Our daughter is 3yrs and 8 months now. I was telling her the story about Santa Claus and she was getting real excited. But then my wife starts telling me that she doesn't think it's a good idea to give her false incentives to be good. She also gives the old "I never believed in Santa Claus as a child and I turned out fine" routine. As for me, I just don't see the harm in it- sure, one day we'll tell her the truth when she's old enough to understand that her parents are just doing it to give her a special experience once a year. For now, I'm just enjoying her excitement about Christmas.
So my question is: do you think there's any disadvantages to teaching your children the Santa Claus myth? Do you think children would be affected negatively because you told them blatant mistruths?
2006-12-24 03:24:07 · 37 answers · asked by the screaming frog 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Generally, No. I don't think it's a bad idea. We often teach by telling stories. Good children that do their chores get allowances. We give gifts on birthdays and have an Easter bunny.
I know that some kids react negatively to the news, but I think most figure it out via their own smarts or by talking to friends in their own age group.
It's kind of like a fairy tale. Eventually, you learn it's not true. But, if you can keep that sense of magic alive in your heart and mind for the rest of your life ... it's priceless. I think the same thing applies to Santa & Christmas.
2006-12-24 03:31:16 · answer #1 · answered by bionicbookworm 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why anyone would want to deprive their child of such a wonderful thought as Santa is beyond me.Christmas is supposed to be a time of magic for children, so keep telling her about him. And while you're at it, here's a fun little story to tell her next year;
A few days after Thanksgiving, Santa sends one special elf to every home that has children,That elf stays in said house until about 1 week before Christmas, then they all go back to the North Pole to tell
Santa if the children have been good or bad.
Here's the thing, the elves can make themselves very small so they cannot be seen by the children.My oldest daughter(8 1/2)
still tries to find our Christmas elf. Have fun and Happy Holidays!
2006-12-24 05:25:52 · answer #2 · answered by rdfish22 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i dont see a disadvantage, nor do i think it affects them negatively,,, you can always not emphasis the "be good to get presents" part, i never focused on that with my daughter, but it was a time to do things together,, pick thoughtful gifts for everyone, make cookies etc, enjoy the holiday both in a religious sense (if thats your belief) and in a winter festival sense (with santa etc) at some later point she will learn that Santa is most often the parents, yet by that age both your children will be able to understand the spirit of Christmas,, which is what its all about,,,, as a cultural thing,,, and if they are like my daughter , lol, they will keep on believing in Santa, even when they know santa is you! why cut down on the gifts lol
2006-12-24 03:30:45 · answer #3 · answered by dlin333 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see the big deal in it. We dont' go all out with Santa, but we do tell our girls the "santa' stories. Santa only brings small things in our stockings though, not bigger toys around the tree. Also, I don't really think Santa is a lie. I mean think about it in all reality YOU & your wife are Santa & you are very real. That's how I look at it. I am 32 yrs old & still get a stocking from my "santa'...aka my mom & dad. I however do not force my kids to sit on santa's lap, I just think that's mean. If they see him out & want to sit I let them but if they start screaming I don't make them. In fact I have a 2 yr old who has never sat in Santa;'s lap, we went last yr & she screamed when I went to put her on his lap so we left. My 4 yr old has sat on his lap once, but that was when she was 8 months old & Santa was a good friend, so she was comfortable with him. Soo that was my long winded way of saying, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Just don't go overboard & make up wild stories about him. I don't even think I have ever read the Night before Christmas to my girls. hmmm
2006-12-24 05:04:11 · answer #4 · answered by mamabens 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, I think your wife is being a little ridiculous. Your child is three years old and well, there have been millions of children who believe in Santa over the years and have turned out fine. I don't see the harm in it. It makes Christmas magical for kids and it's so cute to see them so excited. I mean if your child asked you where kids came from would you and your wife tell her about sex in detail as not to mislead her??? I think telling your child about Santa is a harmless "little white lie"
2006-12-24 04:48:09 · answer #5 · answered by ktpb 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe that Santa is a lie. He is the spirit of giving, and everyone who gives of themselves is in fact Santa Claus. When my children became old enough to know the truth, I simply told them that Santa Doesn't really wear a red suit and fly with Reighndeer. I am Santa Claus for them, and I will always be Santa. This way they learn to be the givers and not the takers.
2006-12-24 03:29:57 · answer #6 · answered by Joseph L 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not bad to teach your kids about Santa. it's a culturally appropriate myth to tell them. Children the world over have been told various creation myths, religious myths, etc. and many of these myths are never revealed as false. What's the harm in legends such as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, etc. while they are young?
2006-12-24 03:29:02 · answer #7 · answered by SDTerp 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just because she didn't believe in Santa Claus doesn't mean your daughter should miss out. Children should believe in things that aren't necessarily true, dreaming about the unknown is harmless. The truth is someone is watching her be good and will reward her with good behavior, that person is you as parents. Eventually they will figure it out and understand who the real Santa Claus is but until then, let them dream and wonder and above all, be a kid.
2006-12-24 03:51:16 · answer #8 · answered by trojan 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe that you should let your daughter be a child. Enjoy the light in her eyes Christmas morning, when the extra presents from Santa seem to magically appear. It is a wonderful age. Treasure it! Kids grow up way to fast these days she will know the truth soon enough.
2006-12-24 03:33:44 · answer #9 · answered by sharon_misspriss 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no! absolutely tell her the myth about santa claus! it gives a parent great joy when your child tries to stay up to wait for santa, and write santa christmas letters! she will find out the truth soon enough, but for now keep the myth going! Merry christmas!
2006-12-24 03:55:05 · answer #10 · answered by rebekah u 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋