Parents, it's nearly the middle of December, you've got Christmas to organise, presents to wrap and cards to send.

And you're also responsible for hiding this around the house, every day until Christmas Day.

Apart from applauding your dedication to the cause, we're here to give you some help and ideas for things you may not have tried yet.

And, in the spirit of helping others, perhaps share some ideas you may have had along the way.

What's the idea behind it?

The festive toy began as a children's book in 2005 in the US.

It tells the story of Father Christmas sending an elf to check whether children are being good or bad, naughty or nice.

In the past few years it has moved to the UK, with shops including John Lewis selling the UK edition.

The book comes with a toy elf, which parents then have to place in various naughty guises around the house for little ones to find.

They're not allowed to touch it or the elf will disappear, according to the story.

And while Elf on the Shelf is the official name for the brand, it has evolved with many people creating their own character and toy to keep their youngsters on the straight and narrow.

Here's some ideas for naughty elves if you're running out of inspiration

The Oldham Times:

Sent by Kaycee Shave

The Oldham Times:

Sent by Gayle Moore

The Oldham Times:

Instagram: @boristheelf

The Oldham Times:

Sent by Chantelle Wells

The Oldham Times:

The Oldham Times:

Sent by Vicki Cleall

The Oldham Times:

Sent by Lucy Buss

The Oldham Times:

Sent by Lucy Buss