The elves on the shelf are a special type of elf that live in the North Pole with Santa Claus. They are responsible for monitoring children's behavior and reporting back to Santa. The elves on the shelf are known for their mischievous nature, and they enjoy playing pranks on children and creating mischief around the house. However, they only do this during the Christmas season. After Christmas, the elves on the shelf pack up their toys and head back to the North Pole to report to Santa on the children's behavior.