Genius Elf On The Shelf hack loved by Jac Jossa, Cath Tydlesley and Megan Trainor saves exhausted parents

An exhausted Essex mum-of-four has created a genius way for families to ‘catch Elves’ as their Elves on the Shelves cause chaos during the night - and thousands of families across the country are already captivated by it.

Fans of the festive tech include famous faces such as singer Meghan Trainor. EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa and Corrie's Cath Tydesley, who have already given the genius Christmas hack their full backing.

For Kirsten Boisvert from Essex, December - as is the reality for many tired parents - had become a full-time job: moving elves, setting scenes, staying up later than Santa himself and trying to keep the sparkle alive for her kids.

It all changed when she came up with a plan that would take the heat off her and her husband having to stage the magic every single night - prompted by her son Leo, two years ago, asking the question every parent dreads, “Mum… can we catch the elf on camera tonight?”

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And rather than dismiss the idea as impossible, Kirsten and her best friend decided to give it a whirl. After months of late nights, laughter and trial-and-error, they came up with new AI app Elf Watch — a playful bit of festive tech that lets families see elves getting up to mischief in real time, in scenes in their own homes.

Already a viral sensation before it officially launched on 1 December, with over 320,000 families on the waiting list, Kirsten tells the Mirror, “Elf Watch was born from wanting to give our kids that ‘wow’ moment - the kind of magic you can’t fake. We didn’t build an app, we built a memory-maker.”

She adds, “As a mum of four, I know December can be so chaotic. Elf Watch was our way of helping parents create magic without the pressure. It’s the one-time tech that actually makes the season easier, not harder.”

And Kirsten believes there’s a reason why it’s hit such a nerve with parents across the land.

The rogue elves can be seen getting up to all sorts of mischief - from sneaking through the kitchen to raiding the biscuit tin, getting tangled in tinsel and wrapping paper and even swinging from lampshades.

Kirsty says, “They’ll basically do everything children imagine their elves doing — but parents are too exhausted to recreate.

“I think Elf Watch resonates because it taps into something timeless, kids’ belief in magic. When parents see their child’s face watching that ‘CCTV footage,’ it’s pure joy. That’s what people are sharing.”

““We didn’t want to replace the elf tradition, we wanted to add an extra sprinkle of magic to it. Our goal is really simple: bring families closer through shared magic. If Elf Watch becomes part of people’s Christmas traditions for years to come, that would mean the world to us.”

The best part, claims Kirsty, is that it won’t break the bank - with one piece of footage for just 69p - or a full month’s subscription costing under £20.

Kirsty adds, “Keeping Christmas magical for four children is exhausting… but this brought the magic back for me too. I didn’t want parents to feel pressured or overwhelmed , just excited to wake up with their kids and see what the elves got up to overnight on video.”

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