Elf on a shelf 2020

[thetapeworm]

I know for many this is the work of the devil, ruins Christmas, is council etc but here we are again trying to make our kids happy with a little but of fun. If you think it's ridiculous that's cool, you don't have to reply or read on.

So onto this year... I've lost the bloody elf, it's not where I thought I'd put it with the decorations. Maybe they really are magical.

I thought maybe we could pool ideas here to make life a bit easier for each other. Feel free to share if you see anything inspirational, we had success with these easy ones:

1. An egg, sprinkle glitter on it one day. Kinder egg the next. 2 days done.

2. M&Ms aroundvthe rim of a plate, "add water for magic" - colours run like a rainbow.

3. Colour a banana in to look like a Minion

4. Whiteboard marker, deface pictures around house, draw glasses on etc


I think thus will be our last year of her believing in this stuff so I'm happy to go with it.

Useful links:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christma...

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g22690552...

https://popculture.com/lifestyle/news/elf-on-the-s...

https://www.iheartnaptime.net/elf-shelf-ideas/

Edited by thetapeworm on Monday 30th November 23:16

[Diplomatico]

Ours is on the tree tonight for the toddler in the morning.

[EVO575]

Our elf has had to isolate until the 13th(all explained in a letter which will arrive tomorrow morning)-happy days!

[Corvid-2020]

EVO575 said:

Our elf has had to isolate until the 13th (all explained in a letter which will arrive tomorrow morning)-happy days!

Our elf has a hypo needle and an alternate syringe ready to give elder a CV-19 jab! Will be into the blood if she wants, but suspect she'll go for the "Calpol repainted syringe" mouth injection. (Younger is being sent home from school as the year teacher has Bat Flu; elder worrying Christmas is cancelled).

[sherman]

I have seen elfs in large kilner jars with a tiny face mask and a bottle of hand sanitiser saying the elf needs to self isolate for 2 weeks then it can come out.
Parent doesnt need to do anything to elf in that time.

[whitesocks]

Someone at my old job got sacked because they put the Elf in a 'naughty' position and somebody complained to management.

[Bill]

thetapeworm said:

I know for many this is the work of the devil, ruins Christmas, is council etc but here we are again trying to make our kids happy with a little but of fun. If you think it's ridiculous that's cool, you don't have to reply or read on.

What if you think it's ridiculous but enjoy hearing about it anyway?? I've got friends who get incredibly stressed about the whole thing and go to enormous lengths with it. Brilliant!

[HTP99]

Bill said:

thetapeworm said:

I know for many this is the work of the devil, ruins Christmas, is council etc but here we are again trying to make our kids happy with a little but of fun. If you think it's ridiculous that's cool, you don't have to reply or read on.

What if you think it's ridiculous but enjoy hearing about it anyway?? I've got friends who get incredibly stressed about the whole thing and go to enormous lengths with it. Brilliant!

I didn't know about the Elf on a Shelf until we spent a week leading up to Christmas away with my sister 5 years ago, I'd never heard of it (my kids are far older), thought it was fun but also a tad weird.

[thetapeworm]

Bill said:

thetapeworm said:

I know for many this is the work of the devil, ruins Christmas, is council etc but here we are again trying to make our kids happy with a little but of fun. If you think it's ridiculous that's cool, you don't have to reply or read on.

What if you think it's ridiculous but enjoy hearing about it anyway?? I've got friends who get incredibly stressed about the whole thing and go to enormous lengths with it. Brilliant!

Welcome aboard.

I posted this to try and prevent anyone having to get stressed and end up crafting elaborate things just to get the job done. This is the "bare minimum to stop the kids crying" version rather than the "hey followers, I spent 18 hours making this for the elf today" Instagram version

[bristolbaron]

My wife decided the first year that she did this that our elf would be nice and encourage the kids to do kind tasks throughout the day. Day 1’s not going well this time around, This morning I heard “mummy tell us the truth! It’s your elf and you make us do kind things!”

[S6PNJ]

Funniest one I've seen so far:

[Bill]

thetapeworm said:

I posted this to try and prevent anyone having to get stressed and end up crafting elaborate things just to get the job done. This is the "bare minimum to stop the kids crying" version rather than the "hey followers, I spent 18 hours making this for the elf today" Instagram version

That's no fun!