Poll: What do you think about Elf on the Shelf? We want to see your elf pics!

Parents are divided on this popular tradition

SAN ANTONIO – Elf on the Shelf has become a popular Christmas tradition, but it’s not without its detractors.

The elf was the brain-child of stay-at-home mom Carol Aebersold and her adult daughter Chanda Bell, who wrote a book together in 2004. Now, nearly 20 years later it’s become a ubiquitous part of Christmas.

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The elves are said to be magical and they scout on kids’ behavior for Santa and report back to the North Pole each night. Each morning, the elf returns to a new spot. It was originally a hide-and-seek game but has morphed into something much, MUCH more with many elves displayed in elaborate (and often naughty) scenes each day.

Some parents find the “spying” aspect of the tradition creepy, while others are opposed just because it adds more stress to an already busy time of year.

But many families love the tradition and have gotten very creative with their elves’ antics.

We want to know — what do you think about the Elf on the Shelf tradition?

Share your Elf on the Shelf pictures

If you’re an expert at Elf on the Shelf, we want to see your creative ideas! Share your Elf on the Shelf pictures and we may show them on air or on our social media platforms. Details on how to submit a photo are below.

Here’s how to upload your photos to KSAT Connect through the Weather Authority App.

  • Start by downloading the app for your iPhone or Android device if you don’t already have it.
  • Once fully downloaded, open the app and look for the KSAT Connect camera icon at the bottom of the screen. Click on it.
  • There will be a red circle pin on the right-hand side of the screen. Click on that next. You’ll be asked to either log in or sign up for a free KSAT Insider account. Once you’re signed in, click the red circle pin again to view the options on how you can upload a photo. You can either select a photo from your camera roll or take a picture with your camera.
  • Click on “Choose a File” at the top and upload your photo.
  • Choose “Holidays” under the “Channel” drop-down bar.
  • Then select “Elf on Shelf” under the “Category” drop-down bar.
  • Include a description if you’d like.
  • Scroll down beneath the map and hit the orange “Upload Pin” button.

Here’s how to upload your photos to KSAT Connect on your desktop or laptop computer:

  • Go to KSAT Connect online. You’ll need to either sign in or sign up for a free KSAT Insider account.
  • Once you’re signed in, click the orange “Upload a Pin” button.
  • Click on the blue “Choose a File” at the top and upload your photo.
  • Choose “Holidays” under the “Channel” drop-down bar.
  • Then select “Elf on Shelf” under the “Category” drop-down bar.
  • Include a description if you’d like.
  • Scroll down beneath the map and hit the orange “upload pin” button.

That may seem like a lot of steps, but it’s really simple once you get the hang of it. And once you upload your photos to KSAT Connect, they will appear in the gallery below.


About the Author

Julie Moreno has worked in local television news for more than 25 years. She came to KSAT as a news producer in 2000. After producing thousands of newscasts, she transitioned to the digital team in 2015. She writes on a wide variety of topics from breaking news to trending stories and manages KSAT’s daily digital content strategy.

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