Should you raise your kids to believe in Santa?

Question

How should a parent handle this? If you raise your child to believe in Santa, eventually he/she will find out he is not real and the child could be really hurt about this. I know a kid who then questioned, "Is Jesus fake too then?!?" But on the other hand, if you raise your child to know that Santa is not real, he is just a symbol of Christmas, then he/she may go to school and say it around the other kids who do believe in Santa and hurt their feelings. Any opinions on this???

Answer 1

I had this same problem-and this is what i did. I let my kids believe in Santa. When they are old enough, or start to come home from school saying that other kids are saying he isn't real, have on hand the facts. I have a story about how Santa Clause came to be. I just shared it with my daughter last year, shortly after Christmas, when she came home saying other kids said he wasn't real. I taught her that he was in fact a real person at one time, and I also told her of the different reasons for Christmas and Gift Giving. Believing in Santa and other "fairy tale figures" gives children their sense of imagination and adventure, let them hang on to it as long as possible.

My daughter has concluded that since Santa was real at one time, then that means he is still real, he's just not the one who brings the presents anymore.

Answer 2

I don't think is wrong to believe in Santa or the tooth fairy or the tooth mouse . It all depends on your & the kids imagination, I have a boy who's 9 a girl who's 5 & an 18th month go will like for him to believe. As you can see a 9 year old at this age usually don't believe but he still does. We still make the letter to Santa & placed cookies & milk near the christmas tree.My hubby & I hide the presents until last minute & the kids love the surprise that Santa left at the Christmas tree. So as long as you help them believe it's okay to have this kinds of believes & don't let other kids to hurt their feelings if there is a bad opinion just tell your kids that children who don't believe in Santa is cuz they missbehave & dont' receive presents from Santa. That's why they need to behave well all year to get what they ask Santa!! This will also help them behave better trust me !!! GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 3

Santa is the spirit of giving at Christmas time. The three wise men brought the gifts for baby Jesus, and eventually Santa became the symbol for giving on our saviors birthday. I told my son when he was ready that although, most presents come from us as parents, we celebrate the holiday knowing that it is all tied in, that faith in a higher power is what guides us. And you never know, I have seen the magic that Santa can bring to even adults. I feel so bad for the guy who got beat up as a child, I guess he can let that defeat him, or rise above the trauma and know that the bullies are on someones bad list. I believe that if you live long enough eventually what goes around comes around, some call it karma some call it fate, whatever, I do know that if all you put into the world is negative, not a lot of great things will happen for you. So whatever spin you put on it we, all want our kids happy and the believing in Santa, does come with some happiness and excitement, let it happen and feel the joy for a while, but maybe err on the side of caution and remember to turn the story to the real meaning of Christmas before your child gets too old. I will say a prayer for faith for the boy who is lost. And one for his mom who I am sure deserves a better kid than a moody, whine fest that she got. Buck up boy, If you spend all your time blaming your mom for your misfortunes, you will ruin two lives- give her a break.

Answer 4

The reason that I do not believe in Christianity, is for that very reason. I felt betrayed by my trusted parent, when my mother lied repeatedly about it. The more I questioned the more she lied, until I found out he hard way in front of some older kids. I fought them because I thought they were going to set Santa on fire. They beat me up and told me Santa wasn't real.

I was devestated to find out that He wasn't real, that there was no such thing as reindeer that fly, that there was no Easter Bunny, that this was just something Adults made up to please children...

I quickly found the same questions applied towards organized religion. I suffered greatly in a futile quest for spirituality, since I never trusted what other adults, and then eventually what other people said.

To this day I am an Athiest, or a Daist, or something else, non christian, i don't know.. but the point is..

It was fun while it lasted. I wish I had the news broken to me properly.

Answer 5

I personally don't feel there's anything wrong with kids believing in Santa and other holiday figures. You're child is going to get hurt feelings over something, somewhere. At least this is something that you have some control over and it usually leaves pleasant memories. I also believe that it helps teach children about life's disappointments.

Let's face it, if it were really that harmful of a thing, wouldn't more adults be emotionally scared from learning who the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa are?

Answer 6

My mom and dad never told us that Santa existed. My sister and I always knew that our parents were where our presents came from. I do not see anything wrong with believeing in Santa, but I can honestly say that I still had a normal childhood not believing in Santa. My parents said that it was the same thing as lying and that it is not a good example to set for us kids.

As for the ruining it for other children, just talk to your kids and explain to them that other kids believe in santa and why you have chosen to let them know where their presents come from. Children can sometimes understand things that parents don't think they can.

Answer 7

Here's how I look at this: in our house I'm Santa. I put out the presents, stuff the stockings and eat the cookies. So yes, Santa is REAL. My oldest asked me this past Christmas if there really is a Santa Claus (he's 10). I actually wasn't sure how to answer, so I asked him what he thought. He said, "I'm not sure, but SOMEONE leaves all that stuff!" I told him that's all he should worry about for now. I don't ever intend to tell them Santa isn't real ~ but eventually I'll reveal his "secret identity"! :-)

Answer 8

Teach your children about the real St. Nick, St. Nicolas. It all started way back in the 1800's. This is what were going to teach our children, and as for our family, to instill the true reason for the season, is Jesus. And through life, we will teach them all the history, of all the holidays.Seeing that we home school with in a Christian group, were not worried about our children telling others Santa isn't real. He was, at one time, but way before that, Jesus was born on Christmas day.

Good Luck

Answer 9

If you really think about it there is a Santa,,, you...........! Let your child believe in Santa until he or she ask you if he is real then tell him that there are many Santa's in the world the tree wise men for example brung gifts for baby JESUS . Besides it is a tradition for children to believe in Santa for the first part of their lives and you play Santa every day by bringing them gifts of love and joy ,support,all of these is facts . Hope this helps you.

Answer 10

Santa represents the spirit of Christmas and you should definitely keep that spirit alive. It is not as 'emotionally damaging' as you may think when a child discovers there is no Santa...my oldest son cried when he found out, but not out of pain, hurt or loss. He cried because he was overwhelmed with the idea that it had been ME all those years. He couldn't understand how I ever afforded to do it (single mom) asked me how I did it, he wouldn't stop thanking me and he had a very long moment of appreciation for me, as his mother and what I do.