For the kids - Is the Elf watching me?

The Elf on the Shelf is a scout elf, who hides in people's homes to watch over events and children's behaviour.

Once everyone goes to bed, the scout elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa the activities, good and bad, that have taken place throughout the day.

Before the family wakes up each morning, the scout elf flies back from the North Pole and hides.

By hiding in a new spot around the house each morning, the scout elf plays an ongoing game of hide and seek with the family.

Scout elves get their magic by being named and loved by a child. Each family adopts their elf and gives it a name.

Once the elf is named, the scout elf receives its special Christmas magic, which allows it to fly to and from the North Pole.

Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell have written a special book, all about Santa's special helpers, the elves.

The book tells how the magic might disappear if the scout elf is touched, so the rule in the book states,

"There's only one rule that you have to follow, so I will come back and be here tomorrow:

Please do not touch me. My magic might go, and Santa won't hear all I've seen or I know."

Although families are told not to touch their scout elf, they can speak to it and tell it all their Christmas wishes, so that it can report back to Santa accurately.

On Christmas Day, with the elf leaves each family, to go home to stay with Santa for the rest of the year, until the following Christmas season.