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Where to buy Elf on the Shelf (and his friends)

Joshua Buchwald

Updated December 5, 2025 - 4.42am

9PR: Elf on the shelf — 9Product Reviews

Parents, consider this your reminder to prepare for the return of Elf on the Shelf. The cheeky little elf is set to take over the lives of your little ones from December 1.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

The Elf on the Shelf Doll and Storybook

Boy elf and book for $59.99 Girl elf and book for $76.63

Who is Elf on the Shelf?

In recent years, Elf on the Shelf has taken on a life of its own as parents share on social media the chaos and destruction the tiny little guy causes as he moves around the house, keeping a watchful eye on the children in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Basically, his role is to gossip to Santa, and unless you've been living under a rock, Elf is a guest in most Aussie homes from December 1 – loved by the kids and mostly resented by the adults.

How does the game work?

Elf on the Shelf comes with a storybook that, in theory, you'd read to your kids before he starts 'taking notes' on their behaviour.

The book tells the tale of elves that fly home to the North Pole each night in December, leading up to Christmas, to tell Santa about what happened that day in the house. This intel helps the big guy decide if the kids have been naughty or nice.

Once they've 'snitched' to Santa, the Elf returns to a different spot in the house for the kids to find and to be a helpful reminder that if they don't behave, they head straight to the top of the naughty list, which isn't ideal for those little ones who have extensive Christmas wish lists.

But wait, there are rules.

There are two main rules when playing with the Elf on the Shelf that the kids MUST follow:

Do not touch your elf! If you do, they may lose their power and not be able to return to see Santa. Tragedy.
The elf must come back from the North Pole every night and sit somewhere different in your home. Enjoy that, parents!

It is also encouraged that your children interact and speak with the elf so they can pass on all their Christmas wishes to Santa every night.