Are you currently counting down to/dreading the return of your family's scout elf, mums?
Most of us with young children in the house are familar with the Elf on the Shelf tradition by now, a holiday season phenomenon that hails from the US and is based on a children's book from 2005, telling the story of how Santa sends a "scout" elf to monitor children before Christmas.
While originally the scout elf was due to just fly to the North Pole every night and, on his return the following morning, be in a different place/position from the night before, parents across the globe have collectively upped the ante the last few years, and the antics the elves get up to has reached competitive levels of creativity.
And love them or hate them (mostly because you'll no doubt head to bed then suddenly remember you forgot to move the blasted elf!), kids are obsessed and the Elf on the Shelf tradition has made the month of December a whole lot more exciting for many tots around the world.
However, this year there is an alternative elf – and while we are not sure we can handle another creature to move around in the small hours, we do love the concept behind the Kindness Elves.
Similar to the original Elf on the Shelf, the Kindness Elves should also be placed around the home for kids to find, but less about funny/naughty tricks, the kindness elves are all about encouraging children to do good deeds at the most wonderful time of the year.
According to the company's website, Kindness Elves can be explained in four simple steps…
- The Kindness Elves leave an Act of Kindness suggestion for the children to find.
- The children are excited to find the Kindness Elves' latest suggestion and actively want to get involved.
- The children see the wonderfully positive effect of their act of kindness.
- The Kindness Elves leave the children a little postcard congratulating them on their act of kindness for the children to record in their Little Book of Big Kindness.
What do YOU think, parents? DO you love the idea of the Kindness Elves? Or will you be sticking to you Scout Elf? Or – are you a non-elf household completely? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @Herfamilydotie
