Every year, the same question arises: just how does Santa know who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. He lives up at the North Pole. That’s a long way from most boys and girls.
Well, in 2005, mother-daughter duo Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell revealed the truth in their children’s book, “Elf on the Shelf.” Santa sends his elves out every year as “observers” who report back on who deserves nice presents and who deserves coal in those stockings hung by the chimney with such care.
Since 2005, scores of parents have officially welcomed the elves into their homes — some have even adopted them, according to the Elf Adoption Center website that explains all the different ways to adopt an elf. Parents who want to have the same elf come back each year can put their locations into an adoption center finder or call a phone number listed on the site to make the arrangements.
Once a family has adopted an elf, they wait each year for him or her to arrive shortly after Thanksgiving. Each night from the elf’s arrival until Christmas, parents help the elf find a new observation point where he or she can be the watching eyes of Santa Claus. Children have to abide by certain rules, though, or else the visting elves will lose their magic and become just another Christmas decoration. One of those rules is that children can’t touch their elves. They can talk to their elves but aren’t to expect a response, for elves only observe, and each elf must be named by its adoptive family. Parents can find all the rules online.
Over the years, the elves have become known as the Elf on the Shelf, and they have acquired a handful of toy awards and been the subjects of an animated special and even featured on a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade float in 2012.
Elves can be male or female, and they come with a variety of skin tones. Today, many families have adopted the holiday tradition of inviting an Elf on the Shelf into their homes for the month before Christmas.
A 2019 Forbes magazine reported in 2019 that the family who revealed the Elf on the Shelf secret have placed more than 13 million elves in homes around the globe.
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The biggest challenge for parents who adopt Elves on the shelf is helping them find a different observation point each day. That takes a lot of creativity, some parents report.
As a public service, The Augusta Press presents some suggestions from area parents that might help other parents think of new and creative placements.
Whether it involves stuffing an elf in the washing machine with a help sign, wrapping one in toilet paper and blaming the dog, simulating rock climbing with bows on the bathroom mirror or even using a toilet paper roll as a swing, children love believing their personal elf is just a little bit on the mischievous side — and that maybe there’s hope for them if they forget and are just a little naughty themselves.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
