how does the elf on the shelf work

The Elf on the Shelf is a magical Christmas tradition that has enchanted children for over a century. According to legend, Santa's scout elves are assigned to families at the start of the holiday season. Each scout elf reports back to Santa at night to tell him about the children's behavior throughout the day. In the morning, the elf magically returns to its assigned family home, perched in a new location as a reminder to the children to be good. If a child spots the elf, they know it's been watching them.