Families all over the country have an Elf on the Shelf. Learn more about how this Christmas tradition works, including the pros and cons of inviting an elf into your home. Fact checked by Sarah ...

Christy Heins, of North Aurora, Illinois, shared her exit strategy for getting out of the Elf on the Shelf routine in a hilarious Facebook post on Dec. 3 Dave Quinn is a Senior Editor for PEOPLE.

New Jersey mom Mary Grego says the best part of her creative Elf on the Shelf displays is watching her two kids smile and seeing their "eyes glisten" Georgia Slater is a staff editor on the ...

Parents with small children will no doubt be familiar with Elf on the Shelf. Like it or loathe it, the phenomenon has amassed a global following with more than 13 million families owning an elf set.