a b c Hank Stuever (November 24, 2011). "CBS's 'Elf on the Shelf': Unwarranted Christmas surveillance techniques". The Washington Post . Retrieved August 25, 2013. [ dead link]

Who's the Boss?". Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017 . Retrieved December 1, 2017. The Atlantic columnist Kate Tuttle calls The Elf on the Shelf "a marketing juggernaut dressed up as a tradition", whose purpose is "to spy on kids". She argues that one shouldn't "bully [one's] child into thinking that good behavior equals gifts." [9] Writing for Psychology Today, David Kyle Johnston calls it a "dangerous parental crutch", with much the same reasoning as what he terms the " Santa lie". [10] I cannot support the idea of extrinsic motivations for moral development. If children are being decent, kind, generous citizens just because a tiny humanoid is watching their every move, then they're not thinking critically about their actions and their effects on others. Children don't internalize the value of altruistic behaviors from this book; they are left with no need to be good for the sake of being good. Instead, children are presented with an insincere meritocracy as tempering their otherwise irresponsible and sociopathic tendencies. This book is a disservice to children for insisting that they are incapable of compassion and responsibility, and a disservice to parents for assuming that they cannot imbue their children with any sense of personal accountability. Kids of all ages enjoy the spirit of Christmas that the Scout Elf brings. Stew and Regina Huminski from Aberdeen, Maryland, pair their Scout Elf, Claude, with a stuffed Stitch from the Disney movie “Lilo & Stitch” and, as expected, hijinks ensue. Elf on the Shelf is a book the whole family will enjoy. Each set comes with a book and a cute little Elf. Each Elf will gain his magic once he/she has been given a name. The names are as individual as the kids that the elves belong too and naming them is half the fun.The Elf on the Shelf was written in 2004 by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell. Bell suggested they write a book about an old tradition of an elf sent from Santa who came to watch over children at Christmas time. [2] Aebersold's other daughter, Christa Pitts, was recruited by the family to share her expertise in sales and marketing. Together, the trio devoted the next three years to promoting their self-published book and attending book signings and trade shows. The Elf on the Shelf': How the brand evolved over 17 years". foxbusiness.com. November 9, 2021 . Retrieved October 30, 2023. An Elf's Story". The Elf on the Shelf. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013 . Retrieved December 4, 2013. And with millions of households sharing in that memory making, it seems that indeed The Elf on the Shelf tradition will carry on for many years to come. Yost, Russell (September 22, 2021). "The History of Elf on the Shelf" . Retrieved October 30, 2023.

Children can talk to their special visitors, though Scout Elves can only listen and never speak to humans. Only parents are allowed to touch them or else they’ll lose their magic — and what's the fun in that? How does Santa really know who is naughty or nice? The answer is finally revealed in…The Elf on the Shelf A Christmas Tradition.TMThe Elf on the Shelf A Christmas TraditionTM is an activity the entire family will enjoy. Based on the tradition Carol Aebersold began with her family in the 1970s, this cleverly rhymed childrens book explains that Santa knows who is naughty and or nice because he sends a scout elf to every home. During the holiday season, the elf watches children by day and reports to Santa each night. When children awake, the elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location. This activity allows The Elf on the Shelf to become a delightful hide-and-seek game.The Elf on the Shelf gift set INCLUDES A SCOUT ELF from the North Pole, a hardbound CHILDRENS BOOK and a KEEPSAKE BOX for easy storage. In addition, each shipment is marked for special delivery from Santas workshop. ALL PRODUCTS ARE BRAND NEW! The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol V. Aebersold – eBook DetailsThe Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story". commonsensemedia.org. November 18, 2011. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014 . Retrieved April 14, 2014.