My elf does not do things. She just moves around the house to have different spots to spy on us from.

I put ours in a jar last night with a note saying "Dad Farted! I had to hide!"

Totally stole it from some blog -kid loved it and it was stupid easy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New DCUM rule:

If you do Elf on a Shelf, you don’t get to complain about feeling busy, overwhelmed, too many gifts, too much clutter, too tired, “losing the real meaning of the season,” etc.

Elf on the Shelvers have to shut up about any and all Christmas Komplaints.

Or Krampus will come for the Elf.

I just learned about Krampus! He’s st nick’s companion who takes care of the naughty kids: https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2025/12/krampus-origins-and-development-of-a-winter-devil

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Draw and quarter it and put it with head on stake in front yard as part of holiday decorations.
Christmas was plenty magic before this commercial,made up, surveillance state normalizer became a "tradition."

+1
It’s a stupid “tradition” that dumb parents buy into.

It's a fun tradition that negative parents make fun of.

Inside a roll of toilet paper, optional make a little mess with toilet paper.

Inside socks with other toys, slumber party.

Playing board games with other toys.

In the fridge, optional eating something.

Cooking anything, making snow angels with flour.

Cooking mini marshmallows over a candle with toothpicks.

Climbing a wall with Christmas bows you get at the store.


In the microwave on top of popcorn bowl.

Taking a bath with bath toys in Tupperware in the bathroom.

My kids like when they are naughty, I do the minimum mess/fun I can get away with.

This all started in 2004.

We actually love the Elf - but tonight our elf is leaving a nasty letter that it’s against the rules to get up at 2 am to check for the Elves. It may compromise their magic.
Ugh.

We did the Elf Magic brand. Elves are much cuter and their feet are curled so that it's easy to hang them upside down from a table light or from a garland.

Also, there is no nonsense about them spying or that the kids can't touch them or they lose their magic. Every night they moved to a new hiding place and the kids would find them in the morning.

Every so often they were in a more elaborate setup when I had time. We still do them when the kids come home on Christmas break from college.

My favorite recent idea was the skittles in a circle on a plate with the sign to add warm water. The rainbow is a cool effect.

I'm embarrassed to admit I did the poop in muffin trays a few years ago with labels. Mini marshmallows for snowman poop, bright green candy for Grinch poop. Reece's pieces for ET poop. Pink & white sprinkles for Barbie poop. I had 12 different candies and sprinkles around the kitchen, so it was easy. Google for the rest of the ideas.

Snow angels out of flour on the counter.

Propped next to the counter mixer with a bag of cookie mix.

Sitting in the family room chair with a bowl of popcorn and the remote watching a Christmas movie.

Peeking out of the kid's stockings.

On a school day, sitting on a stack of books in the driver's seat trying to back the car out with one elf pushing the accelerator pedal.

In the fridge with a note that they missed the North Pole weather.

We had 2, which made it more fun for the hijinks. If you don't have an elf yet, here's the link. Their outfits and hair are really cute:

https://tumblesettoys.com/collections/elf-magic

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New DCUM rule:

If you do Elf on a Shelf, you don’t get to complain about feeling busy, overwhelmed, too many gifts, too much clutter, too tired, “losing the real meaning of the season,” etc.

Elf on the Shelvers have to shut up about any and all Christmas Komplaints.

i

+100

I’m already overwhelmed with just supervising my small children on the weekends. We managed to stick four candles in the advent wreath metal ring and maybe I’ll get around to tying some greens on it later this week. No way in h3ll would I have time for Elf on a Shelf.

Then don’t participate. We do it and love it. Some of us aren’t frazzled messes. (And I work full time and am the primary parent + breadwinner.)

BUT are you asking for ideas on DCUM at midnight? If you enjoy it fine, but it’s definitely the most complained about holiday tradition by far because people lock themselves into doing it for 25 days and are miserable by day 4.

Anonymous wrote:My favorite is when she toilet papers the bathroom or tapes underwear on the wall and is sitting in it.

Our elf also isn’t looking out for bad behavior but instead reminding the kids to be the joy and spread the Christmas cheer. Here is the letter our elf (with ChatGPT) wrote for this year. Maybe some PP should read it….

Guess who slid down a gumdrop rainbow, tip-toed across a marshmallow cloud, and jingled all the way back to your house?
Remember the #1 Rule of Christmas Magic: Kindness makes the magic grow!

Every time you share, help someone, or make someone smile—POOF! A little burst of Christmas sparkle fills the air. That’s what makes this season so special. (If you listen closely, you might even hear a tinkle-tinkle sound. That’s the kindness glitter landing!)

Christmas isn’t just about presents—oh no, no, no! It’s about making hearts feel warm and spreading joy like sprinkles on a sugar cookie. And I just KNOW you two have extra-strong kindness powers. The North Pole reports say so!

Let’s team up this year to spread as much joy as we can—big kindness, small kindness, even silly kindness.

I’m so proud of both of you. I can’t wait to see what Christmas magic you create!

With jingling hugs,

I LOVE this letter! And the concept behind your elf. I've never been comfortable with the "Santa is watching, and if you are naughty he won't bring you presents." So I'd never do Elf it he was there to spy and tell Santa on you. Honestly, Christmas is about joy, kindness, and doing for others (and honoring the baby Jesus if you are religious) - so why shouldn't Elf support that!

Ours only moves on Saturday and Sunday, then on the 23rd going into Christmas Eve when he brings our pajamas. We do a mix of Bible verses and funny things. My girls are 5 & 7