| The Elf on the Shelf Christmas and Elf Magic | | | | Elves and children often learn more about each |
| traditions are sweeping the nation -- for good | | | | other and build bonds by writing letters back and |
| reason. They offer a delightful way to build | | | | forth. Some Elves arrive with a festively |
| excitement for the holidays, and keep children on | | | | decorated journal to keep all the correspondence |
| their best behavior. Here is how they work. | | | | in one place. It has been rumored that some |
| The "official" Elf on the Shelf, Elf Magic Elf or a | | | | Elves only write backwards, so children must hold |
| another elf, arrives at your home early in the | | | | the note up to the mirror to read it. A few are |
| Christmas season to spend the holidays with your | | | | conversant in Pig Latin or other codes that older |
| family. | | | | kids must decipher. |
| Each night the Elf on a Shelf returns to the North | | | | Elves Tell Potty Jokes, Too |
| Pole, while your children are sleeping, to report to | | | | Bathroom humor spans all languages and species. |
| Santa regarding their behavior. | | | | Elves love to turn the toilet water green (with |
| While the Elf on the Shelf Elves have a more staid | | | | food coloring), decorate Christmas trees in |
| reputation, the Elf Magic Elves are a mischievous | | | | underwear, toilet paper kids rooms or whole |
| bunch, and have a tendency to make a mess or | | | | houses, and write on bathroom mirrors with |
| pull a crazy stunt while everyone is asleep. Your | | | | mom's lipstick. |
| kids will love to wake up each morning and see | | | | Elves Spell Their Names - Everywhere! |
| what trouble the Elf got into the night before. | | | | Each Elf has a name. Some are named by the |
| Here are ten ideas found around the internet and | | | | children they watch. Others arrive with a note |
| from local families to inspire your elf: | | | | introducing the Elf. Either way, all Elves seem to |
| Elves Love to Do What Your Kids Love To Do | | | | love to leave their signature as often as possible. |
| Elves adapt quickly to a household, and many | | | | Maybe the Elf's name is written in Cheerios, flour, |
| mornings are found busy with the favorite | | | | or chocolate syrup on the counter. Other times in |
| activities of the kids who live there. Reading | | | | toothpaste on the bathroom mirror. Best of all, in |
| favorite books, playing games (including the Wii or | | | | food coloring on freshly fallen snow. |
| Nintendo DS), having a tea party with best-loved | | | | Elves Love Things That Remind Them of Home |
| dolls, and riding skateboards are all favorite Elf | | | | Cotton ball snowball fights are a favorite past |
| past times. | | | | time of elves. Also, Elves often make elf sized |
| Elves Are Into Computers and Social Media | | | | snow angels. If real snow is not available, then |
| Elves in homes with teens have been known to | | | | Insta-Snow or flour make good substitutes. A |
| have email, Facebook and Twitter accounts to | | | | favorite game for Elves is Candy Lane. If the |
| keep an online eye on the kids and send funny | | | | house does not already have a copy, Elves have |
| emails, status updates and tweets. Many elves | | | | been known to bring one from the North Pole as |
| also seem to surf the internet late at night, finding | | | | an early Christmas gift. |
| fun new sites for the kids to enjoy. | | | | Elves Do Not Always Come Alone |
| Elves Love to be in Pictures | | | | What could be better than an Elf on the Shelf? |
| Apparently, Elves are very good at self portraits. | | | | Several Elves, of course. That means the mischief |
| Many families have found their digital cameras full | | | | can multiply and children awake to elaborate |
| of pictures of their Elves in all kinds of crazy | | | | scenes of Elf mayhem. Maybe a poker game or |
| poses. | | | | baseball or football match or a play with Elves in |
| Elves Often Have A Driver's License | | | | costume (borrowed from other dolls). |
| If an Elf cannot be found in the morning, the car | | | | Elves Play With Their Neighbor Elves |
| is the first place to look. Elves are often found in | | | | So many families have their own Elf on a Shelf |
| the driver's seat, sitting on a stack of pillows or | | | | during the holidays that Elves join with neighbor |
| books. The car may be parked backwards or in a | | | | Elves to increase the fun. Many neighbor elves |
| crazy position, and in some cases even down the | | | | have been waiting together at the bus stop for |
| street or in a neighbor's driveway. Typically, | | | | their children to arrive. Other Elves host a |
| Christmas music is blaring through the speakers | | | | Christmas party for neighborhood kids. |
| and the gas tank is mysteriously closer to empty | | | | As you can see, the possibilities are endless for |
| than before. | | | | your elf tradition. Happy Holidays! |
| Elves Write in Journals | | | | |