Agreed. We have our elf, Oscar, visit for the sake of the morning search for Oscar. My son and daughter, 10 and 8, have a friendly competition to see who finds him first. They're getting so good at it too, that whomever finds him first will announce it, but they'll allow their sibling to find him on their own. That's pretty much it. Like so many things in life, you can make sinister, or make fun. I have heard of friends and colleagues at work describing their elf as a snitch that will rat them out to Santa. Terrible idea. As if, "Hey you, young person still working to manage your amazingly advancing intellect with your socio-emotional control, be careful not to make too big a mistake, or Christmas is off baby!" could ever be helpful to the well-being of a child. Let's keep the stakes low enough to have fun and provide some guidance people!