Last year, a friend told me about doing the Elf on the Shelf tradition with her kids. I had never heard of it, but this is a tradition that just might find its way into our house this year! If you’re not familiar with the Elf on the Shelf tradition, let me explain.
Author Carol Aebersold began the tradition with her family in the 1970s, explaining to her children that Santa sends a scout elf to every home. During the holiday season, she put out a little elf doll to “watch” the kids. The elf watches children by day and reports to Santa each night. When the children awake each day, the elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location. This activity makes The Elf on the Shelf a fun hide-and-seek game.
BOOKS-A-MILLION has a fun way to carry out this tradition with your family. The Elf on the Shelf Tradition-in-a-Box comes with a scout elf, a hardbound children’s book, and a keepsake box for storage. The package is $29.95 ($26.95 if you are a BAM Club member).
If you happen to have a little girl and want her to be scouted by a girlie elf, check out the Elf on the Shelf Skirt.
This sounds like a fun little tradition that we just might have to start this year!
Oh My Goodness! I had an elf (actually, my Mom still teases me about him watching!), his name was Elroy! We never had the book,didn’t even know one existed! I can’t wait to tell her that other people do it too! Elroy has since moved on to my kids. He’s always watching!
See, you were doing the Elf on the Shelf before it was published! 😉 I love the name Elroy for an elf, by the way.