Every December, thousands of cheeky little elves arrive in homes across South Africa - perching on shelves, dangling from curtain rails and leaving a trail of glittery mischief behind them. For lots of families, the Christmas elf tradition is the most magical part of the countdown to Christmas.

But not everyone is a fan. Search online and you'll find plenty of parents asking whether a visiting elf is a lovely tradition or a bit of a problem. Is it harmless festive fun, or does the idea of an elf reporting back to Santa put unfair pressure on little ones? And what about the pressure on parents to dream up an elaborate elf scene at 11pm every night for 24 nights running?

We've been part of family elf traditions for over a decade, so we've heard every side of this debate. Here's our honest take - and how to make sure your elf lands firmly on the nice list.

Why some people say the elf tradition is "naughty"

The criticism usually comes down to two things.

The first is the Santa's spy problem. In some versions of the elf tradition, the elf's job is to watch children and report bad behaviour back to the North Pole. Child development experts have questioned whether 'be good, because you're being watched' is really the message we want at Christmas. It can make sensitive children anxious and it frames good behaviour as something you do to avoid consequences rather than because kindness feels good.

The second is parent burnout. Social media is full of extraordinary elf setups - flour snow angels, zip wires, tiny crime scenes made of marshmallows - and by the second week of December, plenty of parents are lying awake wondering what on earth the elf is going to do tomorrow. A Christmas tradition that's supposed to be joyful can start to feel like one more job on the to-do list.

Both criticisms are fair. But here is the thing: neither of them is really about the elf. They're about how the elf tradition is done. And that is down to your family.

How a kindness-led elf changes everything

At Elf for Christmas, our elves have never been spies. They arrive at the start of December as Santa's special helpers with a very different mission: to encourage kindness, not police behaviour.

Instead of watching for slip-ups, your elf notices the good stuff - the shared toy, the tidied bedroom, the kind word to a little sister - and celebrates it. Our Magical Reward Kit was designed for exactly this: little report cards, Nice List certificates and a sticker reward chart your elf can leave when children have done something lovely, so the focus of the whole tradition flips from don't be naughty to look how kind you've been.

That's not just a nicer message - it works better, too. Children respond far more to having good behaviour noticed and celebrated than to vague threats about the naughty list. And it means even the trickiest December days end on a positive note - because there's always something kind to celebrate.

Taking the pressure off parents

The elf tradition should be fun for grown-ups too. And it can be, once you let go of the idea that every morning needs a Pinterest-worthy scene.

The simplest fix? Let your elf do the talking. Our Advent Letters give your elf something magical to deliver every morning, with no late-night crafting required. Each letter is part of a running story from the North Pole, full of warmth, silliness and little nudges towards kindness - so the magic shows up every day, even when all your elf has done overnight is move from the shelf to the fruit bowl.

A note under an upturned mug. A letter propped against the cereal box. An elf sat by the tree with today's exciting new story. That's all it takes. The magic, for children, was never in the elaborate setup - it's in the fact that the elf thought of them.

So… naughty or nice?

Like most traditions, the Christmas elf tradition is what you make it. Done as surveillance, it can miss the mark. Done with kindness at its heart, it becomes something really special: a whole month of small, magical moments, a gentle daily nudge towards generosity and memories your children will be retelling at Christmas lunches for decades.

We think that lands the visiting elf firmly on the nice list. Don't you?

Ready to start a kindness-led elf tradition? Meet our Christmas Elves and Magical Reward Kits and make this December one to remember.

Merry Christmas!