Last Friday, our elementary school took a school-wide trip to go see the Nutcracker. Each class returned to their classroom in a messy upheaval. Chairs were overturned and on top of desks, and toilet paper was strewn everywhere. The whiteboards were scribbled all over except for right in the middle of one where there was placed a sign that said "I'm watching you! -The Elf on the Shelf"
#4 came home annoyed that he had to spend time cleaning up his classroom. Can't say that I blame him, but the part that was most frustrating was that #5 came home scared to death! "Someone's watching me, mom. He's going to come into my room in the middle of the night and throw everything around and mess it up!" She was so scared that she wouldn't even sleep in her bed Friday night. In fact, she hardly slept. It was a long night!!!
On that note, let's talk. I do not get the whole Elf on the Shelf game. From what I've seen (mostly from friends) this Elf, who is supposedly on assignment from Santa sent to help the children be good before Christmas, does so by being naughty and mischievous? Flying around in underwear, and making messes? What kind of example is that setting? Why can't the Elf on the Shelf do charitable, uplifting, good things? For example, in the case of our elementary school, why couldn't the elf have cleaned the whiteboard and left a piece of candy on each child's desk?
Do you do Elf on the Shelf at your house, and if so, what kind of example is your elf being?