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katakowsj · 3727 days ago · link · · parent · post: Laura Pinto & Selena Nemorin: Who's the Boss?: 'The Elf on the Shelf' and the normalization of surveillance
We use our elf as a fun and entertaining third party to help our two kids reflect on their behaviors. They love to hear that "Oscar" reported some excellent choices and that he was bummed to see them being mean to each other.
The elf, like a coach, we've found, allows for an "outside perspective" on the kids behaviors. We've found it easier to talk about and improve behavioral choices. Plus, the kids love finding him each morning. No doubt in my mind, the elf, like any underling or minion, can be used to amplify poor parenting skills such as holding children to unreasonably high behavioral expectations as the elf, as the "muscle", becomes available during the holidays.