I have been battling with whether or not to tell my son about Santa Clause or just to tell him the truth. It feels like such a sham. Anyone here agree or disagree. I know it's not really a philosophical question but to some degree it's thought provoking.
:o)
2006-12-13 10:24:32 · 15 answers · asked by I Ain't Your Momma 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I am only 19 and don't have kids and won't for a long while. But I may be able to help. We lie to our kids about Santa, the Easter Bunny, Ghosts, The Tooth Fairy, and all other mythical icons. We don't even need to be THAT commited to the lie. Kids will believe anything. They WANT to believe in magic. If you don't tell them about the magic that our parents told us, they will just invent something else to make believe. Christmas is a magical time of year and kids should be excited about it. What is more exciting than santa and his magical reindeer and the north pole? Don't take that magic away from him. (Plus, all the other kids in kindergarten will be talking about it and he will be clueless).
Story telling has been going on since the ancient greeks and even before that. Why break the tradition?
2006-12-13 10:36:46 · answer #1 · answered by ? 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't consider it a sham. Consider it a special gift that only you can only give, and only for a finite length of time.
There are many times in life when you will lie to your kids for beneficial reasons. Such lies include:
1. "You can be anything you want if you just try hard enough" (As a short kid, my desire to be a center for the Lakers could never happen, no matter how much I want it).
2. "I never did (insert vice here, i.e. pot, sex, speeding a car) when I was your age". Very few parents dare reveal all of their teenage indiscretions to their young children.
3. "Oh, that's a perfect picture of a dog you drew. . . . Oh, yeah, that's what I meant, that's a perfect picture of an elephant you drew!"
4. "Yes, there is a Santa Claus".
Each of these lies are meant to preserve a certain level of innocence or hope that we all know will not last forever. That's something we can do as parents, and I've never heard a kid justifiably hold any of these lies against their parents after they became adults.
So whether you're motivated by guilt, the fact that you have some juicy gossip you can't keep to yourself, or whatever it is that's prompting you to tell, leave this one alone. This is for your kid.
Like all the other beneficial lies, your kid will figure out the truth (and why you told the lies) for themselves in due time.
2006-12-13 11:58:28 · answer #2 · answered by freebird 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It was fun for me when I was a kid, so I did Santa for my child.
Who would want to miss out on this grand game played on such a large scale? Why you might as well keep your child in at Halloween and refuse to paint Easter eggs in the spring.
On a side note: Last night at The Philosophy Cafe - Atlanta, we almost talked about what is learned from the Santa Claus game, but alas it did not get discussed.
2006-12-14 01:47:46 · answer #3 · answered by Phil Knight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People make excuses to keep the lie going and pass it off as just a traditional thing..., a what!? A Traditional lie?
What it all broils down to is if you expect to teach your child that lying is wrong, would not the Santa be a lie? The parent telling a lie to the child becomes permissible but the child is not to lie. It sends mixed messages.
I told my daughter early on and flat out, that Santa is a fictional character people have fun with during the holidays and in fact has nothing to do with the birth of Christ -which, is what Christmas is about.
She was fine with it and never had no problems at all. However once in a while I will run into adults that still never quite got over the Santa fib. Not that they are in need of hospitalization or anything, but it still upsets them in various ways.
I myself never believed in Santa despite what my parents told me. I simply thought "Yeah - your kidding me. Okay, I'll play along". But I too had gotten to a certain age where I questioned why they would lie, but tell me to be honest.
So what do you think? Justify the lie, or just tell the kiddo that Santa is just a fictional character people have fun with during the holidays??
2006-12-13 11:06:47 · answer #4 · answered by Victor ious 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Children all need to believe in something good and I believe that the symbol of Santa Clause is the Spirit of love for others and the Spirit of giving, The joy of Christmas is in the love and Good will that we share with our friends and Family. It really is not a lie if you believe in the whole Sririt of Christmas, and the true meaning of Christmas. Happy Hollidays.
2006-12-13 12:37:18 · answer #5 · answered by mama_luna 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Or you could educate him on the history of Santa Claus first, explaining how the concept came into being and why it's still so popular today, which will allow him to be able to understand that it wasn't normally about presents, but about helping out those in need, which could have the amazing effect of teaching him that it isn't about what HE gets or how MUCH he gets, but how much he gives. At least, that's how it worked out when my best friend's sister explained it to her son last year. My sister won't let me tell her kids the history of Santa Claus so when either of them asks me about it, I just smile mysteriously at them and tell them to ask their mom, then she glares at me and changes the subject. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, yes, it can be hard (and a little traumatizing) telling your kids the truth about Santa, but if you approach it from a scholar and/or historian's point of view, then they usually are more susceptible and open to the change in views and can even get to be not as greedy (as many of us are wont to be at this "festive" time of year - admit it!) when the season rolls around again... and again... and again...
2006-12-13 10:42:13 · answer #6 · answered by Deus Maxwell 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pros:
Your kids will behave better if you threaten them with Santa
More reason to buy them gifts? (I love buying gifts for my nieces)
If your presents aren't great, you can blame santa
It gives them something to believe in, something good
Your kids will appreciate christmas more. You don't realize it's about family til you've grown up some.
Cons:
It's a lie, a deception
It could hurt them when they find out
Oh, they'll be angry, unless you find a funny way to tell them. Like we found out when my dad dressed as santa and my mom called him by name, asking if he needed anymore gifts. Lol.
But yeah, I didn't really believe in santa all that long and it wasn't at all traumatizing to find out there wasn't one. It can be a disappointment though. My nieces don't believe in santa, we don't see the point in telling them about something that's not there.
2006-12-13 10:38:41 · answer #7 · answered by Le Petit Fleur 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People enjoy the innocent little lie. It is such fun to shower children with joy and presents. You are so right--people have come not to value truth, which is tremendously valued in the heavens beyond us.
2006-12-13 10:30:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who denies a child the Magic and wonder of Santa Claus at Christmas, should be dragged behind a Horse !
2006-12-13 10:34:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
sure. you're Ruining the Christmas Spirit. really, have them watch The Polar educate and enable them be sure what to have self belief. there is not any longer some thing incorrect with the threat free mind's eye of children.
2016-10-18 06:15:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋