Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

Elf on a Shelf is Creepy

It seems like just about everybody in the First World has an Elf on a Shelf.  I watch elves misbehaving on Facebook, in blog posts, and on Twitter. Oh, you forgot to move the elf last night? He got into your wine? He wrapped himself in toilet paper?

Uhm… maybe you’re missing the point.

It’s possible that I read too much Stephen King when I was younger, but the elf is scary. His little plastic face is creepy, people!!! And what’s with his cheeks? Does he have Scarlet Fever? His eyes look like those shown in horror movies – the ones that follow you around room and then murder you while you’re sleeping.

I mean, I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, the thought of my dolls coming to life at night and moving around was terrifying.  So this elf gets up and does naughty things while you sleep? I don’t see the fun in that. I don’t see how that’s cute or fun for my son Tucker, either.  He loves his stuffed animals, and we play elaborate games with them. We bring them to life, he gets creative with them, we pretend to be gorillas and dolphins and frogs and it’s all imaginative play and simply awesome. But at no point have any of these animals come to life at night, moved around, and left us waking up trying to figure out where they went.

They could be anywhere at that point, right?

Elf may end up under your bed…

Tell me that I’m not the only mom on the planet who thinks that Elf on the Shelf is creepy and scary.  The ugly, bug-eyed plastic dude reminds me of Pennywise the Clown or a too-skinny Chucky. I refuse to play along.  Hey! With that visual, you could put him down the drain and play “IT” with your kids!  Now THAT would be creative, if you’re looking for ideas.

I don’t get why an ugly, frightening $30 doll has become the new Christmas tradition.

Elf on shelf is creepy and maybe a murderer

Not familiar with Elf on a Shelf?  Here he is.  He’s also smug looking. I am the only one in my house allowed to look this smug, and even that is rare(ish).

This is what I think he’s actually like.  Just in case you needed help getting on board with the elf-being-creepy-train.

 

Do you use Elf on a Shelf? Does it work? Do your kids get scared or do they think it’s fun? 

*If somebody has already purchased us Elf on the Shelf as a gift, of course we’ll graciously accept him into our home it’s not too late to return it for something we actually want. 

Note:  I really mean it that I’m not judging you if Elf brings joy to your holiday season.  I’m simply convinced that this would creep me out more than it would bring me fun Christmas memories. 

Another Note: Although Elf on the Shelf gives me the heebie-jeebies, for the record, I have the upmost respect for its creator.  When I Googled it to find out how much they are for the purpose of this post, I saw an article that said company revenue is $10M annually.  So although I think that little doll would scare the shit out of my kid me, I totally admire the genius of their marketing department.

Another another note: A version of this post that no longer exists was originally published on Finding Ninee in December of 2012. Yikes, this blog is two years old now!


by Kristi Campbell

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  • Joy - We don’t have an Elf on the Shelf and I guess I wouldn’t buy one! 🙂 What is the purpose of it, anyway? Please enlighten me!December 3, 2012 – 11:41 amReplyCancel

    • admin - Joy! Of my daily joy! The purpose of the elf is to terrify your kids into behaving for Santa. The idea is that he flies to the north pole every night to report to the big jolly guy on whether your kids have been naughty or nice. Then he comes back and perches himself on a shelf. It’s supposed to be fun for the kids to spot him each day in a different place. It probably is fun for families who have less ridiculous moms than I am. I get the idea, and think it could be cute in a Big Brother is always watching YOU kind of way. I just think he’s ugly. And scary. In a scary clown kind of way. But maybe it’s just me.December 3, 2012 – 11:48 amReplyCancel

      • Joy - Okay, I understand. We do not have this tradition here (maybe you read my about page by now?) 😉 and are not familiar with the Elf. It sounds like a nice idea but I don’t like his appearance either. And as you can see you are not alone out there! I might have too google for Elf on a Shelf is creepy and have some fun!December 3, 2012 – 12:02 pmReplyCancel

  • Frances - No, you are not alone. The Elf is super creepy and teaches the wrong message. We don’t even do Santa here, because the idea of a fat guy in a red suit entering your house at night is really creepy, too. When my kids see Santa at the mall, they look away and quickly walk past – even though they know it’s just a guy wearing a costume. We do talk about St. Nicholas – how he was a real person known for his spirit of generosity. My kids get that.December 3, 2012 – 1:33 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Wow, I never thought about that Santa is be scary too. Big fat guy coming down the chimney…Thanks so much for commenting!December 3, 2012 – 5:59 pmReplyCancel

    • Joy - I like what you wrote about the “big fat guy”, tee hee! 😉
      We celebrate St. Nicholas on December 6. He comes to your house (you can rent him) and tells the kids about the good and bad things they did in the course of the year and gives them some small presents, nuts, and tangerines.
      Historically, we celebrate the Christ Child on December 24 but it becomes more and more common to celebrate Santa instead. Unfortunately, we like to adopt a lot of traditions from the US (obviously we like you guys very much 😉 ) like e.g. Halloween which is something I am not too excited about. We have our own culture and traditions and should not forget about them.December 4, 2012 – 1:02 amReplyCancel

      • admin - You’re right. You should celebrate what’s traditional in your culture. So are you renting St. Nicholas this year? Sounds fun!December 4, 2012 – 10:28 amReplyCancel

        • Joy - Probably not. Sunny is already afraid of the one that is coming to kindergarten each year!December 4, 2012 – 10:33 amReplyCancel

      • mdbc77 - i love the idea of having santa give the kids a good/bad report!December 4, 2012 – 11:19 amReplyCancel

        • Joy - You can read more about it in my blog! 🙂December 4, 2012 – 11:29 amReplyCancel

    • Pam - I totally agree. We always taught my son that Santa wasn’t real. He always knew we were the ones who brought him gifts. I felt convicted about this when my niece was 12. She was the one who argued with all the kids when they told her Santa wasn’t real. When she discovered the truth she was hurt and betrayed. She couldn’t believe that her parents would lie to her like that, and thought, what else have they lied to me about?

      That was enough for me. I wasn’t going to lie to my child about a fat guy coming to our house.December 7, 2014 – 7:55 pmReplyCancel

      • Kristi Campbell - Aw, Pam! That’s sad that your niece felt so betrayed. We’ve actually been talking about Santa but you bring up a good point. Maybe we need to reconsider that.December 8, 2014 – 10:48 pmReplyCancel

  • Courtney - Ha! I love your drawing! We do it, and yes, I paid for it. I do understand those who don’t. It’s fun, and honestly, it has helped my son believe a little bit longer. He has been poking holes in the Santa story since he was 4. Ours sits up high, most of the time. He does not help the kids behave better, but it’s fun to get creative with him. 🙂December 3, 2012 – 1:44 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Courtney, I know you do it and I’ve actually had this post in draft mode for a while waiting until it got closer to Christmas to publish. When I saw your post, I almost scrapped it because I love that your seven-year old still believes in the magic. In the end, though, I had nothing else to write today so I used it. I’m relieved that it didn’t offend you! And I’m really glad that Elf brings your family magic. Maybe I will warm up to him when Tucker starts “getting” Christmas better.December 3, 2012 – 5:58 pmReplyCancel

  • mdbc77 - i almost bought one of those elves a year or so ago, but i took one look at the price tag and thought, uh no i am not paying thirty bucks for that thing! i, too, feel it is creepy and a total waste of time! my cousin called me a few days ago to ask if we had one and said she was going to get one for my kids (her kids are teenagers now) and i asked her if she was coming over every night to stage a new “elf-tastrophy” for me. we have not yet received that elf as a gift from her!

    i don’t like to tell my kids that “santa’s watching you” because i think that is creepy, too. but, we have been making regular “phone calls” to the jolly fat man this season. surprisingly, it works wonders when your five year old son is misbehaving at the store. i kind of wonder what the folks in ear-shot think when they hear my husband say, “yes santa i’ve got a little boy here who’s not listening….” it would be really funny if someone came over and asked him for the number though! lol.December 4, 2012 – 11:24 amReplyCancel

  • Meredith - Your second graphic made me laugh so much! That is SO creepy–and so funny 🙂December 4, 2012 – 2:32 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Thanks Meredith! Glad it made you laugh! He really IS creepy! 🙂December 4, 2012 – 3:08 pmReplyCancel

  • Robin Jingjit - Exactly! It’s weird and there is NO WAY my boys wouldn’t touch it. Plus, we don’t do santa/any magic characters as real in our house, so it wouldn’t fit for us either. We talk about/watch movies/read books about Santa and he’s fun for them, too, but they don’t think he’s actually coming.December 4, 2012 – 6:06 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Thanks, Robin. It’s such a relief that I’m not the only one who thinks the elf is nuts. Thanks so much for commenting!December 4, 2012 – 7:10 pmReplyCancel

  • Stephanie @ Mommy, for real. - I am with you 100%, and so is my daughter! When we tried out this little tradition two years ago, we nearly drove her into therapy. It scared her to death, and she refused to be anywhere in the house without us for weeks, just after having laid eyes on him for all of ten seconds. (She immediately hid under a blanket and wouldn’t come out.) FESTIVE FAIL.December 4, 2012 – 10:14 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Stephanie, that’s funny! And reaffirming, somehow. 🙂December 6, 2012 – 9:54 amReplyCancel

  • MomboMombo - must admit – never heard of it! Living off the grid is good at times…December 5, 2012 – 4:25 amReplyCancel

    • admin - Indeed. He’s a creepy asshole.December 6, 2012 – 9:54 amReplyCancel

  • Rachel - You KNOW I love this post!December 6, 2012 – 6:37 amReplyCancel

    • admin - Ha! I love how you called him a “pint sized weasel” on your blog!December 6, 2012 – 9:53 amReplyCancel

  • Angel The Alien - I don’t really “get” Elf On The Shelf. Not only is he creepy, but the story doesn’t make sense… he’s clearly a doll, and people buy him, so how can he be magic? I saw a blogger who did something different… she made this tiny little door that can be propped up against any wall or piece of furniture, and she says it is a magic door for the elves to go in and out of when they want to spy on the kids.December 8, 2013 – 12:20 amReplyCancel

  • Frances - My kids are already scared of Santa, so we don’t do anything Santa-related here. But I read the Elf on a Shelf story to my son yesterday for the first time. I asked him, “Do you think this is real?” He said no. He asked why someone would write a book like that. I explained that the same people who make the doll also wrote the book and they were trying to make as much money as possible from the books and dolls. He asked for another story. We will not be welcoming any elves into our home.December 8, 2013 – 9:42 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Angel,
    I don’t really get it either but agree that it’s weird…I like the tiny door idea!December 8, 2013 – 11:06 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Francis,
    I love that you explained that they are just making money from it!!!!December 8, 2013 – 11:07 pmReplyCancel

  • Mytwicebakedpotato - I am SO with you! Creepy little voyeur and tattle tale! No thank you! I really think that was one of my best decisions to avoid him like the plague! 😉December 8, 2013 – 11:48 pmReplyCancel

  • shelli - geez – psycho much? There is a very lovely story that goes along with elf on a shelf – its the CHILDREN who love it and the CHILDREN are what matters at Christmastime. Anyone who sees a doll and thinks violent images needs some serious therapy or has simply watched too much tv!! Sorry that you have such a Bah- Humbug approach to Christmas and that you think we all live under a rock (which we dont)but MY opinion is that he is adorable, and although i dont own one (because i dont have small children anymore)I certainly WOULD get one if my grandchildren wanted one here because i think hes cheery and festive – and that is MY opinion 🙂 God Bless you all on this very Merry Holiday and throughout the new year!December 9, 2013 – 9:52 amReplyCancel

  • Joyful Me - Who has the energy to do that? Not me. We just put our tree up tonight and I’m almost done with my holiday cards. We are lucky if the laundry is folded. I do not have time to move an elf around and make him be amusing. Creepy? Maybe just super annoying.December 21, 2013 – 9:57 pmReplyCancel

  • Tarana - All types of dolls scare me (except stuffed animals) and so an elf would never make it’s way in our home, though I’ve seen some cute ones people have put up!December 22, 2013 – 6:00 amReplyCancel

  • Judith - Playing IT with your kids – oh my, youth traumas. I saw IT at 13 years old and couldn’t brush my teeth over the sink for weeks. Anyway, that elf looks proper creepy and is definitely never being invited into my home – thanks for the heads up!December 22, 2013 – 2:41 pmReplyCancel

  • Joy Christi - I don’t do EOTS either, mostly because Im lazy and we also take pride in having our children afraid of US, vs. Santa, elves, Easter bunnies, etc. 🙂
    I like your “It” idea!December 23, 2013 – 5:55 amReplyCancel

  • Emily - Hahahahaha!! That picture of the elf with the bloody knife – hilarious! We’ve never done the Elf on the Shelf…by the time I heard about this trendy Xmas tradition, my kids were too old to believe in the creepy elf. I agree – he’s one creepy dude. Is he a dude or a dudette? I’m with you – no elves in this house!December 8, 2014 – 10:37 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - You’re so lucky your kids were too old! I resurrected this post after hearing kids at the bus stop talking about their elves and thought HOLY CRAP would I get one for Tucker (probably if he asked). 🙂December 8, 2014 – 11:19 pmReplyCancel

  • Janine Huldie - Hangs my head in shame, because we do have one but in my defense it isn’t the one you have in the pic above and was the original they were selling way back. Kevin’s mom bought it for us before we had Emma and the past two years has kept the girls mostly well behaved for the month of December – so he can’t be all bad if he can magically do that at least in my eyes 😉December 9, 2014 – 6:21 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Janine,
      I will never judge you or any parent that gets their kids to behave during December! I’m just a baby who thinks that the elf is creepy! 🙂December 10, 2014 – 10:35 amReplyCancel

  • Allie - Honestly, it was fun the first couple of years, but not anymore. I had a friend who went over the top with her elf doing crazy stuff and posted it on FB. Of course their kids told me kids, who wanted to know why their elf was so lame. I refused to join the madness, but Rich felt they would be scarred. The elf went mad – one time with a sharpie. Mom was not pleased. It’s well know in these parts that mom hates the elf. I think he’s aging though, he’s back to more sedate “watching” and there have been no complaints…December 9, 2014 – 7:25 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - The elf went mad with a sharpie! OUCH! See? I’m smart to not have one then right? Also, who am I kidding… we all know that if Tucker actually wanted that creepy thing in our house that he’d get to have him…December 10, 2014 – 10:36 amReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - So glad I didn’t read this in the middle of the night! Yes I agree that he is creepy. My dad said he looks like he’s related to Chucky. I agree! I just clicked on a FB link crepp/funny something like 10 naughty pictures elf on the shelf doesn’t want you to see. Google it! So glad I’m not in the minority thinking he’s a creep.December 9, 2014 – 7:33 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - See! Your dad and you agree! YAY 🙂 I’m going to try to find what you saw on Google and thanks so much!!December 10, 2014 – 10:37 amReplyCancel

  • Kerri - I have been quite clear on my views of the freaking Elf. I think the one perk of Tucker and Bridget is that we never, ever, like ever, have to deal with the Elf for them. Unfortunately it is the one negative Abby comment!!!December 9, 2014 – 9:05 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Yeah, the elf. Sigh. He’s just icky. Plus $30!!!! Yay for no elf for B&T! Sorry about Abby though 😉December 10, 2014 – 10:38 amReplyCancel

  • Chris Carter - This is hilarious and yes- I totally get your take on it!! My kids LIVE for their Little Kris Kringle…. he isn’t scary to them- he is a giver of good.

    Our Elf doesn’t do stupid nasty things, and make a mess in our house. Our Elf gives encouraging notes for the kids every single day they wake to go look for where he has hidden with his precious words!!

    My kids feel like Little Kris is part of our family. I had no idea it was going to take off like this a few years ago, when my friend got us the Elf.

    Last summer, my kids were talking about Little Kris and how they wish he could just stay in our home all year long.

    When Cass was so sick last week, Little Kris watched her play games and he watched a movie with her too. (Parents can touch the Elf, not the kids. So Cass used a velveeta box top to safely have the Elf sit upright to do these things with her all day.

    It’s kinda precious. 🙂December 9, 2014 – 9:12 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - OOH! Your elf gives notes of encouragement?? I love that idea!! Ok if Tucker ever asks for an elf – that’s what ours is doing. And awwww to Cass using a cheese box top to have Elf sit up and watch a movie with her. I LOVE that.December 10, 2014 – 10:46 amReplyCancel

  • Deb - OMG I COULD NOT AGREE MOREDecember 9, 2014 – 9:29 amReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - Kristi, I just love you! 😀
    I was firmly situated in your camp until very recently. I definitely saw no merit. But then Kidzilla happened. And an Elf came to live in their classroom at school. And she was so enamored of the idea, she started wishing an Elf would come to our house. And so…one did. St. Nicholas dispatched her, though, and she is here to help Zilla remember how important good behavior is – not because of Christmas gifts, but just because (it’s a thing we’re working on in school…long story…buy me a coffee and send me an email) good behavior is important all the time. Our elf does not do nasty things like poop chocolate kisses into jars on the kitchen counter or dump out the breakfast cereal container, whatever. Our Elf just quietly reminds Zilla about speaking sweetly and kindly and leaves a little praise for things done well.
    Do we need this crutch? No, not really. But it’s been a particularly rough spell and we saw no harm in having a little help from the Christmas magic. She’s going to be past all of this far too soon. Sigh…December 9, 2014 – 10:54 amReplyCancel

  • Susan Zutautas - I never did like or see the purpose of “Elf on a Shelf”. Last Christmas I had to ask someone what the hell this elf thing was. Some years I don’t get out much 🙂 I never thought he was creepy though but after reading your post I think he is. I watched Chucky when I was pregnant …. talk about creepy and terrifying.December 9, 2014 – 11:21 amReplyCancel

  • Sarah - Glad to know I’m not the only hold-out. I don’t actually find the little fella creepy, I just can’t get on that bandwagon. And the more people on it, the more I hear about it, the more resistant I become. I get that way with popular stuff.December 9, 2014 – 1:02 pmReplyCancel

  • christine - No elf in our house. While I agree, he is a little creepy looking, I don’t really like the whole someone is watching you to see if you’re good in order to decide if you are getting presents. We get presents because it’s a celebration.

    Instead of the elf, we have three wise men looking for Jesus. They do move to a new spot each night, and the kids have fun looking for them. Nothing creepy about it, especially since both little kids, completely independent of each other, said on day 1 this year, “Yeah, I know you are the one who moves them.” It’s still fun to do. 🙂December 9, 2014 – 1:21 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana - Your drawing of homicidal elf just amped up my fear of dolls and clowns to a new level. If one of those maniacal things every makes its way to my house, I am beheading it and burning it immediately.December 9, 2014 – 1:27 pmReplyCancel

  • Kim - I’m right there with you – I think the elf is beyond creepy and I’m super happy that my boys had no interest in the elf when he became a big deal a few years ago. Plus, knowing how lame the tooth fairy was at our house, I’m pretty sure that the elf would have sat in the same spot forever!!!December 9, 2014 – 1:28 pmReplyCancel

  • Pattie - That creepy thing came out in 2004 – my daughter was 19 – so I was spared any of this nonsense. Even if this had been around when she was little I can assure you that she would have thought the thing ghoulish. Can you blame her?December 9, 2014 – 4:01 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - haha! I do think they’re creepy.
    I’m not for or against them, but I have no desire to have one here. It’s fun to watch them unfold on Facebook, though. People are hilarious.
    I do love making magic, as you probably know from my many posts, but it’s just not the way we do so.
    Doesn’t mean it will never happen, but I’m not pulling for it, by any means!December 9, 2014 – 4:43 pmReplyCancel

  • Elizabeth - I am so with you. There is no elf in our house. I just knew it would not be a good fit. 😉December 9, 2014 – 7:43 pmReplyCancel

  • Michelle - I am right there with you…RIGHT THERE. It’s creepy. it’s creepy and it’s a spy. I fail to see how this inspires Christmas spirit.December 9, 2014 – 9:38 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ Golden Spoons - I so agree! I really can’t stand the elf. I wrote a post kind of like this a couple years ago and people called me a monster and assumed that I must have had a terrible childhood since I was ruining the magic of christmas for our own children. It was my first experience with haters and I couldn’t believe how passionate people were about it! Of course, several agreed with me, too. Anyway, I agree and we DO NOT have a creepy elf!!!!! 🙂December 9, 2014 – 9:53 pmReplyCancel

  • Mike - I had absolutely no clue about the Elf on a Shelf until I read this post!! And now I wish I hadn’t!! Not because of you or because of your blog…but because dolls like that freak me out. Thank you, Kristi. Please don’t mind if I call you at 4 a.m. your time because I’m having nightmares lol 🙂December 10, 2014 – 1:16 amReplyCancel

  • Brittnei - When I saw this floating around, I knew I had to stop over and comment! I definitely see what you are saying and I used to think the same thing about my dolls when I was growing up. If we did celebrate Christmas, there would be no elf on our shelf either!December 11, 2014 – 12:10 amReplyCancel

  • Lana - Every time I see one of these elves, I thank God that my kids are too old for it. I agree – totally creepy and weird! Although I will admit some of the things people come up with for it are definitely creative.December 11, 2014 – 1:08 amReplyCancel

  • My Inner Chick - YES!
    I agree.
    he’s a little pediphile. (is that spelled correctly?)
    my kids are older.
    I think I shall scare the shit outta them w/ this little creepy, ugly, freaky dude.

    xxxxxxxxxxxx KISS from MN.December 11, 2014 – 10:39 amReplyCancel

  • Sandy Ramsey - I have no elf. I have never had no elf. I will never have no elf. The end.December 14, 2014 – 4:38 pmReplyCancel

  • Jill - My four year olds LOVE the elf. I don’t put a lot of creativity in to moving it around the house. It’s a thing with us. I get that a lot of people don’t like it and we sort of use it as a tool to facilitate good behavior…with better than 50 percent success. The elf doesn’t creep me out, which is funny because I’m always freaked out by puppets and dolls. Maybe because he’s so little. But now that I’ve seen your graphic of the knife-wielding elf? I’m glad our elf is back in his box. Or is he????December 27, 2014 – 11:54 pmReplyCancel

  • Ange - That’s it! Besides how creepy it was something bothered me about it. We don’t do Santa\Magic either in our house. We don’t have one and never will.December 22, 2018 – 6:08 pmReplyCancel

  • Lillian - I want a elf on the shelf that is scaryDecember 17, 2023 – 10:48 amReplyCancel

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