when do i start elf on a shelf

Elf on a shelf is a popular tradition that encourages children to behave well throughout the holiday season by having an elf toy come alive and report back to Santa on their behavior each day. The elf toy is placed somewhere prominent in the home, and children are told that the elf will fly back to the North Pole each night to report to Santa. The elf returns the next day and is placed in a new location, so children will search for the elf each morning. Elf on a shelf typically begins in early December and ends on Christmas Eve.