Restoring Christmas magic when Elf on the Shelf is touched, is possible, and even fun. One of the rules about The Elf on the Shelf is that kids aren’t allowed to touch him.
According to the story if a child touches the Elf on the Shelf, the magic will be lost, and your elf won’t be able to change places from night to night. This rule keeps kids hands off the elf, and encourages better behavior. But, what do you do if someone accidentally touches the elf? Don’t let panic set in, and believe me, kids have been known to panic over this! Instead, use these Elf on the Shelf tips for restoring Christmas magic.
Restoring Christmas Magic When Elf on the Shelf is Touched
1. Stay calm. Tell kids there is no reason to panic. Have you seen the pictures online of children freaking out because their elf was touched? It’s a genuine thing, and only funny when it’s not your kid! But seriously, tell kids that you know the secrets for restoring the magic. They can even help to restore your elf to his usual playful self.
2. Get out the glitter! Keep glitter in a jar marked “Magic Sparkles.” Let the kids know that, lucky for them, you have exactly what is needed to get the elf back into action. But to open the jar, they need to each decide on a good deed they will do for someone that coming week, or go clean their rooms for mom – whichever works best for you!
3. Sprinkle the magic. Lay the elf out and sprinkle some of those magic sparkles over him. Tell the kids that the elf may take some time to get up and moving. Of course, he certainly won’t budge if he knows children are watching. Encourage kids to move on to another activity while the elf rests and his magic is restored. Another alternative is to use cinnamon – according to legend, it’s just like special vitamins for the Elf on the Shelf.
4. Write an apology. It’s good for kids to practice apologizing. Writing a nice apology note to your elf for taking his magic is a sure fire way to restore it! You know he’ll be certain to show it to Santa. As a matter of fact . . . SANTA could even write back and let the scout elf know he got the message!
Timing is Everything!
5. Wait until the time is right. When the kids are distracted or asleep, move the elf to his next location. Set yourself an alarm on your phone so you remember to make it a part of your evening routine. You can then set him up, with either props or some fun positions in mind. See our list here – for ideas to get older kids involved. There are plenty of resources to spark the imagination for any age.
6. Elf note. A fun way to end the activity is to have the elf write a note. He can leave a thank you note to the kids for returning the magic. The elf can also remind them of the promises they made to do a good deed for someone else during the next week, or to be sure and do their chores. Sticky notes are always good to have on hand for elf situations and can be used as props in all sorts of fun ways. Additionally, there are some very cute paper craft kits that your Elf can use to liven things up a bit!
7. Follow through. See that children make good on their promise to do those good deeds. You might even use an old fashioned chore chart so they can check off their accomplishments as they go. Remind them that it encourages the magic and keeps the elf energized – this is so much better than bribing them with cookies y’all! They can even write a note to the elf about the deed if they wish. Additionally, you can hand out these handy Naughty and Nice certificates from the desk of Santa, which are sure to encourage good behavior.
8. Cinnamon vitamins. Should your elf get “injured” or experience any more rough housing, keep the glitter, I mean magic sparkles, on hand. Also, remember that cinnamon is like a magic vitamin for the elf. A little sprinkle of magic glitter and a touch of cinnamon vitamins, and your elf will be back to his (or her) silly self in no-time flat!
#ExtremeElfFun
So you see, if your child reaches for the elf, there is no need to panic. Instead, remember these tips for restoring Christmas magic when Elf on the Shelf is touched. Give them a try and see how simple it can be to get the fun up and running again. Who knows? You might even end up with a clean house with all the extra good behavior encouragement!
Read more of our elf series with Ideas to get Older Kids Involved Here.
Join our NEW 2017 Facebook group for Extreme Christmas Savings Here. We’ll be sharing all the best deals there throughout the year. Use the search bar and search hashtag #ExtremeElfFun where you’ll find a stream to add pictures of your elf, share ideas, or get inspiration.