Since Santa Claus is such a big part of American culture, what do you think the effect would be on a child who was told from the start that Santa isn't real?
2007-12-11 00:52:03 · 29 answers · asked by xoil1321321432423 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I told my sons that Santa wasn't real from the beginning. I didn't want to lie to them and wanted them to know the real meaning of Christmas. We (my husband and I) explained that Santa is a fun part of Christmas but he isn't real. He's just a guy that likes to dress up and pretend like they do for Halloween. They understood that and aren't scarred or upset by it at all. They still have fun pretending along with Santa but we won't be telling them later, "You know how we said Santa was real? Well, we lied. He's a big fake." How do you think they'd react if we tried to say then, "But Jesus is really real. Seriously, have we ever lied to you? Oh, wait. We did."
2007-12-11 01:58:29 · answer #1 · answered by Kristi had her baby boy! 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
What about the kids that don't celebrate Christmas? Are they somehow damaged for not being taught about Santa? I wasn't. In fact, my mom taught me the origin of the Santa story and that was far more interesting than thinking there's an over-sized elf living at the North Pole. I grew up just fine, didn't get picked on in school, was respectful of other kids who thought Santa was real. It all depends on how the child is told.
2007-12-11 11:40:05 · answer #2 · answered by Willow Natalia 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
As long as you celebrate the holiday with him it won't really affect him that much because a majority of the kids i know of never actually believe in Santa even though their parents take them to see Santa and the kids were getting letters and gifts from him. But every kid is different so he might feel a little left out but Christmas is more commercial nowadays. But you can still leave out cookies and do other christmas things.
2007-12-11 01:54:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No real affect. Many have thrived happily without Santa. My family never did the Santa thing, and I have always had such a magical Christmas and never felt that I was missing out on anything.
I don't plan on introducing Santa to my children either. Our Christmas' are always so full of magic, we focus on Christ so much and do so many activities that I cannot help but think that Santa would seem more boring compared to what we do.
Santa is not what makes Christmas magical, it is what you do as a family that makes it magical.
2007-12-11 03:17:46 · answer #4 · answered by iamhis0 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
There are dozens of the shape to place "Santa" right into a new child's existence. thoughts are a great way, exceptionally the previous ones, previous movies, photos, pointing out that Santa would be right here in "X" form of days and each and every day do the countdown till finally yuletide, purchase a Stocking to dangle,.......those are yet some, yet you will get the assumption. this isn't any longer some thing you desire to start one twelve months and cancel or grow to be bored in 2 or 3. My 19 twelve months previous daughter nonetheless believes, no longer unavoidably interior the full "concept" yet she does have faith interior the magic and the Spirit. i think sorry for people who have not got faith or do no longer desire to allow a splash "magic" into their new child's lives. This worldwide is tough adequate, and there's a tragic loss of believing, why deny a new child a risk unfastened concept, save the Spirit of Christmas alive.
2016-11-02 21:24:01 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My kids won't be believers, I never was and I think I am okay and I never got picked on at school over it. But, I still think it is okay for them to hear the stories and stuff, I treat Santa like any other cartoon character, but don't make my kids think he left presents and ate cookies. I want my kids to know what Christmas is all about, and that has nothing to do with Santa Claus and expensive gifts.
Bill F: It isn't about denying the kids of Christmas, Santa is a fictional character (Yes, fictional) used to commercialize a religious holiday. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ and that has been down played by commercial Santa Claus. My kids do celebrate Christmas and do get presents, but they know the true meaning before all else. You can still have Christmas without pretending there is a Santa Claus.
2007-12-11 01:13:03 · answer #6 · answered by Sugarcookie 5 · 5⤊ 3⤋
Ask Jewish parents...many of them don't let their children get caught up in the Santa fantasy, since they celebrate Hanukkah and not Christmas. And it has absolutely nothing to do with AMERICAN culture. Many other continents have Santa.
2007-12-11 01:03:29 · answer #7 · answered by gypsy g 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Probably not much. You might be unpopular with some of the other mothers if he goes round bursting other kid's bubbles during the Festering Season but that's about it. Most of them figure it out by the age of 6 anyway if they've half a brain. It's just a commercial scam that's been encouraged to take over, esp in the US
2007-12-11 01:08:20 · answer #8 · answered by who me? 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Telling a child that Santa isn't real would be lying to a child. It's such a shame that people are making this such an issue when, really, it shouldn't be.
Why is it such a problem for parents to share some magical innocence that children ought to have? As long as they know that the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth, there is no problem. You can have it both ways.
And, as I said... telling a child that Santa isn't real would be lying. St. Nicholas was the real Santa, a very real being. There is absolutely no harm in sharing the story of St. Nicholas.
2007-12-11 01:07:05 · answer #9 · answered by AV 6 · 3⤊ 5⤋
none. my first son was on to me from the get go. we live in a very diverse community with few who celebrate christmas and some of his friends in playschool told him from the start that there was no santa. he asked me......i told him the truth, that santa was a nice story of giving and nothing more. sure makes the holidays alot easier. i do have to say that peoples reactions to him when he said there was no santa as a pre-schooler were pretty harsh. so i guess my only regret is that other people would have been more respectful of my choice to not lie to my child.
2007-12-11 01:02:48 · answer #10 · answered by Mary May 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋