scout elf’ that helps keeps tabs on children’s behavior and viola!, a yearly tradition of parents using the elf’s presence to monitor and encourage desirable behavior during the holiday season.
Of course, this sequence of events didn’t happen overnight, it took time. The result is a family-friendly book and holiday activity that many families embrace.
Note: Some parents do not embrace the idea of having a toy elf surveillance their children or the charade of having to move the toy elf around. Here’s the thing… You get to decide if and how your family participates in the activity. If you are opting out, there are other ways to create fun holiday traditions.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE ELF?
The premise of the holiday activity requires that the elf moves around the home to different and unexpected locations. You can decide how often and how involved you want to make the elf part of your holiday charades.
I repeat. If moving the elf daily isn’t going to work for you, that’s okay. You get to decide. No matter when the elf makes it movements, children seem to be delighted.
Related: 40 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Each Day Leading up to Christmas
HOW TO PLAN OUT YOUR ELF ON THE SHELF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
1a. Buy the book and elf (the elf comes in several different skin tones)or make an elf.
1b. If you have the book or can access the book for free, you can use your own skills to sew or craft an elf, go for it. Even if you aren’t crafty a stick figure elf will work too.
2. Download the free printable planner. It includes a blank calendar and a worksheet to help you plan out locations for your elf. You could depend on your own memory but I’m a planner and writing things down is how I “remember” and get things done.
Has The Elf on the Shelf become part of your family’s holiday tradition?