Can you touch your Elf on the Shelf? If your shelf has ever hosted an elf, your children likely already know the cardinal rule: No touching. But, accidents happen. In the event that a human hand accidentally grazes your family’s beloved scout elf, you’ll need to know what to do if your Elf on the Shelf is touched.
Per official Elf on the Shelf lore, a touched Scout Elf loses their magic. Learning this fact could leave your kids spiraling down an endless rabbit hole of unwanted outcomes — ending up on the naughty list and Christmas being cancelled being their chief concerns, according to my own kids.
Basic Elf on the Shelf rules
The one major rule to remember about your Scout Elf is the one your kids are most likely to break: don’t touch it. Not by a finger, a toe, an elbow, or any other body part your curious kid decides is worth trying their luck.
Here’s a breakdown of the few basic Elf on the Shelf rules:
- Don’t touch your elf or their magic will disappear.
- Talk to your elf, but know that they can’t talk back.
- Your elf reports to Santa nightly and can deliver letters to him.
- On Christmas Eve, your elf will return to the North Pole and stay there until next season.
But can you touch your elves with gloves or practical tool like kitchen tongs or tweezers? Yes, in necessary situations you can handle your elf as long as there isn’t direct skin-to-skin (er, skin-to-felt?) contact. Potholders, a broom stick, your winter gloves — whatever tool you need to use to safely maneuver or transport your elf is acceptable.
If your little ones start down the path of no return after your elf is touched with human skin, have no fear. When the inevitable happens, there are several ways to handle the mishap. Some ideas are a bit more involved than others, but in the end, they all leave your family’s elf with his or her magic restored. Your family’s elf will be as good as new, able to report back to Santa, and your kids won’t have to worry about getting any coal in their stocking.
1Sprinkle some cinnamon on it.
Cinnamon is like vitamins for your elf, according to the Elf on the Shelf website. So, sprinkle some of this life-giving substance around your elf to help it regain strength and restore its magic if your Elf on the Shelf is touched. You probably have cinnamon in the cupboard easily available, just make sure your child understands the concept of a “sprinkle” or things may get ugly quickly. The good news is if the spice winds up all over the floor, cinnamon is non-toxic to dogs and cats, per the ASPCA.
2Put your elf by the fireplace.
Since the fireplace is where Santa makes his dramatic arrival every year, set your elf by the hearth and write Kris Kringle a note asking him to drop a little magic down the chimney. Overnight, your elf will be magically restored to his former festive self.
3Set your elf under the tree.
What’s another super magical place in the house during the holidays? The Christmas tree has it all: Sparkles, that intoxicating scent, and the promise of presents. Let your elf spend the night under the tree and by the morning any lost magic will be returned.
4 Give your elf a mini marshmallow bath
You probably don’t want to soak your elf in any real suds, but submerging them in a bowl filled with miniature marshmallows is a sweet way to help them feel rejuvenated. Like a spa treatment for elves, this should result in maximum levels of magic.
5Watch a Christmas classic together.
Whether you choose A Charlie Brown Christmas or a modern-day holiday special, watch something as a family that celebrates the season and make sure your elf is seated front and center. A screening should bring that magic right back.
6Decorate your elf.
Sure, your elf is already decked out in a holiday outfit, but some extra accessories can’t hurt. Add to your elf’s outfit with a little tinsel or dangle a small ornament from the end of their hat and they’ll recapture that holiday magic in the twinkling of an eye.
7Write an apology note.
If your Elf on the Shelf is touched, pull out some fancy Christmas stationery and have your kids write a note to the big guy himself, apologizing for touching the elf. Santa would probably also be cool with a crayon-scribbled sticky note, as long as the sentiment is genuine. This tactic is listed as an official strategy on the Elf on the Shelf website, and likely works best for kids who touch the elf on purpose because it can also serve as a reminder of how to apologize to people for breaking rules. If your little one can’t write yet, you may find yourself jotting down a formal apology to Santa, and yes, this will feel completely ludicrous, but it’s worth it so your kid can get some peace.
8Sing a Christmas carol to the elf.
When your elf is accidentally touched, brushing up on your family’s rendition of “Jingle Bells” may be in order. Have your family sing a Christmas carol to help spread Christmas cheer and bring back the elf’s magic if your Elf on the Shelf is touched. Maybe this could finally be your moment to belt out Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” for an actual reason other than the fact that the song is outrageously catchy.
9Read The Elf On The Shelf.
If your Elf on the Shelf is touched and loses their power, you can read them The Elf On The Shelf book to remind your Elf of the magic that they once possessed.
10Glitter it up.
A healthy dose of sparkle always makes everything better, right? While sprinkling loose glitter in your home may not sound like the most practical idea, keeping a small amount of glitter around to use as “magic elf dust” that can bring an elf back to life if your Elf on the Shelf is accidentally touched can come in handy. If you’re understandably worried about finding glitter all over your house for weeks, you can opt for edible, biodegradable, water-soluble glitter that dissolves in water (or on a sponge), making clean up a breeze.
11Make some hot cocoa.
To help your Elf on the Shelf feel more like their old self after they lose their magic, you and your kids can make them a tiny elf-sized cup of hot cocoa and marshmallows. If your Elf on the Shelf is touched accidentally, their magic may come back even faster if they share some cocoa and marshmallows with your kids, and this could be a fun time to try out a trendy hot chocolate bomb.
12Skip a day.
If your kids purposefully touch their Elf on the Shelf, you can have their elf spend a day away at the North Pole. Write a brief letter from your elf to explain that because they were touched, they have to spend the day getting their magic fixed at the North Pole and there will be no fun antics happening that day. This should help kids understand that they don’t want to touch the elf again, and it gets you an evening off from racking your brain for new hiding spots.
13Send them to the elf hospital.
Losing their magic could make your elf sick. So sick, in fact, that the next day, your kids could wake up and find them resting on a box of tissues after spending the night in the elf hospital with a note signed by Santa explaining that your elf needs to rest for a few days after being touched. (This also gives you a couple of nights worth of a reprieve from elf duty, so it’s a win-win.)
14Perform a good deed.
Your kids can help earn their elf’s magic back by doing good deeds if your Elf on the Shelf is touched. They can clean their room, walk the dog, help you carry in the groceries, or perform any number of helpful tasks to help gain your elf’s magic back. You might just be surprised at how many chores your child is willing to do to earn their elf’s magic powers back and save themselves from winding up on the naughty list.
15Freeze your elf.
Just like Elsa, your Elf on the Shelf can gain powers from the icy cold. When your Elf on the Shelf is touched, transport them via kitchen tongs to the freezer to allow the elf time for their magic to be restored in a sub-zero condition similar to that of the North Pole. This seems a little dark, but you’re bringing that sorcery back.
16Put them in a safe spot.
If your kids just refuse to keep their hands off of your Elf on the Shelf, it’s time to consider protective measures. This scout elf carrier is totally clear so that your kids can safely mess with your elf without disturbing their magic powers.
Elf on the Shelf is such a magical way to enjoy the holidays with your kids, but it really only works if that magic stays in tact. Now that you know what to do if your Elf on the Shelf is touched, you can keep the magic alive all season long.
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