Anonymous #1 10w

As an adult, I wish someone did this for me as a kid. Y’all are so dramatic.

5

Anonymous #2 10w

Girl what, isn’t it literally instilling the sense of surveillance in kids? All I’ve heard is that experts don’t recommend it. Try researching things before calling ppl dramatic, kids are vulnerable and childhood trauma can affect you the rest of your life. Seek therapy

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Anonymous #1 10w

Instilling a sense of what now? My goodness it is just a silly tradition try having fun in life. Seek deez nuts

1

Anonymous #2 10w

idk I think I’ll listen to childhood development and mental health experts bc I care about kids

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Anonymous #1 10w

not everyone does it so that there is “surveillance” involved my parents did one who wrote letters to us and did funny things just because it was christmas and elves come during christmas, the only rule was not to touch him bc the christmas magic would go away. once i found out it was them, i asked them to keep doing it all the way til i was 18 because i loved it so much. it was a staple in my childhood

1

Anonymous #1 10w

no kid is going to have actual TRAUMA from an elf

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Anonymous #3 10w

Isn’t the whole point that you’re being watched by it the whole time? Have you seen the videos of poor babies having a meltdown when someone touches it bc that they’ve been told that means they’re on the naughty list & that the magic is now ruined? I think you’re letting nostalgia take over research backed evidence. When I first heard about it as an adult I immediately thought it was weird & creepy. Just bc you weren’t traumatized doesn’t mean that kids can’t develop surveillance anxiety

1

Anonymous #1 10w

It’ll have different effects on different kids and of course it matters how the parents frame it too. I wouldn’t place all this on the elf’s existence alone. The whole idea of Santa Claus in general is also surveillance centric and extremely weird and creepy when you really think about it. But these days, it’s generally supposed to be interpreted as “being blessed by the spirit of Christmas” or whatever…rather than “old man’s minions watching your every move to determine your worth”.

1

Anonymous #1 10w

You guys try to make trauma out of everything. Kids don’t think that deeply into it, the whole point is that Santa someone to make sure the kids stay on the nice list.

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Anonymous #7 10w

god why doesn’t anyone listen to experts or do research on this stuff. You just go off vibes and what your parents did. All I’ve heard about this thing is that experts don’t recommend it. So I’m going off what the experts say… not just vibes ffs Trauma from childhood isn’t about thinking deeply about shit holy shit. do like the most simple research into this kinda thing

0

Anonymous #1 10w

actually if YOU would do research you would find that it is very back and forth, some think it could potentially have negative effects and some actually believe it can have positive effects the point of the post was that there are “bigger fish to fry” which there 100% are

0

Anonymous #3 10w

Exactly so why would you risk traumatizing your child over a creepy elf?? Yeah just bc there is worse trauma doesn’t mean we have to minimize childhood trauma or potentially traumatizing things 😭 it’s like we see children not as full human beings Are you gonna tell a kid whose parents divorced while they were young that there’s worse trauma like witnessing the murder of both parents so get over it and don’t talk about it?

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Anonymous #3 10w

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/plato-pop/201212/let-s-bench-the-elf-the-shelf

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Anonymous #3 10w

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/style/elf-shelf-privacy.html

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Anonymous #3 10w

https://www.nine.com.au/lifestyle/family-relationships/parenting/parenting-expert-says-elf-on-the-shelf-is-bad-for-behaviour-role-modelling-positive-reinforcement-20211202-p5qd3v.html

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Anonymous #3 10w

https://globalnews.ca/news/3882701/elf-on-the-self-holidays/

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Anonymous #1 10w

i get your point, but i find it interesting you won’t find any articles arguing for the other way as well. at this point this argument is pointless because i can tell your mindset is fixed which is fine, we can agree to disagree and i hope you have a great day :)

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Anonymous #1 10w

Out of curiosity, do you feel the same way about Santa?

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Anonymous #3 10w

I’m arguing about the risk of trauma not that it will be guaranteed in every child. I’ve done a lot of research in childhood development and mental health bc of my field and if several experts are saying something can traumatize kids I’m going to err on the side of caution and not partake. Esp if it’s something as recent and silly as elf on the shelf, it’s easily avoidable

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Anonymous #1 10w

as i said im glad there is something you believe in so strongly, having your own beliefs and opinions is such a valuable thing in this life and i appreciate those who have the gumption to care so much about things!

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Anonymous #4 10w

I mean kinda. As a child I wasn’t traumatized by it but when I heard what experts said as an adult, about the possible downsides to lying to your kids and the whole surveillance and naughty list thing it definitely made me rethink the whole thing. My aunt worked with kids and did a lot of research into that kinda thing in the 90s & always told the truth about Santa to her kids. As a kid I didn’t get it but as an adult who is know trauma informed I get it

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Anonymous #4 10w

I just second guess most things that are blindly accepted as normal in our society and try to research everything to have evidence and study backed knowledge

0