Parents boycott ‘stupid’ Elf on the Shelf after noticing ‘creepy’ details
Fed-up parents have shared their reluctance to commit to the dreaded Elf on the Shelf
In most families with young children, the mischievous character appears on December 1.
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The Elf on the Shelf tradition began in 2005 and gained significant popularity between 2010 and 2013.
Although the elves are currently available for £19.95, most of the issues with parents are about the effort involved and not the price.
Manufacturers recommend introducing the naughty elf between November 24 and December 1.
Parents should then place the elf around their home and change hiding places every night.
Each elf comes with a set of rules, including that he cannot be touched or he will lose his magic.
They are designed as ‘Santa’s helpers’ and ensure children’s good behavior in the run-up to Christmas.
However, parents have taken issue with the enormous effort required to creatively portray the character every night of the holiday season.
A frustrated mother shared her thoughts on the tradition in a after on Mumsnet.
“I understand it as a magical annoying elf showing up [on] From December 1, to watch your children and report their behavior back to the North Pole,” she wrote.
“However, it is counterproductive when it is the ‘naughty’ elf who is actually the one to be monitored.
“This is evident from his antics every night, set up by the lucky parent who has to come up with various naughty problems for 24 days.”
The woman explained that she was “not a Grinch” and enjoys other festive activities such as crafting, baking, advent calendars and leaving mince pies and carrots on Christmas Eve.
“I just think the idea of the elf is creepy, especially the whole idea of watching and monitoring,” she said.
“I don’t want to do it and I feel mean. Because the other kids are coming to visit, I don’t want a festive cracker in my house.”
She added that she worried the tradition would also lead her children to question Santa’s existence.
Elf on the shelf rules
Traditionally, Santa Claus sends his scout elves to watch over the children to see if they are behaving in the run-up to Christmas. But there are rules you must follow:
- Do not touch your Scout Elf or they will lose their magic.
- Scout Elves can’t talk, but they are good listeners, so your little ones can share their secrets with them.
- Scout Elves must return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve to help Santa prepare for next Christmas.
Other parents agreed that Elf on the Shelf had become too much work.
“I have an irrational hatred for it. Throw the stupid thing away and let your kids perfect a haughty ‘We don’t do that in our family’,” one Mumsnet user suggested.
“Horrible scary thing, I have more than enough to do in December,” another commenter wrote.
“I hate that creepy little bastard. Why would you want your little kid to think something is being spied on all the time?” a third parent asked.
“Never did. The idea of it spying on you is really creepy,” someone else agreed.
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