On Shelf Elfs

The “Elf on the Shelf” tradition is, unfortunately, growing in popularity. This absurd scheme involves two practices that every family should abandon: lying to your kids; and promising either rewards or punishment for behavior. The former is disrespectful and destructive to the trust needed to build strong relationships, and the latter teaches selfishness and conditional love. I see no reason why we would want to inculcate disrespect, mistrust, selfishness, and conditional love in our children. Do you? And that’s today’s two cents.

Skyler.