I’ve just found out about a book and doll gift set called Elf on the Shelf.

The idea is that you hide the elf around the house each day and your children are challenged to find him/her.

The elf is actually there spying for Santa. How long before you can get a model with built in a spy camera so you can download your children’s bad behaviour so you can time them by posting it on YouTube?

This smells a bit like the Stazi to me. What kind of phobias are children building up for later life thanks to this, no doubt well-intentioned, idea?

Would Santa really do this to children? Would it even enter Santa’s mind to spy on children? I think not – at least not the incredible, kind old guy I remember him to be from my childhood – the embodiment of forgiveness, who still brought me presents, even though I was convinced I’d been far too naughty the previous year!