Come fall, and we start looking towards the best time of the year – CHRISTMAS!! The holiday season is always a special time spent with family and loved ones. A new addition to this culture, is the recently established parenting game – The Elf On The Shelf – which has now become a common tradition in many families with kids.
Who is Elf On The Shelf?
The folklore says Santa has its Scout Elves fly to and from the North Pole to the kids’ house every night of December to communicate what the kids have been doing all day. Santa can then get the kids their gifts on Christmas Day!
The elf comes to visit the family for the first time between November 24th to December 1st, but it can be as early or as late as you would wish. It is a game of hide and seek between the kids and the elf every morning as the elf on the shelf changes his location every night while the kids are out and asleep.
What is the tradition?
This quirky tradition has become a popular family celebration since it was started by Carol Aebersold with her twin daughters. Parents can come up with newer ideas to place their elf every night and some fun activities to get the kids involved. It could be as exciting and entertaining as you can make it with your family.
It is a great Christmas tradition for your kids to make some lovely memories for a lifetime. Enjoying the simplicity of reading a book each night, to getting creative for some Christmasy home decor, to spending some quality time in the kitchen, goodness and kindness can be taught in an easy manner with the Elf.
What are the rules of the game?
Elf On The Shelf has some pretty simple rules to play by. The kids cannot touch the elf or he will lose his magic. If they hold him accidentally, they will have to write a letter to Santa to apologize and place some cinnamon next to the elf to help him get his magical powers back overnight. The elf does not move or speak while the kids are awake, and only travels once the kids have slept. And the most important rule of the game is HAVE FUN!!
So how can Elf help you parents during this festive season?
Here are some fun ideas to do with your kids to get your home ready for the holidays!
Decorate the Christmas tree with it
The most significant activity of the holiday season – decorating your Christmas tree!! You can make it an even more exciting activity by taking your kids to a Christmas tree farm to pick the perfect tree for your home.Then bring out the decorations, play some Christmas carols and get to the job. Get the Elf On The Shelf to be a part of the activity by placing him close to the location of the Christmas tree. Let your kids get creative with the decoration, hang a few personalised ornaments and spend some special moments of happiness with the family. Finally, put some fairy lights on the tree and turn your place in to a magical wonderland ready for the festive season.
Decorate stockings and Christmas wreaths
A great way to get everyone involved in a fun Christmas activity, decorating stockings and making Christmas wreaths can be made a yearly tradition within families. It is not just the process of decorating the stockings or making wreaths, but hanging it up all together as a family that is more precious instilling a sense of love and harmony in the hearts of all. Customise your Christmas home decor with old photographs, some collectibles and other favorites hand-picked by the kids. Respecting their choices will also build up their self-confidence in the process.
Invite Elf to a movie night
Christmas season is here, and so are the Christmas movies! Pictured in the most beautiful, romantic settings, Christmas movies have the perfect happy-endings for a joyful holiday season. Ideal for all age-groups, Christmas movies are laced with magic, and what better way than to enjoy some time snuggling on the couch with your loved ones as you munch on warm choco-dipped strawberries with a mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. An orange zest mixed with essential oils over a candle burning in the corner can add to the cozy feels.
Bake some Christmas goodies with Elf
Let your house fill up with the beautiful waft of some good old vanilla as you bake some cupcakes and cookies with your kids. Put on their chef hats, drape some aprons and get messy in the kitchen as you make some beautiful memories of a lovely Christmas spent together. Decorate the cupcakes and cookies with some red-green-silver frosting for the holiday season vibes. Burn some cinnamon scented candles, and get cozy as you enjoy the sweets while playing some holiday games together while the Elf On The Shelf smilingly watches you over.
Let Elf On The Shelf allow a party night
Let your hair loose for a day (or night), and let your kids be kids. Write a fun letter from the Elf to the kids telling he’s sprinkled mom and dad with magic, and they will allow a fun night, offer valid only for 1 night! Once discovered by the kids in the morning, get them all pumped up for a great night of fun and merriment. Get the night started by changing into Christmas pyjamas, have ice-cream and cereal for dinner, play some games and watch the kids sleep with the biggest smiles on their faces having enjoyed the best night of their lives!!
Set the dinner table for Christmas Eve
It is Christmas Eve – the last night for Elf with you all. Set the perfect dinner table for him as the family enjoys some heartwarming food and laughter together. Involve your kids and watch them beam with pride as they lay the table together. A green and red plaid, classic dinnerware and crystal glasses, a beautiful floral centrepiece, neatly folded red napkins with gold ring holders, and some tea lights adding to the warmth and love – isn’t it a beautiful setting! Pair an amazing wine with the delicious food – and that is a lovely Christmas Eve dinner!
Be mindful as you celebrate
Although the concept originated with an approach to keep the kids from misbehaving and treating (bribing) them for good behavior, it has been received critically with the modern parenting style. It is best to rather take a more healthier approach of love and trust building with the absolute intent to have a lot of fun as a family while making memories to last a lifetime!
Make Elf On The Shelf a part of your family, a friend to your kids, and let your kids explore the little joys of childhood before they learn the truth about Santa. Teach them to believe in magic, now and forever, for life is nothing but magic!!
