A revolutionary new app is saving exhausted parents across the UK from the nightly chore of staging elaborate Elf on the Shelf scenes, thanks to a clever blend of artificial intelligence and festive spirit.
The Mum Who Turned a Dreaded Question into a Viral Hit
The ingenious solution was born in Essex, where mother-of-four Kirsten Boisvert faced the familiar December exhaustion of moving elves and creating magical mischief after her children had gone to sleep. The pressure reached a peak two years ago when her son, Leo, posed the question every tired parent fears: "Mum… can we catch the elf on camera tonight?"
Instead of dismissing the idea, Kirsten teamed up with her best friend. After months of late-night work and testing, they developed the AI-powered Elf Watch app. This festive piece of technology allows families to receive playful video footage showing their elves getting up to all sorts of nocturnal antics in their own homes, from raiding biscuit tins to swinging from lampshades.
Celebrity Backing and Nationwide Craze
The app has already captured the imagination of the nation, becoming a viral sensation even before its official launch on 1 December 2025. It boasts a waiting list of over 320,000 families and has won endorsements from several famous faces.
Celebrity fans include former TOWIE star Ferne McCann, singer Meghan Trainor, EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa, and sisters Sam and Billie Faiers. Their backing has helped propel the Christmas hack into the spotlight.
Kirsten explained her motivation to 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 added that as a mum of four, she created the tool to help parents generate magic without the overwhelming pressure.
Affordable Magic for Stressed Families
A key selling point for the app is its accessibility. Parents can purchase a single piece of elf footage for just 69p, or opt for a full month's subscription for under £20. Kirsten emphasised that the goal was never to replace the beloved elf tradition, but to add an extra layer of wonder to it.
"I think Elf Watch resonates because it taps into something timeless, kids’ belief in magic," she said. "When parents see their child’s face watching that ‘CCTV footage,’ it’s pure joy." She hopes the app will become a cherished part of family Christmas traditions for years to come, bringing families closer through shared, effortless magic.
For Kirsten, the creation of Elf Watch had a personal benefit too: "Keeping Christmas magical for four children is exhausting… but this brought the magic back for me too." The app allows everyone, parents included, to wake up excited to discover what mischief their elf has been up to overnight.
