what does the elf on the shelf mean

The Elf on the Shelf is a popular Christmas tradition where a scout elf from the North Pole visits a home during the holiday season to watch over children and report back to Santa about their behavior. Each family can choose a name for their elf and the elf's job is to keep a watchful eye on the children and report back to Santa about their behavior. The elf is supposed to be a fun and magical way to remind children to be good and to teach them about the spirit of Christmas.