what's the purpose of elf on the shelf

The elf on the shelf is a popular Christmas tradition where an elf is placed in a home to watch over the children's behavior and report back to Santa. The elf is placed on a shelf or in a special spot and moves around the home each night, creating mischief or making friendly gestures to remind children to be on their best behavior. The elf is a fun way to add a magical element to the Christmas season and encourage good behavior in children.