Elf on the Shelf - How Did You Introduce Him?

Ohh... I didn't do that. Actually, I'd never even heard of it until a few years ago, and the idea kinda creeps me out... reminds me of Chucky or something... a toy that watches and moves around? EEK!

Hermie (our Elf) found his way to our home on Thanksgiving day a few years ago in a package addressed to our daughter, our youngest was not born yet. We read the story with her, checked out the website together then we allowed her to pick the first spot for us to place Hermie that evening.

She gets such a rush out of racing around the house to locate Hermie each morning :) Hermie makes his way back to our home every Thanksgiving morning as part of our tradition.

Our youngest is only 2 so she wasn't very into it last year but I'm sure she'll be a bit more excited by it all this year. Our oldest is now 6 and has already reminded me that Thanksgiving will be coming soon so Hermie will be back :)

This year I ordered the free personalized Christmas cards I posted about on here. Hermie will deliver the Christmas Note Cards from Santa to the girls on Thanksgiving Day. I think I will make that apart of our tradition as well. How exciting for Hermie to bring them each a note from Santa when he returns!

I will forewarn you these little ones are on the ball and will be searching out his new landing place EVERY morning. We did forget to move him a few times and had to distract her while the other one quickly moved him to his new spot. Crisis averted...let the magic of Christmas continue.

Peace and Blessings,
T. B

We just did this last year, but I didn't know he was supposed to come from Santa, oops! A friend of mine had bought one for me to give to my daughter (then just turned 4), and I just gave it to her and told her who it came from (our friend), that was the oops. We read the book and my daughter wanted No part of some scary elf flying around our house, she was scared, and said for me to give it back, he never even made it out of the box, so I gave it back (it stayed in my trunk for 2 days). During that time we talked about it, and still Nope, she didn't want it. I was bummed! Well, on the 3rd day, we were sitting on the couch and I was tickling her, her back was on my lap and she was hanging upside down, and from her view upside down she saw the elf up on the curtain rod, she got this HUGE smile and just pointed and said "Elf", I said "What?" and she said "Elf!" And the rest is history! She has been anticipating "Poppy's" return at Thanksgiving, she can't wait! She was much happier knowing that Santa gave her the elf than our friend. Good luck, and have fun!!

I wrapped the box (with the book and elf) in plain brown paper and addressed it to the boys with the return address as the North Pole. We left it on the porch for the boys to find ~ it was super fun!! They we so excited to get a package from the N.P. Then we read the story and Charlie (our elf) moved around the house every day. He even traveled with us. The boys are already talking about Dec. 1st and how they can't wait for Charlie to come home from the North Pole.

I put the elf someplace visible but not super conspicuous in the living room when my kids weren't around. Then I told them we had a new book, and I read the book to them. After we read it, I said, "Hmmm. I wonder if we have an elf in *our* house?" and they looked around and saw it.

Our "Elfie" arrived the day after Thanksgiving in it's original box with my two son's names on it (on a label I attached) - we read the story, named him, and so the tradition began!
A TON of adorable ideas on Pinterest for cute things to do with him...make a "snow" angel in some sugar sprinkled on the kitchen counter, stuff like that. Our Elfie loves to swing from the chandelier often...lol
Enjoy the tradition with your little ones, it's a lot of fun and they will be sad to see him for the last time on Christmas Eve!!!

I thought it was weird and served no purpose in my house.

We just read the book as an introduction. The book pretty much walks you through naming your elf, placing your elf, when he arrives and leaves and what he does.

I can tell you this from a Santa's perspective. (See my profile photo)

Dad came up to me while son was distracted and told me his son was begining to have doubts about santa. Dad said they have an elf on the shelf in their home and his name is Thomas. Dad asked me to mention Thomas saying "Hi" to son while he was sitting on my lap.

Well, something distracted me and I forgot. We finished taking photos, and as they were leaving, I said,"Oh, Billy (son's name), Thomas said for me to tell you 'Hi'." Billy 's jaw dropped and he looked at his dad. Dad piped right up and said, "I told you Thomas knew Santa." I of course replied, "Of course I know Thomas. Thomas and I have been friends for a long, long time. Thomas said he really likes being in your home."

The dad made a special trip back to see me and tell me how much his son loved that and that Thomas now has a special place in Billy's heart."

I love playing Santa. Its the most wonderful job I've ever had.

Good luck to you and yours

Let me tell you our Frisbeee is one life saver! He appeared one day on our back door step. We opened the box and read the story and let the magic happen. He was placed on a bookshelf the first night and then it was a huge deal to see who can find him first in the morning! He has also popped in now and then during the year with a little note to remind the kids that he is always watching! There is a movie now which the kids love and a facebook page which we check in on to see what is happening up at the North Pole. Its great fun and the adults in my house fight over who gets to hide him! The only bad thing is they sell him at Target now right at the front registers and the kids asked last year how that was possible so I had to think fast and told them that Santa wants to make sure that everyone can have an elf so he sent them to target to have their forever famlies adopt them! It worked thank god!
I also found out that he is in no way a new thing... I have a friend whos mom had one as a child. Enjoy him or her!