how long has elf on the shelf been out

The "Elf on the Shelf" concept has been around for quite some time now, with the original idea being created by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell back in 2005. Since then, the idea of having a small toy elf that reports to Santa every night has become a popular Christmas tradition. The story behind the Elf on the Shelf is that the elf is sent by Santa to observe children's behavior and report back to him. It's a fun way for parents to encourage good behavior in their children during the holidays.