The Elf on the Shelf Christmas tradition is definitely cute and fun for kids and parents, but you can just as easily start your own, less commercialized tradition too. To me, once there’s an app for that, a lot of the fun part goes away.

I prefer to keep most traditions exclusively within the family, and recently, without the intent of it becoming tradition, we created our own Elf-on-the-Shelf-like tradition with Lamby. If you are not aware of her current best plush friend, it’s the lamb (obviously) in her hand.

Lamby is always by her side unless he’s “taking a bath” in the washing machine from too much outside playtime. One night, after Avery’s usual pre-bed bath, I decided to place Lamby on the couch where he was peaking over the side. When she came running, naked straight out of the bath, there he was, staring right down the hall where she emerged.

The first time caught her off guard, but her face lit up as she proclaimed “Lamby!” as getting on to him for moving from the spot she had left him. Going Mom and I both loved seeing our wide-grinned daughter excitedly running to find Lamby and grab him to bring to bed. Thus, a tradition was born.

Every night since, I’ve been trying to find a new spot/pose for her wooly pal to be found. Now, after getting out of the bath, she’ll ask where Lamby is and my wife will say she doesn’t know and to go find him. He’s been on the couch in various areas, holding her toy kettlebell, climbing on the desk in our front entry, sitting on a balloon, and most recently, playing with blocks.

Avery has been repeating “Lamby’s playing with blocks” for the past couple days now, so I am sticking with it for now. She obviously enjoys finding her rogue Lamby.

Honestly, I’m running out of ideas. I know there is so much more I can do, but I don’t want her going on a scavenger hunt right before bed. Especially when she’s running around naked in a cold house; she can get upset in an instant. Oh wait, that’s toddlers in general.

So he doesn’t come with a book telling the story of his purpose for hiding around the house to keep tabs on our little girl for Santa or the Easter Bunny, but she love it nonetheless. Besides, Lamby is unique to us. Maybe other families have their own free versions too, but we have Lamby in our house, and that just makes it more fun to us.

Who knows, maybe she’ll want an elf as she gets older, but right now, Lamby is free and fun for all which makes it a win-win for everyone. Now, I need to find some new Lamby hiding spots since I know blocks can’t his thing every night.

Do you do Elf on the Shelf in your home?

Do you have your own version of this or any other popular/commercialized tradition?

Any thoughts on what Lamby should be doing next?