Do you teach your children to believe in Santa?

Question

Ok- I feel like I am a hyprocrit. I am teaching my 4 year old not to lie. In the meantime, she is asking me questions upon questions about Santa and I in turn am lying to her. What do you think about this?

Answer 1

i don't see santa as lying. santa is a tradition and part of the joy of christmas.
even though i know that santa is make-believe, i also know that the spirit of santa is everywhere this time of year....

here's a wonderful answer i received on my santa question:

This is long, but worth the read.

*****I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous, cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten- dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.
I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten- dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes," I replied shyly. "It's .... for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95.

He who has no Christmas in his heart - will never find Christmas under a tree.

Answer 2

that's a extreme-high quality game of faux for toddlers. i do no longer see that it relatively is a lot diverse from having an imaginary chum. I on no account made a colossal deal approximately it yet Santa did placed some issues in each youngster's stocking while they have been small. toddlers have self assurance all varieties of issues while they are little that they finally develop out of. it relatively is stupid to handle Santa as some thing greater extreme than the others. while they have been sufficiently previous to ask questions and communicate approximately it, I defined that "Santa" became right into a logo for the spirit of giving and as they grew older they could help play Santa for others.

Answer 3

I told my children the story of Christopher Kringle. Saint Nicholas was born of wealthy parents in the year 280 in a small town called Patara in Asia Minor. He lost his parents early by an epidemic but not before they had instilled in him the gift of faith. Then little Nicholas went to Myra and lived a life full of sacrifice and love in the spirit of Jesus. Nicholas became so Christ like that when the town needed a bishop, he was elected. Saint Nicholas was even imprisoned for his faith, but later released. There have been many stories of his generosity and compassion: how he begged for food for the poor, and how he would give girls money so that they would have a dowry to get a husband. The story most often repeated was about how Saint Nicholas would put on a disguise and go out and give gifts to poor children.This is a true story and how the legend of Santa Clause began.As they got older I let them know that the presents they give and receive is in celebration of Christ's life.

Answer 4

To me i have always believed Santa is a part of christmas! I was raised by my mother, who would send me and my brother our on christmas eve to see if we saw santa flying around, and somehow when we were gone he always came!!! Figures right?! I dont think its a "Lie" really...i think it teaches imagination, its fun and who doesnt like getting a few extra special toys?! I wish i could have those times back, but i am going to be living them through my children insted. I think its sooo fun to see my nieces and nephews get excited over santa at the mall and things like that. My twins are only 2 1/2 but i know next year they will be way more into it and i cant wait!!! I say let kids have all the fun of christmas. They wont view it as your LYING to them....at least i didnt! I loved every single christmas as a kid and i know now as an adult how awesome mom was to get extra stuff from "santa" and let me have all the fun in the world making cookies for santa and all that! Have fun with your little girl!! Merry christmas!

Answer 5

Santa is innocent child fun. If she does not believe in Santa as a four year old how will she have an imagination for when she gets older. It is good for her to believe in santa and you are not lying to her you are just helping her imagination evolve.

Answer 6

When I was growing up I was taught that there was a Santa Clause, But the man at the store was only his helper. Because
the real Santa Clause had already died. So as I grew up that was
the story I told my children and that is how it stayed. So when they see Santa Clause they know he is only his helper. But, there
is always a but, they expect a present from him as well and of course what do we say only if your good. Come on how many Santa Clause are they going to come across each day as they are
out an about with you at the store, and what are they going to say
How did Santa get over here so fast? Or Where Santa's Sled's.
They always have questions, and that is to be expected. So when
they turn 10 years old they are old enough to tell them thats it
kido, no more sitting on Santa's lap, your to old. Unless they start
at a earlier age, what ever age they are ready that is up to them
it'll be okay.

Answer 7

While hear is what dad and i told two of my younger siblings ok i got job of doing explanation but dad had to agree extra. So here is what was said. While Santa in and of himself is not real it's fun to pretend fictional characters are real. Just like Ash,Brock Max and May from pokemon or how you pretend to be someone you aren't it's fun. (I suggest instering child's favorite character if choose to use this). Here is deal wth Saint Nicholas which is how we got to Santa. Told them about what Saint Nicholas giving to families in need. We asked them not talk to their friends about Santa as some famlies believe even if we know he is just pretend. We all should strive to be as generous as st. Nicholas who strived to be like Jesus. We never labeled gifts from anyone in house nor from Santa. We made Christmas eve family time after 4pm it was the 5 of us daddy,3 girls and 1 boy. Christmas morning before 10 am was to celebrate Jesus birthday cause we have no clue his exact birthday was.

Answer 8

I grew up without Santa so it was a no brainer to me how I was going to teach my children. My son is now 5 and has made it his mission to tell his cousins that there is no Santa. I had to explain to him that it's not the actual person Santa but more for what Santa stands for. "Santa" is the spirit of giving and sharing what you have with others. It was kind of hard but I always tell him that I don't believe in Santa, I believe in Santa's cause...

Answer 9

My husband's Mom always was able to avoid the lies, and never lied once to him about Santa. I hope to do the same, but I need to talk with her to see how she did it. I think a lot of times, she would just say, "I don't know, I'm not sure, what do you think?" She didn't take the belief out, but she also didn't lie. I kind of like that idea.

Answer 10

Imagination is wonderful for children. The wilder the imagination, the more creative the child. I also do not "lie" to my children but they do know about Santa. Santa is real. We see them in the malls all of the time. I think it is harder explaining how he isn't real when he is in your face for 3 months. Remember, Santa can be a person or a symbol for peace and giving.

Answer 11

Good question..I had a very hard time with it too. I would never say that he was real.I would always avoid the question. I would say well you'll just have to see.Or thats what everyone says.I know it was the cowards way out but I couldn't lie to him.On the other hand I didn't want to spoil his excitement that Santa was coming. It's hard and I wish u all the luck.Plus when I found out he wasn't real I was very disappointed with my parents