Elf on the Shelf ‘can be damaging to kids’ if parents use it in certain way, psychologist claims

A psychologist has expressed concern that parents could be ‘damaging’ their kids by using Elf on the Shelf in the run up to Christmas. Dr Vanessa Lapointe, a parenting expert who wrote the book Discipline Without Damage, says she disagrees with mums and dads using the elf in certain ways. And there’s one thing in particular she believes can be really unhelpful for children. The ‘naughty’ elf toy, which parents put in cheeky poses overnight so it looks like he’s been misbehaving when the children wake up in the morning, has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years. But the psychologist takes issue with parents using it as a ‘power play’ to make kids behave with the threat that Santa won’t give them any presents. Dr LaPointe writes: ‘The Elf on the Shelf official website describes the elves as “…magical helpers that help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists by reporting back to him at the North Pole nightly.” ‘No. Thank. You. ‘I can’t stand the idea of yet another concocted power-play to make kids behave – or else. It’s like the threat of a lump of coal in your stocking, merely dressed up in a… Read full this story

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