Elf on the Shelf - Kew Gardens,NY

We never had one.
The thought of something watching me all the time just creeps me out.
I had a friend I grew up with who use to have nightmares about that old CBS eye symbol chasing them.

I don't have one but it does sound like a cute idea. I don't think I would be good about utilizing it properly, I am not good on keeping up with the sticker charts I start and stuff like that. Plus, I tend to want my kids to be good for fear of mom's disapproval rather than Santa's.

I might get a pair of google eyes for Halloween though, that sounds kinda fun.

we do not have an elf on the shelf but we do have these creepy fake eyeballs (halloween decoration) that move from spot to spot during the entire month of october. so you never know when you might open up a cabinet door or drawer and find them looking out at you. the kids have gotten elaborate in the hiding spots now. I have pulled a can of coffee out and opened it and found them, poured them out of the cereal box etc. my husbands fav was once he put them in the ice box. my daugher put them in my sons sock drawer. this has been going for years and now they each have sets at their own houses lol. not sure why we never got the elf lol...

No I don't have one. I think they are creepy.
Plus, we don't do the whole "santa" thing.
PLUS...I already have enough work to do around the house. I forget laundry, dishes, dinner, lunch. The last thing I need to do is to remember to make some stupid elf be mischevious and then *I* have to clean THAT up too!
Nope.
L.

No Elf in our house. I've never liked it and find it creepy.

We also never linked Santa and Christmas gifts to behavior. Christmas in our home is about Christ, and Santa brought gifts because he was celebrating the birth of Christ with others.

YES---FOURTEEN YRS !!!!

This tradition took place in a friend's house yrs and yrs ago. My friend and her brother were allowed to ask a family to get the special elf from their family and KEEP the tradition going. I was chosen---And honored to keep their Irish, catholic tradition going.

My child was the only one in her class to have a Christopher PopInkins---the elf. Her teacher respected the tradition and did a whole lesson it for the class.

So, I was asked to follow their family's tradition.

Christopher (the elf) arrived every year on Dec 1st. He always landed in a high place. Christopher had the big ear because he listened for Santa. Every night or two he moved to another place in our house. If anybody touched him, he would lose his magic and leave. ON Christmas Eve, Christopher goes back to report to Santa....And he always returned on Dec 1st.

I taught mt kids that Christopher likes to be in a house with respect for one another and that it had to be demonstrated that month and, then all through the year.

For us, it was an honor to keep the longtime tradition going.
I hate to hear that it is creepy !!!!!!

I know people who love them, but I find them very creepy, and the idea of a doll coming to life and running around my house would have terrified me as a child (Chucky ruined me for life, lol). But to each their own!

I think they are creepy, but I know families who have them and the kids love them. I also know families who use them to make their kids behave... "the elf is watching you... you better be good."

I guess it's not much different than Santa watching... but somehow having a creepy elf moving around in your house watching you bothers me more.

To each his own though. people have all kinds of traditions!

We'he had one since our oldest was 2. We read the book, helped her name him and placed him on the bookshelf. He moves around (almost) every night, but no mischief. She's had a lot of fun just trying to find him every morning. We sometimes remind her that he's watching and reporting to Santa, but it's mostly just a fun thing. No need to go overboard with elaborate pranks, sticker charts, etc.

I hated it until someone gifted us one. I'm not super-mom who does elaborate poses with the elf. Ours just moves around the main living space.

Here's what I like about it. Our seven-year-old daughter thinks the thing truly reports to Santa. If she acts up in December, I just point to the elf. Bam, bad behavior stops. I really didn't think it would matter to her, but wow, was I wrong! We only have about another year before the Santa deal is up, but I'm going to milk this for all I can this year. :)

It won me over. Again, I had zero interest in having one, but now that we do, I like it.

We started when my daughter was 3 with an old elf from the 40s that I got from my grandma. I don't go overboard like some people do. We don't have a mischievous elf that is always causing trouble. I have enough to do without cleaning up after an elf. Ours moves around every night, when I remember to move it. The kids have fun finding it every morning. On Christmas Eve I take a picture of it and print it out with a good-bye letter from the elf.

We have had one for a couple of years. You do not have to be one of those overacheivers that have these elaborate set ups each and every morning. We certainly don't have that here!
Our elf moves to a different place around the living room each morning, out of reach of the cats. He hides without having to open or move anything. So one day he's on the fireplace mantel, another he's on top of the wall unit, another on top of the TV cabinet. He will do some of the places more than once. Sometimes he simply moves from the right to the left of the same shelf.
All 3 of my kids love looking for where Whitelight landed each morning. This year they bought him a shirt to wear.
Before going to bed on November 30th they are each allowed to give him a hug and kiss. After that they aren't allowed3 to touch him.
It's a fun countdown to Christmas along with the advent calendar that hangs on the wall. Gives them something to do each morning.

We still have after 38 years Elfie. However, not Elf On The Shelf. We have the original "Hooray For Elfie" which was created in 1974. This was the original. Shelf one is a copy. Now my grandchildren can enjoy the book "Hooray For Elfie" and Elfie comes to their house too.

My kids love our elf. I think it is a really fun way to remind them to behave, without me always being the "bad guy".

Definitely not creepy. How weird that someone would think they are creepy! They're cute as can be!

Got it and love it! Ours is named Elfie (my daughter named him). If u watch the Elf on a Shelf movie and read the book that comes with it , it won't seem creepy!

I have heard so many people say it is a really fun tradition. I sold them for years.

I feel like it is no difference than when my parents used to tell us, "Santa knows when we are being bad or good. " I even remember not sharing with Santa what I really wanted for Christmas, but I got it! I knew there was magic..

This knowledge helped me make many correct choices. It was always in the back of my head..

I was not creeped out at all.

I also LOVED figuring out that Santa was not real. I also loved playing along for my sister..

My twins boys (now 6) love their elf. Had him.since they were 3. Not at all creepy. They love finding him in the morning. I don't see much difference from when I was a child and my parents told me I better be good bc Santa knows! I am glad we started this cute tradition.

We have one.
It now lives on our fireplace mantle, ALL year round!
My kids asked Santa, if 'Elf' can stay. (wink).
And so he does. But they can't touch him! He is hibernating! Until his season comes around again, etc.
But when it is Christmas time, he does his "job" and goes back and forth to our home and his, and works very hard!
Oh and so I make sure, I HIDE the box it came in from the store.
Oh yeah, they are sold at stores, the kids see it. So how do you explain, that?
Every parent comes up with something different.
And all the kids at school... who talk about "their Elf" may have a different story. So be prepared for explaining, that!
LOL

So far, my kids think theirs is customized JUST for them!
It is their OWN Elf, after all!
They love it.

My son's family did it first time last year and they had so much fun
with it. They don't do the Santa, tooth fairy, or Easter B..
There are many suggestions online, maybe on Pinterest, Youtube, and
others. Google and you will find many fun ideas. One day, the elf
was flying in the air from the rotating ceiling fan.

Elf on the shelf gives me the absolute creeps.
And honestly, Santa is a far stretch as it is for my kids. Despite our best efforts, my son has never been over the top with the whole Santa idea. He thinks it's creepy enough that this strange man comes in the house. Because of his skepticism, we had to modify our Santa story to modern times. Santa uses Amazon now, don't ya know?! And all kid behavior reports to Santa go from me and dad via text message. Every day! I even have an entry on my phone called "Santa" (which is really dad's phone).
I understand the novelty of it, and I don't slight people who go the extra mile. It's just not my thing.

FB,
Elf is like having a spy in your house - and tells your children it is okay to do so. My opinion.
Santa does all his own observations - this is how I was brought up - and I still didn't like that.
We don't have the 'if you don't behave, Santa won't be good to you'.
Santa is good. Santa IS St. Nicholas. Barring any story long forgotten, I haven't heard anything about him JUDGING the children he was delivering Christ's gifts to.
That said, we were given the Elf as a gift.
The elf is named, and moves around the house.
That's it.
We read an edited story.
We love the giver of the gift, and we love to tell her that the elf moves around the house - sometimes staying in one comfy place.
We DO keep the part of the story of the elf losing his magic if he is picked up or moved. I kept that part because the thing is not exactly made for play. (judgment aside there!) He would collapse in a minute under the steady pressure of a 2 or 3 year old's hands.
I don't know how expensive it is. If money is a thought before getting this - put the funds somewhere else, cut out an elf from felt and decorate him/her, and create your own story.

Good luck,
M.