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Updates from the SRSCRO
December 2018
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Story Behind Elf on the Shelf
 
I grew up with the Christmas lore that bad children will get a lump of coal in their stocking instead of presents and you were expected to behave. With coal itself being on the naughty list, we now have something new. It's an elf that sits on a self. Y ou've probably wondered, "What the heck is 
Elf on the Shelf ?"
 
Elf on the Shelf is a  Christmas tradition  where a special scout is sent to your home from the North Pole to encourage kids to behave themselves. The idea is that Santa's little helper watches the children by day, and each night, he or she returns to the North Pole to report on whether the children were naughty or nice.
 
The Christmas tradition has just  two rules . First, children are not allowed to touch the elf or he or she will lose their magic. However, if an elf is touched by mistake, the official  Elf on the Shelf website  advises children to write a  letter to Santa  to apologize and sprinkle a little cinnamon beside the elf before bed. "Cinnamon is like vitamins for scout elves, and it helps them get back to the North Pole," the website reads. "Once they arrive, the North Pole doctors will check them out."
 
The second rule of Elf on the Shelf is that the elf will not speak or move while the kids are awake. The elf only moves at night when he makes his trip back to the North Pole. Once he returns home, he then assumes a  new position in the house . In the past, we've seen the elf get up to all sorts of crazy antics, from playing poker to taking selfies to sunbathing on the kitchen counter.
 
The world was first introduced to the Elf on the Shelf in 2005. That year,  Carol Aebersold  and her daughter Chanda Bell published a children's book called " The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition ." They then teamed up with Aebersold's other daughter, Christa Pitts, to market the book to kids.
 
The story was based on the family's own holiday tradition that was  started in the 1970s . In their household, an elf would appear every year after Thanksgiving to keep an eye on the children and prevent them from misbehaving.

Closing Thoughts

 
He's Checking it Twice...




In This Issue
Elf on the Shelf
 
Fun with  
Elf on a Shelf  
 
Time Management Personality Type . Do some character development around his arrival and where you place him initially:

*  He's a "stinker" who shows up a few days later than the other elves in the area.
*  He's a "manager" at the North Pole, so he's a few days late because of extra responsibilities.
*  He's an "early bird" and shows up on a turkey figurine, a few days before Thanksgiving.
*  He's "punctual," so he shows up the same day every year.

The Elf Who Fell OFF the Shelf . If he falls off his location, get some tongs out of the kitchen drawer and pick him up. Don't touch him with your hands or he loses magic.
 
Grandma Touched Him. Oh no! Get out the tongs and a hair dryer. Air-dry him and put him back. "It's probably OK since Grandma didn't know any better."
 
He Didn't Move Last Night. Response: "Well, he's tired and needed to catch up on his sleep. He's been going back and forth to the North Pole every night!"
   
Kickin' Back. Put a cotton ball under his head and lay him down. "He has been working SO hard lately to get ready for Christmas. No wonder he didn't go back to the North Pole the other night."
 
Spa Day. Put him in a plastic container or dollhouse-sized bathtub surrounded by mini-marshmallow or cotton balls.
   
Elf Drink. Put a straw inside of a maple syrup bottle and place him next to it.
 
Dog Bone. Put him next to a dog bone with a note that says, "Yuck. Don't give to Santa."
 
Just Chillin'. Wrap him in a little scarf and put him in the refrigerator, surrounded by grated cheese. "Wow, he must have been too hot under the heating vent yesterday!"
 
Hostage Situation. Surround him with army or Lego men.
 
Tinkering. Put him next to a doll or toy. Give him a little screwdriver or hairbrush.
 
 
Ceiling Fan. Put him on top of a ceiling fan. "Yikes, kids! We better not turn on the fan today!"
 
Carb Loading. Put him in front of a bowl of spaghetti with maple syrup on top. Watch the movie, Elf - the one with actor Will Ferrell.
 
Taco Elf. Wrap him in a tortilla and put him inside the refrigerator.
 
Vacuum Elf: Put him on the Roomba.
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