Parenting expert issues warning against Elf on the Shelf
By Madhurima Haque|
"Elf on the Shelf" has become an important Christmas tradition in many households, especially for excited children looking forward to Christmas.
But one parenting expert has warned parents that the watchful eye of the elf could be bad for your kids - and many will find it stressful.
Former?teacher Emma Shingleton says that while your children may 'behave' while Santa's elf is keeping an eye on them, this behaviour isn't guaranteed to continue after the elf leaves for the year.
"Typically, we often find smaller, more manageable goals easier to achieve. The same goes for children; asking them to be 'good' every moment of every day in December can feel overwhelming," she says.
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"Do we really want our children thinking they're being watched every moment of the day by these festive home invaders! Could the expectation be setting some children up to fail?"
Shingleton suggests that seeing naughty little elves running around creating mischief could also send the wrong message, encouraging the exact behaviours that parents want to avoid.
But of course, the tradition can't be scrapped altogether! Shingleton, with the help of education resource experts PlanBee, have created a nicer alternative - a helpful elf, instead of a naughty elf.
The helpful elf can help model behaviour you would like to see and support children to make good choices.
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"Explain to your children that Santa's elf has been sent to homes to help them in the run-up to Christmas. They love to see children spreading kindness and joy, and then make the journey back to the North Pole each night to tell Santa all the lovely things children have been up to," she advised.
Your children could help the elf do some helpful jobs around the house, like washing his hands or brushing his teeth, which the children could show how to do correctly.
Other suggestions include:
ก๑??????? taking a bath
ก๑??????? doing the washing up
ก๑??????? making friends with toys and having a tea party
ก๑??????? putting decorations on the Christmas tree
ก๑??????? watering the plants
ก๑??????? reading a story to other toys and teddies
ก๑??????? making the bed
ก๑??????? tidying toys
ก๑??????? getting dressed
ก๑??????? giving something away
ก๑??????? helping to fill a shoebox to send to a child in need
ก๑??????? helping toys cross the hallway
ก๑??????? Choosing some toys/clothes to give to charity
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"As any teacher will tell you, more than anything else children love becoming the teacher themselves....Get the elves to model the behaviour you want to see, rather than the behaviour you are trying to discourage," says Shingleton.
"Encourage children to choose to do good because they want to, and not because they will get a reward at the end.
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