The Elf On The Shelf Kit- Introducing A New Tradition

As part of our Christmas tradition, the kids have always written a letter to Santa Claus telling him what they have been doing well and sharing their wish lists.  Well, this year we introduced a new tradition with the Christmas Elf On The Shelf Kit. I am so excited to share it with you. I’ll tell you how we introduced the Elf On The Shelf to our kids and give you lots of great Elf on The Shelf ideas! This post is sponsored by Kohls (they sell Elf On The Shelf Kits) but all opinions expressed are my own.

The Elf on the Shelf is a popular holiday tradition that began as a children’s book written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell. The story revolves around the idea that Santa sends a special scout elf to homes to watch over children and report back on their behavior. The scout elves move around the house each night and returns to a different spot each morning, creating a sense of magic and excitement for kids during the holiday season.

What Is Included In The Elf On The Shelf Kit?

To start the Elf on the Shelf tradition, you typically need an Elf on the Shelf kit, which includes:

1. The Elf on the Shelf Book: This is the original book that introduces the story and explains the role of the scout elf. It often comes with a small elf figure.
2. Elf Figurine: The kit usually includes a small, posable elf figurine that children can name. The elf is meant to be the physical representation of the scout elf in the story.
3. Keepsake Box: The kit comes in a special keepsake box to store the book and the elf when not in use.
4. Official Adoption Certificate: The kit also include an adoption certificate for the child to fill out, giving the elf its official name.
5. Ideas and Tips: Some kits provide a set of ideas and tips for parents on how to creatively pose the elf each night, making it a fun and engaging experience for the children.

Introducing The Christmas Elf On The Shelf To Kids

This year my kids wrote letters to Santa and stuck them in the fireplace (to get picked up) and the next morning, the Christmas Elf on the Shelf was waiting on the mantle. Their letters were gone and the Elf was waiting with a book.They were so excited! They were familiar with the Elf on the Shelf concept because many of their friends had elves already. They wanted to explain to me all about how it works and it was all news to me. No touching the elf – although their friend said that their mother said, brown sugar is a save if it happened by accident. I assured them that peppermint sticks probably worked better (and are less messy).

Then we read the Christmas Elf on the Shelf book together to help clear up all the details. They paid lots of attention and they have already referred back to the book to show that they are in fact able to talk to the elf and he will hear them. My son picked the name Stewart for our elf.

A New Christmas Tradition- Beneficial Family Moments Spent With Our Elf on the Shelf

Cleaning

The Elf on the Shelf inspired something amazing- they cleaned the toy room unbidden!  Really!  I heard my daughter telling my son that they had to clean up the toy room so that Stewart could tell Santa how good they have been!  Believe me, I milked that for all it was worth! I hope this stays a part of our new Christmas tradition!

 

My daughter wants to request one more thing and she gave her elf all of her money to help out! #scoutelfreturnweek #kohls #ad

A photo posted by Family Focus (@familyfocusblog) on Dec 1, 2015 at 9:01am PST

Notes

My son writes Stewart the Elf notes. Little messages like, “Do you like these people?” with cartoon character drawings attached. My daughter wrote him a long message with an item she forgot to put on her Christmas list but just has to have. She left it for him with all the money in her piggy bank to help out! It is fun seeing what is going on in their brains!

 

My kids made cookies for our @kohls elf on the shelf! They are so excited about #scoutelfreturnweek. #kohls #ad

A photo posted by Family Focus (@familyfocusblog) on Nov 30, 2015 at 3:58pm PST

Cooking

My son really likes Stewart and he wanted to make him cookies. I had to convince him that we should make enough cookies for us too while we were at it! So we started our Christmas cookie baking early this year and I have a feeling we will be trying out a lot more recipes this year too! We also made Stewart some donuts (cheerios with melted chips and sprinkles). When my husband moved the elf that night I asked him where he put the donuts and he gave me a guilty look and said his belly!

Gifts

Stewart, the elf, must have liked the cookies so much he brought pajamas for the kids! Elf on the Shelf pajamas! And they are so cute. My kids were thrilled to see Stewart the Elf brought them a gift! The Boys 4-10 The Elf on the Shelf 4-piece Pajama Set and the The Elf on the Shelf Striped Nightgown – Girls 4-10 are just a few of Kohl’s exclusive Elf on the Shelf accessories. We have a few more gift ideas up our sleeves to get the kids excited but we haven’t pulled out all the stops yet. We are holding back on the “Claus Couture Collection® Perfect Party Set & Playful PJ’s Collection by The Elf on the Shelf®” but it is hard to make myself wait!

Racing

Every morning is a fun race around the house to find the Christmas Elf on the Shelf. Then we speculate about what he will see from that vantage point. So far he has spent most of his time in the toy room. My husband and I are having fun thinking of interesting placement ideas for our Elf on the Shelf. Speaking of which, I listed a few quick Elf on the Shelf ideas below.

Last Minute Elf On The Shelf Ideas

Here are some quick and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that don’t require much preparation:

1. Marshmallow Snowball Fight

• Scatter mini marshmallows around the Elf. These are such cute and easy polar props!
• Place the Elf next to a small pile, as if they’re in a snowball fight.
• Add a toy or stuffed animal “opponent” for extra fun.

2. Elf Reading Time

• Prop the Elf against a pile of books.
• Use a small, open book or printable mini-books for the Elf to “read.”
• Bonus: Use holiday-themed books.

3. Toilet Paper Roll Sled

• Place the Elf inside a roll of toilet paper as a sled.
• Position them “sledding” down a staircase or counter.

4. DIY Zip Line

• Create a zip line with string and a candy cane.
• Attach the Elf to the candy cane and hang them sliding across the line.

5. “Snow” Angel

• Pour out powdered sugar (or cereal) on a flat surface.
• Lay the Elf down and spread their arms to make an “angel” impression.

Elf On The Shelf Rules

Here’s a quick rundown of the Elf on the Shelf rules:

1. No Touching the Elf
   • Children can’t touch the Elf, or they’ll lose their magic.
   • If accidentally touched, sprinkle cinnamon near the Elf to help restore their magic.
2. Elf Moves Each Night
   • The Elf reports to Santa at night and finds a new spot by morning.
3. The Elf Leaves on Christmas Eve
   The Elf returns to the North Pole with Santa after Christmas Eve to rest for the next year.

Conclusion

We are really enjoying all these extra special holiday moments we are having with our children this elf season. I just love this new Christmas Elf on the Shelf tradition!

Recently, Kohl’s unveiled exclusive family-friendly Elf on the Shelf products in the spirit of the holiday season.  The new collection boasts fun children’s pajamas, festive dinnerware, and cute outfits for your Elf so shop online at kohls.com or in your local store for some fun Elf on the Shelf products!

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? Think you will get a brand-new kit? I’d love to hear about your family moments spent with your Christmas Elf on the Shelf!  What is a favorite Christmas tradition of yours?

#kohls #ScoutElfReturnWeek

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