Elf on the Shelf?

It sounds kind of cute, but for me, when something becomes over commericalized like this, I tend to stay away from it. It is bad enough that Christmas has become so over-commercialized...I actually really tend to avoid hyping up my kids. We get a tree and decorate and do all of that, but I really downplay the whole gift thing and Santa making his list etc. I think it puts a bit of unneeded stress on kids...wondering if they have been good enough for Santa to give them gifts...I don't know...not my thing I guess as I am focusing more on the giving than the getting.

Ive been toying with the idea too. Where can i get an "elf on a shelf"??

I'm with Sunnydays on the downplaying. I try to remember that I am the caregiver and not the parent. It is up to the parents to develop traditions so if they want an elf at their house fine, or want to take the kids to see Santa, fine, those are parent privileges. I did those things with my kids when they were little and would never dream of taking the fun out of these kinds of things for the parents. The same reason I downplay birthdays such as no candles - parents get to see the child's reaction not me.

We do the Elf on the Shelf in the daycare ... I love the concept and educational fun I can use him for and have pinned a ton of ideas for them when they wake up from nap ... I do not have wee ones of my own anymore so my daycare kids are my surragates to share the magic of Chrismtas with ;)

Than last night at our local provider Christmas party we were also talking about doing a Random Acts of Kindness campaign with our daycare's to remind people that December is more about GIVING of SELF than the commercialization of presents for one another ... so now with that idea in my head and a multi tasker at heart I have decided to tweak my Elf plans a little bit this year and have him leave the children little 'challenges to pay it forward' during the month of December.

While the elf on the shelf is a fun December thing he really needs to be there from January to November to keep the kids in line for the whole year don't you think, lol.

LOL - ya the commercialism of retail stores would love if we stretched out Christmas even longer - but I agree the expectation of behaviour is same all year long here regardless if we can see an elf ... they way i tell the story is he's here all year long we just can only see him the magical month of December ;)

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Originally Posted by playfelt

While the elf on the shelf is a fun December thing he really needs to be there from January to November to keep the kids in line for the whole year don't you think, lol.

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Ha, I always love the way you think Playfelt!

I have my Christmas decorations out and today I grabbed my Rudolph ceramic deer that I made in the 80's haha and sang the Rudoph song and danced around with my big stuffed Santa when I sang Santa Claus is coming to town and have a snowman puppet for Frosty and so on. I think the kids need the visual to associate with the songs. We also shake tambourines when I sing Jingle Bells. But I hate the commercialized stuff too.

Well see now you made me see the elf in a new light. If it is presented in the right way, it need not be about getting more instead of giving more. I guess it all depends how you explain the elf and what he is looking for and why :laugh:

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Originally Posted by Inspired by Reggio

We do the Elf on the Shelf in the daycare ... I love the concept and educational fun I can use him for and have pinned a ton of ideas for them when they wake up from nap ... I do not have wee ones of my own anymore so my daycare kids are my surragates to share the magic of Chrismtas with ;)

Than last night at our local provider Christmas party we were also talking about doing a Random Acts of Kindness campaign with our daycare's to remind people that December is more about GIVING of SELF than the commercialization of presents for one another ... so now with that idea in my head and a multi tasker at heart I have decided to tweak my Elf plans a little bit this year and have him leave the children little 'challenges to pay it forward' during the month of December.

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Originally Posted by Inspired by Reggio

tweak my Elf plans a little bit this year and have him leave the children little 'challenges to pay it forward' during the month of December.

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. I honestly think that we almost had more fun in the thinking up and setting up (we just kept it as a special thing for our children) then the kids did the next morning....we even made a whole video with our Elf. Love your idea of giving our kids challenges! Taylor (our elf) will be making an appearance this weekend;)

Sorry, but the Random Acts of Kindness was brought up by a wonderful friend of mine here in London, Ont. who deserves the credit. If you would like more information I'd be happy to provide it for you.

She provided some of us with the pages she typed up and her ideas.