It’s Dec.1 and your younger siblings run frantically downstairs in search of their elf. They search all around the living room, bathroom, and office before hitting the kitchen. They start looking through the sink, cabinets and pantry. But they don’t check the microwave, at first. Once they do, they find their little brown haired, blue eyed, blushy elf sitting down with a note reading “It got cold, so I decided I’d hang in here for tonight.”

There are many different Christmas traditions, but not many are like this one. When the scout elves first arrive they bring with them a book. The book explains that you need to name your elf and tells you how your elf will be watching your actions, good and bad, and will report to Santa Claus each night. He/she will then come back each morning and hide in a different spot. This hiding and reporting business goes on until Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve the elf reports back to the North Pole for the last time until the next December.

I have two elves, one of which joined the family last year. I love them so very much. I discovered they were only a part of the Christmas spirit a few years ago. It was kind of sad, but I still tell myself that I can believe just for the sweet spirit. My first elf, which entered my family when I was in fifth grade, is named Fudge. He has big, blue, sparkly eyes; rosy cheeks; nicely styled brown hair; the cutest smile in the world; and the little red suit just like every other scout elf. The other is named Missy. She looks similar to Fudge, but she has long eyelashes and the smile of an angel.

I find the idea of the Elf on the Shelf genius. It keeps children on their best behavior, gets them into the spirit of Christmas, gives them stories to tell their own children, and provides them with a tradition to bring into their own home when they get older.

The Elf on the Shelf promotes creativity because there are so many different scenarios for when the elf returns every morning. One of my favorite scenes between Fudge and Missy was their snowball fight. We had a bag of marshmallows in the pantry, and one morning we busted our elves with the marshmallows. They were each holding marshmallows in their hands, and they had marshmallows surrounding them. It actually appears as if they were in a real snowball fight. Elves can get into all kinds of trouble once they arrive back each morning, and the internet can be a great place for ideas.

If you’re a teenager, you might have stopped looking for your elf because you’ve become “too cool.”  If you do it for the simple spirit of Christmas, good for you!

There are so many positive aspects to this tradition. It gives children something to look forward to every morning. I don’t know anybody who likes getting up early. Waking up is not an easy task, but an elf gives kids extra motivation to get moving because they’re excited to search for it. It’s also something to look forward to every year. Having my elf return is always the start of the Christmas season for my siblings and me. Just seeing the smile on my younger sister’s face every morning is the sweetest thing ever.

Searching for the elf each morning is like a game. I find it fun because it’s basically like hide-and-go-seek, except you’re just seeking. Not to mention, this game goes on for at least 24 mornings.

The Elf on the Shelf is a cute tradition that makes all children and adults merry and bright throughout the holiday season.