By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • UK News
    • World News
  • Super ViralHot
  • Lifestyle
    • Health and Fitness
    • Photography
    • Property
  • Humor
  • Celebrity
  • Weird
  • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Latest Videos
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
    • Super Viral
    • UK News
    • World News
Search
  • Health and Fitness
  • Holidays and Travel
  • Nature and Wildlife
  • Pets and Animals
  • Photography
  • Babies and Kids
  • Comedy and Humor
  • Fails
  • Real Life
  • Strange and Bizarre
  • Submit News
  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Newsletter
  • Who Are We
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: ‘I’m a parenting expert and THIS is why I’m boycotting creepy Elf on the Shelf’
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Aa
  • News
  • World
  • Viral
  • Funny
  • Weird
  • Celebrity
  • DIY
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
    • News
    • World
    • Super Viral
    • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
  • Quick Links
    • Customize Interests
    • Bookmarks
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Write For Us
    • Advertise
    • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Kirsty Ketley the parenting expert sharing why the Elf on the Shelf tradition is firmly banned in her household.
Babies and Kids

‘I’m a parenting expert and THIS is why I’m boycotting creepy Elf on the Shelf’

Ria Newman
Last updated: 2023/12/14 at 3:50 PM
Ria Newman
Share
4 Min Read
Kirsty Ketley. (Picture: Jam Press)
SHARE

A mum and parenting expert has revealed why the Elf on the Shelf tradition is firmly banned in her household.

Parenting specialist Kirsty Ketley has previously made headlines for revealing the worst parenting tips and myths that we should avoid.

Now, the Surrey-based 42-year-old, who is mum to Ella, 10, and Leo, six, has revealed why she has decided to boycott the popular new tradition of hiding elves around the house in the run-up to Christmas.

Kirsty Ketley with her children Ella and Leo. the parenting expert sharing why the Elf on the Shelf tradition is firmly banned in her household.
Kirsty Ketley with her children Ella and Leo. (Picture: Jam Press)

“I find it’s a bit creepy looking and I don’t like the idea of being ‘watched’ – and neither do the kids,” Kirsty told Whats The Jam.

- Advertisement -

“I don’t believe in giving kids empty threats – the consequences that you say will happen but that you don’t follow through on.

“Which parent will follow through on the threat of Santa not coming?

“Parenting in December should be no different to how you parent the other 11 months of the year, and throwing threats around that are not going to happen are a sign of parenting weakness.

“Plus, instead of making your child behave, it will instead, more likely, have the opposite effect.”

Kirsty insists that her children aren’t and have never been interested in the phenomenon.

- Advertisement -

She said: “Both find it a bit creepy and they know that it is the parents who do it – which makes them understand why we don’t have one.”

While many parents frantically search for new hiding spots for their elf each morning, Kirsty says it is a chore she doesn’t have time for.

Kirsty Ketley the parenting expert sharing why the Elf on the Shelf tradition is firmly banned in her household.
Kirsty Ketley. (Picture: Jam Press)

She added: “I really can’t be bothered [with Elf on the Shelf]!

- Advertisement -

“I have enough going on in December without having to move an elf about daily, and ensure it is behaving in the worst way possible.

“I also think that some of the things that people do with their elf, are wasteful and messy.

“Rolls of toilet paper unravelled and torn, flour everywhere – it’s an extra thing to have to do and to clean and tidy.”

There are a handful of other Christmas traditions that the parenting expert isn’t on board with – including attributing all gifts to Santa.

Kirsty said: “Not only do I think us, as parents, should take the credit for the ‘big stuff’, I think it helps to keep kids’ expectations in check – especially for families on a tight budget.

“Instead, I think it’s acceptable for you to tell your kids that there is a limit on what you can spend on them and to create their list accordingly.

“Stockings are from Santa and should be modest.

“This way there can be no wondering why their peers got more than them from Santa and it can reduce the stress on parents of trying to meet their kids’ unrealistic expectations.”

Kirsty Ketley with her children Ella and Leo. the parenting expert sharing why the Elf on the Shelf tradition is firmly banned in her household.
Kirsty Ketley with her children Ella and Leo. (Picture: Jam Press)

She also said she doesn’t understand the concept of Christmas Eve boxes, and says parents shouldn’t feel pressured to make the big day perfect.

She explained: “Christmas should be perfectly imperfect.

“It’s important to remember that behind every perfect-looking Christmas tree you see on Instagram, there is likely chaos, stress, sadness, and financial pressures going on.”

Despite her misgivings around some of the new-age holiday traditions, Kirsty added: “I promise I’m not the Grinch!”

READ MORE: Mum’s Santa revelation sparks online firestorm

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • X

Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com
TAGGED: Christmas, Mums, Parenting, parenting tips

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article the Fisherman's castle' with armoured knights and throne, which is up for sale outside view. ‘Fisherman’s castle’ with armoured knights and throne hits market at $500,000
Next Article Outside Buckingham Palace, where King Charles hiring a royal phone operator. King Charles wants £26,000-a-year royal phone operator…and they’ll get paid MORE to answer LESS calls than seven years ago
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

235.3k Followers Like
69.1k Followers Follow
11.6k Followers Pin
56.4k Followers Follow
136k Subscribers Subscribe
4.4k Followers Follow
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Latest News

A woman’s forgotten jewellery collection hidden in a cupboard for 18 years stuns at auction, selling for £8,255 after being valued at just £1,000 by a second opinion.
Jewellery inherited from aunt and left in cupboard for decades sells for over £8,000
UK News 20 June 2025
Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori were spotted shopping in a Magaluf tourist store, surprising locals as they browsed crisps and cheeky gifts during a six-week island stay.
Kanye West spotted in Magaluf tourist shop by shocked Brit expat
Celebrity 20 June 2025
A rare Anglo-Saxon gold coin dating back to AD640-660 has been unearthed in Norfolk, blending Christian and pagan symbols in what experts call a major archaeological find.
Rare gold coin of ‘dancing man’ found buried in British field could be earliest of its kind
UK News 20 June 2025
A woman shocked TikTok by squeezing leaking filler from her lips, then getting a top-up despite warnings. She defends her look as part of reclaiming her true identity.
‘I’ve had so much lip filler it’s LEAKING but I’m not done yet’
Health and Fitness 20 June 2025

You Might also Like

A dad’s emotional reaction to his baby saying “Dada” for the first time has gone viral, melting hearts across the internet with over 20.5m views and countless teary responses.
Babies and Kids

Dad’s reaction to baby’s first words leaves internet ‘crying’

13 June 2025
Melissa Sloan, known as Britain’s most tattooed mum, is skipping her kids’ sports day after a teacher told her to hide due to her face tattoos, saying public judgment isolates her.
Real Life

‘Britain’s most tattooed mum’ claims teacher asked her to hide inside on sports day due to ‘scary’ ink

13 June 2025
Mum Emma Stretton gives tooth fairy IOUs and digital payments instead of cash, saying it teaches kids about money and keeps up with a contactless world - magic intact.
Babies and Kids

‘Other parents call me a CHEAPSKATE for giving my kids IOU notes from the tooth fairy instead of cash’

12 June 2025
Mum stunned as toddler covers herself in bacon fat like skincare - hilarious moment goes viral with over 11M views as Nova’s greasy glow wins hearts online.
Babies and Kids

Mum discovers naughty toddler covering herself in BACON GREASE

10 June 2025
Trad wife Maria West shares her soft rebellion lifestyle of homemaking, homeschooling and femininity with grace, intention and a full face of makeup.
Lifestyle

‘I’m a proud trade wife who bakes bread in sundresses and wrangles toddlers with perfect makeup – being at home all day IS real work’

6 June 2025
Baby Julia steals hearts in viral video as she hauls heavy water bottle to her mum mid-workout. The 11-month-old’s sweet gesture shows strength, love, and pure determination.
Babies and Kids

Adorable moment BABY delivers water bottle ‘triple body weight’ to exercising mum

6 June 2025
Mum of five feeds family of seven for £100 a week with meal planning, yellow sticker deals and savvy shopping tips - all while still treating the kids and making memories.
Real Life

‘I feed my family-of-SEVEN on just £100 a week WITHOUT scrimping on our favourite snacks’

30 May 2025
Dad-to-be brings TV and Xbox to hospital for birth, sparking backlash on TikTok - but partner reveals it was all to comfort her, not game, during labour stay.
Super Viral

Dad-to-be slammed for bringing own TV and Xbox to labour ward

30 May 2025
//

What’s The Jam is your one stop website for the latest viral and weird news from around the world.

 
Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com

Quick Link

  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Write for Us
  • Newsletter
  • About Us

Top Categories

  • UK News
  • World News
  • Latest Videos
  • Lifestyle
  • Super Viral

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Follow US
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?