Elf on the Shelf/Santa

My daughter is almost 2 years old. I thought this looks fun but I can't see her getting it yet. I haven't told her about Santa either. I'm not sure if I want to encourage delusions and magical thinking. But it looks really fun. I know she would enjoy it short term at some point.

What age is appropriate for this and is it better to just not encourage this type of thinking at all?

It's a nice fantasy for little kids to enjoy, as their young minds still perceive the world as magical and all new. I remember as an adult watching my toddler niece hugging a toy she got from "Santa" and the joy/wonder on her face when she opened her presents at two years age--that's magical innocence.

I think I was around 8-9 years old when it dawned on me that Santa Claus/Elf on the Shelf was a fantasy, and my folks didn't have to tell me that either. Kids eventually figure it out sooner or later.

Hey dulcet,

It is an interesting question. My own 2c....

Exercising the imagination is so critical to proper Psychological development. The ability to form images, scenes, place one self in certain situations and deciding how to react, and even to picture oneself as "something" (i.e. achieving goals) are all part of proper emotional health.

In fact, many in the professional psych community believe that the exercise of "creative imagination" or for young children, "creative day dreaming" is more important than rational reasoning for achieving optimum satisfaction and health. And these skills are learned very young, which is why is has been deemed ok to allow children just to day dream without constant structure in their lives.

As adults we use these imagination skills in all endeavors even negative situations. For what is worry but merely negative imagination! And the more we exercise our imagination skills,( something that gets lost in hard, rational reasoning) the more we can create.

My opinion is to let her explore her rich inner world of Santa, elves, goblins and princes and white knights. This will serve her mind well. She will eventually move beyond all of that, to see the rational and the real, but she will look back on that time fondly as one of wonder and magic. Something we as adults lose, that "magic."