Why does society encourage parents to lie to their children?

Question

Christmas - Santa Claus
Easter - Easter bunny
New born - Stork delivery
Tooth loss - Tooth fairy

Answer 1

I had a huge arguement with my family about this. Since my husband and I both come from two differnent religions (and I think the fictional characters are silly), I elected not tell my daughter about santa and the easter bunny. I wanted to concentrate on the religous aspects of the holidays and try to tie them in together with teachings of my husband's religion. Well, that caused a huge dispute with my family. Despite the fact that I told her the REAL story of st.nicolas without the big red suit I was accused of depriving her of the "magic" of christmas. So as they were pushing santa and I was pushing God- happily she thought the religious meaning of christmas was more interesting. She even slept with the baby jesus (in place of a stuffed animal) from our nativity scene.
Unfortunately, I dont think we can get away from the influence of things like santa clause but we can make OUR influence and the religious influence much stronger and more interesting. I myself dont believe in lying to my kids. I tell her everything and when she asks a question, I dont hold anything back. AS long as you do that- they will find the right on there own.

Answer 2

These are excuses to keep children away from the complicated, religious-based, graphic details of the truth. For instance, Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus Christ (which is also covered up by Xmas), Easter is the Crucifixion of Jesus (I have no idea where the bunny came from), people don't what to have "the talk" about where babies come from with 5 year olds, and they want the children to "have fun" in believing that there is a tooth fairy. Crazy; just tell the child the truth. It's easier!

Answer 3

Stork Delivery?

Answer 4

But these are harmless lies. Christmas, who pays for the gifts? Easter, who buys the eggs? Tooth loss, who hides money under the pillow? New born, uh, well, I've nothing to say but at the end of the day, the children are the happy ones. Nothing wrong with 'lies' like this. =D

Answer 5

Christmas-so kids will be guilted into being good, otherwise no presents
Easter-excuse to buy candy
New Born-embarrassed to tell children penis goes in vagina
toot loss-hmm...you got me on that one. How I see it is, the tooth fairy is so well known, that parents would almost feel bad if they didn't put a dollar under their children's pillow at night.

Answer 6

Everyone loves a story. How can you call a story a lie? A story is a fairytale and if it's something a child can believe in to get him through the harsher parts of life, so be it. A pessimist cannot see this. An optomist can. I am so sorry for your pain and disenchantment in the fairytale. But, there are so many of us out there that enjoy stories that stories continue. Thank God.

Answer 7

To take away the shock of something that seems magical, but has an explaination. What seems easier to explain? How a baby is made, or just saying that a stork flies in, and says, 'Here's your baby, tip is customary.'

Answer 8

Well the lie doesn't really hurt the children
as a matter of fact, the children benefit from the lie...
so why question it?
it makes the kids happy..
who're you hurting?

Answer 9

You left out the unconditionally loving ultra-judgmental God who would allow them to burn in a place called Hell for eternity.

That one is the most destructive of all.

love and blessings Don

Answer 10

The fabric of modern society is built upon the salesmanship of dreams.