what is the point of elf on the shelf

Elf on the shelf is a popular holiday tradition that originated in the United States. The idea is that a small elf figurine is placed in a different location each day to report to Santa on the children's behavior, with the hope that the children will behave well in order to receive gifts from Santa. The elf is typically placed on a shelf or somewhere in the child's bedroom and is supposed to move around the house during the night, creating an interactive element to the holiday season.