My daughter still believes in Santa. We went shopping and I had her choose two toys that she really liked and then we donated them to "Toys For Tots". She asked," why are we doing this because Santa will bring their toys?" I explained to her that the world is based on commerce and that nothing is free. Because of that parents have to buy their toys from Santa and some parents can afford to buy more than others and then there are those who can't afford to buy anything. That's why we give. I explained to her that Santa has a business to run..he has over head cost, like paying his elfs to work, buying raindeer food, the cost of heating the north pole, drying cleaning his Santa suit, etc. I didn't know of any other way to explain it. What do you tell your child?
2006-12-20 11:09:30 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
YES YES WE ALL KNOW XMAS IS ABOUT JESUS BUT COME ON PEOPLE WE ALL KNOW TO THE KIDS ITS ABOUT SANTA AND THATS OKAY. THEY WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT JESUS AS THEY GET OLDER AND UNTIL THERE OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THEN THERES NO POINT IN RUINING THERE XMAS NOW IS THERE!!! I THINK THE WAY YOU CHOSE TO EXPLAIN IT IS NOT ONLY VERY VERY CLEVER BUT ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE. GREAT JOB MOM, WISH I HAD OF THOUGHT OF THAT LOL. MINE ARE NOT YET OLD ENOUGH TO ASK ABOUT IT
2006-12-20 11:18:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I let my kids believe in Santa but don't push the issue. I don't make them bake him cookies or send him a letter each year, If they ask we do if not we leave it alone. Santa only brings my daughters one present each, that's because each year more and more babies are born into the world and his sled is only so big. We in-force that the true meaning of Christmas is the chance to spend time with your family. Even at 4 and 6 my girls understand that and don't need a ton of presents. I already have a game plan should my 6 year old come home from Kindergarten this year saying that Santa brought her friends more presents then she got. When we donate to Toys for Tots I explain that because the number of kids in the world gets bigger each year Santa needs some help. I don't make him this extraordinary magical man, we are casual about his existence. I love your explanation of Santa by the way.
2006-12-20 12:07:32 · answer #2 · answered by novelwyrm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The world is a bad enough place when we grow up, I think the idea of Santa is wonderful for kids... the excitement, the thrill, remembering as a kid how it was hard to get to sleep. I think you did the right thing. We never had a fire place when my kids were little, so I would go out in the middle of the night, make footprints with my x husbands boots, broomstick for sleigh tracks, and bought those little bells and scattered them around by the door for proof that he came through the front door. What you did was ok, let our kids enjoy as much of their childhood as we can. And it is not about buying presents, I remember one year, my folks were really poor, so my dad had to make all most of our presents.. it was cool.. a kitchen set, scooters, wagons.. and it is ok to just help Santa out with his job. Let the kids be kids.. it is short enough.. Kids will find out on their own, and there will be no psychological damage like some people suggest.. when my kids found out, my son was 6, and he said "mommy, I know there is no Santa Claus", and I told him "you better be sure, Christmas is around the corner".. hahaha.. but when they pursued the issue, I simply told them that Santa is real.. he represents the spirit, be happy, give to others, and enjoy...
2006-12-20 11:36:51 · answer #3 · answered by tootsie38 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kids usually figure out the Santa thing on their own...you don't have to tell her anything. What you told your daughter was good. My daughter never asked any questions about "Santa" when she was five she came and said she knew there wasn't really a man in a red suit who deposited presents in homes, she got sneaky and found our "hiding place for gifts" at grandmas...LOL. But that didn't mean that the spirit of giving, compassion and tolerance isn't real.
2006-12-20 16:12:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The idea of Santa Clause (German) has only been around since the 1900's. I tell my son the truth which is that the spirit of Christmas concerns the Nativity. Giving gifts is to show honor and love and reverence. Not the commercial aspects and ideaology of being good so some overweight person who has been spying on you will reward you with your wildest dreams. I dont want my son to be subconsciously dependent on an image of Santa, he may grow up with that in the back of his head thinking that he has to be good because some one like "Big Brother" may not be happy with him.
2006-12-20 11:26:18 · answer #5 · answered by cash_flo_now 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, a parental belief in god prepares the children for belief in god. Santa goes hand in hand as the original Saint Nicholas was sainted unted christianity. It teaches children to believe in immaginary things that eventually turn out to hurt the child in the end when they find out that it is not real... just as when they convert or deprogram themselves to become atheist.
2016-03-29 01:55:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I struggled with this, I have 4 daughters (my youngest is now 9) when she was about 6 we had a similar experience. I don't know why, but I chose to be honest with her and I was amazed at how well it went over. Kids are much more mature today & I felt good about it. Honesty, it's worked for centuries!
2006-12-20 11:19:24 · answer #7 · answered by John W 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just tell them they dont believe in santa so he is not delivering them presents, and not all presents are from santa but if you believe some will be.
2006-12-20 11:17:00 · answer #8 · answered by roflcopterBRUTUS 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I CHOOSE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO TELL MY CHILDREN THE TRUTH ABOUT ST. NICHOLAS AND THE LEGEND HE GREW INTO. WE GIVE BECAUSE WE CELEBRATE JESUS NOT SANTA CLAUS. THIS IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS TRULY ABOUT.
2006-12-20 11:14:26 · answer #9 · answered by baptism_by_fire_2000 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋