If you have young children, they are very likely already getting excited thinking of the holiday season and all that it brings with it.

The Elf on the shelf is an ideal Christmas tradition to introduce into your house. Not only will your children think it is great but in all probability you'll find they behave much better than usual, as they will believe the Elf is going to report to Santa, which can only be a good thing.

It is a charming book to read to your kids at bedtime and will definitely get everyone into a holiday mood. The concept behind the tale is the fact that Santa needs to know if a child has behaved or otherwise before he delivers all of the gifts on Christmas Eve.

Which is why he sends his Elf down to watch over the children in each house. The Elf rests on the shelf (or mantelpiece or kitchen table) and after watching over the youngsters throughout the day, comes back to Santa every evening to report back.

It is essential to make sure to shift the Elf around as he will forfeit his power if the kids find him in the same position every breakfast. He is supposed to have been to the North Pole and back after all. Your children can even register the Elf online and will need to give him his own name.

The Elf includes a hardback book and a keepsake box for your youngsters to store their Christmas sketches and decorations in. There is also an action book as part of the series and some additional dolls such as a Girl and Boy Elf which you could buy if the kids really enter into the story.

Christmas is definitely a time for holidays so it is wonderful to watch kids fall totally under the spell of Santa Claus and his awesome Elves particularly when the present economy means that several families were under pressure lately.

If you love creating the wonder of Christmas in your home a few other good books to share with kids include the vintage "It was the night before Christmas" as well as the numerous Christmas promotions from their most loved characters such as Barney, Thomas the Train, Barbie etc. More recent books include the fantastic "A Bit of Applause for Mrs Claus".

Many people may like to mix in the religious element of Christmas and will be able to find stories written especially for children to assist them to understand that specific message.

The Elf on the shelf is a wonderful gift for any family with small kids - why not pick up yours now and open it on Thanksgiving?

Nothing lets you know that Christmas is approaching like the Elf on the Shelf.

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