what is the story of elf on a shelf

The story of the Elf on the Shelf is a modern-day Christmas tradition that tells the tale of a small elf who is sent from the North Pole to live in a child's home and keep an eye on their behavior throughout the year. The elf has the magical ability to fly back to the North Pole each night to report back to Santa Claus on the child's behavior, and in the morning, the elf returns to the child's home, perching itself in a different place each day to watch the child.