Thank you, Elf on the Shelf, for making my kids behave

You call it an evil, commercialized addition to Christmas. I call it an excellent parenting tool.

Elf on the Shelf.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Jason Knott/Alamy Stock Photo)

As a parent, I consider Christmas the most joyful of all the holidays, but not for the reasons you might think. The presents are fine and the food is nice. And who doesn't love a thoughtfully bedazzled tree, slowly dying in their living room? But the real reason Christmas is great is because I can hold it over my kids. "I'm calling Santa to cancel your presents" is the threat that keeps on giving.

And the tiny cheerleader for this grand parental tradition? Elf on the Shelf. If you've never heard of Elf on the Shelf, it's not because your parents stiffed you; it's because it was only first brought to market in 2005. It's a plush toy that's also a spy, though I'll admit I only discovered the espionage part after I'd already sprung for Santa's Secret Agent in Target late last year and belatedly ran a background check.

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Ruth Margolis
Ruth ​Margolis is a British ​journalist living in the U.S. Her work has appeared in ​The Guardian, ​The ​Daily Telegraph and BBCAmerica.com.