Back in 2005 a cultural phenomenon was brought into existence. This is known as The Elf on the Shelf. With this came new rules that every child now knows by heart. One, do not touch the elf. If you touch the elf  then it will lose all of its magic. Two, your elf will not move when watched, so leave it be. Three, Elves do not talk-but they listen to everything and report it to The Big Man up North, so be on your best behavior. Four, adults can touch the elf if they are trying to help it. The real question people are asking is what is this elfs impact on the world. 

From the start of its reach over the world, The Elf on the Shelf had an economic impact. “ The Elf on the Shelf tradition started back in 2005 when Carol Acbersold and her daughter Chanada Bell self published the book “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition”. With this came a special box with a small Scout Elf inside” (How the Elf on the Shelf Tradition Started). Since being established Scout Elves have been adopted by more than 14.5 million people (“How the Elf on the Shelf tradition started”). With the combination of the Scout Elves and its pets, the Elf on the Shelf empire is worth over $100 million (Wex). So what was this cultural phenomena outcome on children around the world?

Elf on the Shelf has had a cultural impact that could have never been imagined. The Elf on the Shelf has changed the way that kids look at Christmas. Christmas is about spending time with family and enjoying what you have. During an interview with Megan Macore that WCBD NEWS conducted, Macore said, “Really providing them a sticker for being good or a hug, something that's small and more immediate is going to be more effective than making them wait until Christmas to get all these gifts, and then what do you do when it’s not December” (Murray). Kids are learning that if they are good during the holiday season then they get rewards. Chantale Lachance emphasizes this by saying that the Elf on the Shelf is a type of reward system. It is unhealthy for kids because it teaches kids to be motivated from outside sources instead of being self motivated (Lachance). Elf on the Shelf has changed the way that some families see Christmas.

This cute magical reward system is deceptively simple. There is evidence that gifts can reduce bad behavior in children; however, kids are naturally motivated to be kind to others and giving them rewards for it can cause a decrease in their want to do good (Goodwin). Some kids are affected differently by the Elfs watchful eye on them. Some kids get so overwhelmed by the Elf watching them that during the holiday season they live in constant fear. Fear is the brain's response to danger. When a person feels as if they are in danger their brain releases hormones that work to slow down brain functions that are not necessary for survival and sharpen functions that can help us survive, such as eye sight. When in a fear response mode a person can expect to heaven increase heart rate and an increase of blood flowing to the muscles that prepares the body to run if it needs to (Delagran). While some kids become scared from the Elves watchful eye, others become combative. “ Research also shows that expressing disappointment in children and shaming them as a disciplinary tactic may be associated with increased anxiety and aggression in children. In addition, research indicates that telling children white lies in order to regulate their behavior is associated with increased anxiety” (Goodwin). Holidays are supposed to be something that children look forward to, but if it starts to affect said child's mental health then an alternative should be found. 

Multiple parenting sites have fabricated their own opinion of the Elf on the Shelf and have been quick to share their thoughts on the topic. Cara Goodwin, from Psychology Today, says that when holidays come around it is a common trend for parents around the world to use the presents as an ultimatum to their children. If a parent promises presents to their kids if they behave in a way that is considered good then once the promise of the gifts is no longer there after the holiday season then the child will start to behave even worse after the holiday (Goodwin). Some parents will go to YouTube to try to get advice as to what approach they should take when it comes to having an Elf on the Shelf. YouTube channel Willow Tree Parenting says, “ There is an external locus of control. The problem with the Elf on the Shelf, although it’s a really cute idea, is that it creates an external locus of control which means that the kids will behave because something outside of them is motivating them. But as soon as you take that motivation away, so now they got all their gifts and Christmas is over, then they go back to misbehaving. And that’s why it’s risky business” (Lachance).Other people, like Carolyn Murray, believe that children should get taught the traditions of the Elf on the Shelf, but parents can not use it as an ultimatum (Murray). Parenting websites have been pushing their thoughts into the abyss of the internet for many years now and these are only a few of the thousands of topics that they speak of. 

While the Elf on the shelf can be known as a nuisance to many families, it can benefit other families in the long run. According to Apryl Duncan, “You can pick your elf's name, gender, skin tone, and eye color—and how elaborately (or not) you hide the elf” (Duncan). This can help to encourage diversity in houses that do not live in a diverse area. Thinking from another perspective, the Elf on the Shelf can benefit kids by giving them something that looks like them if they are a minority living in an area that is not diverse. Some parents use the elf as a way to encourage their kids to continue their good behavior by having Santa write them letters that highlight recent good things they have done throughout the year (Maffucci and Gambler). Kids need to have something that looks like them to believe in. This can be seen not only in Elf on the Shelf, but in Santa as well. Some families have known Jolly Saint Nick as a different race that others are used to. While some people may believe that the Elf on the Shelf has bad effects on kids and adults, but it can also do some good. 

While some people may believe that the Elf on the Shelf is a positive entity that parents love; however there are other points to be made about the topic. Elf on the Shelf has had an economic impact along with a cultural impact. The Elf on the SHelfs reward system can cause issues with child behavior and many parenting sites have shared their opinions for many years now.

Works Cited

Duncan, Apryl. “Pros and Cons of the Elf on the Shelf Christmas Tradition.” Verywell Family, 12 December 2020, verywellfamily.com/review-elf-on-the-shelf-tradition-3129361. Accessed 1 March 2024.

Goodwin, Cara. “Will the Elf on the Shelf Improve Your Child's Behavior?” Psychology Today, 9 December 2021, psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-translator/202112/will-the-elf-the-shelf-improve-your-childs-behavior. Accessed 14 February 2024.

“How the Elf on the Shelf tradition started.” CNBC, 18 December 2020, cnbc.com/2020/12/18/how-the-elf-on-the-shelf-tradition-started-.html. Accessed 4 March 2024.

Maffucci, Ali, and Katelyn Gambler. “How We're Using Elf On The Shelf For Positive Parenting.” Inspiralized, inspiralized.com/lifestyle/how-were-using-elf-on-the-shelf-for-positive-parenting/. Accessed 1 March 2024.

Wex, Sabina. “'Banks don't really look at a startup elf company': How The Elf on the Shelf founders used debt to turn a holiday gimmick into an empire. You can use their playbook to chase your own dreams.” Moneywise, 22 December 2023, moneywise.com/investing/investing/banks-dont-really-look-at-a-startup-elf-company. Accessed 4 March 2024.