Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas game where a little toy elf “visits” your house to watch for good behavior and report back to Santa each night. It’s based on a storybook about a scout elf who moves to a new place in your home every morning for kids to find.
Basic idea
The family “adopts” an elf and usually reads the Elf on the Shelf storybook together the first time it appears. After that, children are told the elf is a special scout sent by Santa to observe how they behave during the Christmas season.
What the elf does
Each night, after kids go to bed, the elf is said to fly back to the North Pole to tell Santa what happened that day. Before the children wake up, the elf “returns” and is placed in a new spot, turning it into a daily hide‑and‑seek game.
Main rules
Families usually follow a few simple rules: kids are not allowed to touch the elf or it might “lose its magic,” but they can talk to it and share wishes. The elf does not move or speak while children are awake, which keeps the illusion that it only travels and plays when no one is watching.
When it happens
Many families have the elf arrive sometime between late November and December 1 so it can “visit” through the lead‑up to Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the elf’s job is considered done, and it is said to return to the North Pole until the next year.
Why people like it
For kids, Elf on the Shelf feels like having a bit of Santa’s magic living in the house during December. For parents, it becomes a fun way to set up silly scenes, encourage good behavior, and count down the days until Christmas.
