Elf on the Shelf

Last year I was introduced to the book The Elf on the Shelf. It's a clever story, written in rhymes, that tells children how Santa knows if you've been good or bad, by sending a little elf to your house. The book even came with a little elf.

So this year, we thought we'd try it out with Ethan. We read him the book one evening and told him to watch out in the morning, because the elf may appear. The book instructs the child to name their elf when it first arrives. Ethan decided to name our elf Jake.

Every morning Ethan wakes up and asks where Jake is. He then searches the house for him. He laughs with such joy upon seeing him, and then makes sure that both Scott and I are aware of Jake's presence. The book instructs children that the elf cannot be touched or it's magic will disappear, but you can talk to your elf. So once Ethan's shown Scott and I Jake's whereabouts, he says good morning to Jake, and asks how he got there. Of course, the book also explains that your elf has been instructed by Santa not to speak, so Ethan's not concerned when Jake doesn't reply.

But the best part of Jake, is the effect it has on Ethan. Our dear Ethan, who tends to only eat pasta for dinner, ate a fish pie for dinner one evening, with no fuss, then walked over to Jake and presented him with his empty plate and announced, "I ate all my dinner Jake". Ethan comes home from school and tells Jake "I didn't fight today". And when Ethan starts to fuss, we remind him that Jake is watching, and usually it helps calm him down.

Now what on earth will I do when Christmas is over???