We have not especially embraced the Elf on the Shelf tradition, as the thought of an Elf coming in every night and being naughty petrified my eldest mini mumbler. However, this year I bought Merry the Mumbler Elf, pictured here when we went along to chat to Mini Kicks! He likes to get out and about. My children have adopted him – as he has no specific magic powers and has not been sent by Santa – they aren’t so freaked out and now want me to hide him for them. So, slightly different approach, but the end result is the same. How on earth do I think of 24 things to do with him?!
Thankfully our sister site North Leeds Mumbler, who started the Elf on the Shelf tradition last year, have written a useful blog which I thought i’d share!
Blog via North Leeds Mumbler
The child-friendly answer – It’s your friendly scout elf who Santa sent from the North Pole to check whether children are being naughty or nice in the run-up to Christmas. When adopted – and named – by a family, it gets its special Christmas magic and can fly back to Santa each night to tell him about its day.
Every morning, the Elf returns home and finds a new spot in the house for the children to go ‘Elf hunting’.
The Elf arrives on the 1st December and returns to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
According to the official website, www.elfontheshelf.com, there are two simple rules:
1. “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.”
2. “A scout elf cannot speak or move while anyone in the house is awake! A scout elf’s job is to watch and listen.”
There are lots of versions of Elf on the Shelf out there, ranging in price, we just got one from our local supermarket which didn’t cost the earth. For more details on the official scout Elf visit www.elfontheshelf.com
The Elf normally arrives with a letter, there are lots of ideas for downloadable letters for new or returning Elves on Pinterest.
Once the Elf has arrived the children then give it a name.
Here are a few ideas…to see all 23, visit the North Leeds Mumbler website
