Is it a good idea to let little children believe in the Santa Claus fantasy?
2007-12-18 02:50:49 · 17 answers · asked by Love Conquers All 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I think there's no harm in it at all.
I "believed" until I was seven years old and then I figured it out. I was the oldest of four children, so I was encouraged not to share what I found out.
My son, who is eight, just figured it out this year. I think he had it figured out last year, but I think he was afraid he'd stop getting a present from Santa if he shared what he knew.
The wonderment of the season is just magnified by perpetuating the Santa Claus fantasy. I see no harm in letting children be children. There's plenty of time later in life for them to deal with all the harsh realities life throws at them. Let them be children for awhile first.
2007-12-18 02:56:26 · answer #1 · answered by Scotty Doesnt Know 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Santa? Not real? Oh no...
My grandparents took me to see Santa at a store in Canada when I was about three. As I sat on his lap he asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him that he was not real and had a dirty beard. (I was a quiet and shy little girl but it made me really mad to know that someone was trying to fool me like that.) So I didn't believe anymore but didn't tell anyone else (like my little brother).
I think that it is more important to remember what Christmas is really about.
I don't think that it harms children to believe in Santa. It can be a nice and magical time for kids despite my experience.
2007-12-18 04:08:09 · answer #2 · answered by lori 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I find no harm in the Santa Claus fantasy.
I remember exactly when I stopped believing. One year I thought Mrs. Claus felt left out, so I wrote out my mom's banana bread recipe for her and left it with the cookies. That summer, my mom and I were cleaning out her tin collection (she had old tins, they were up on shelves around the kitchen, and they got pretty dusty) and I opened one and there was the recipe! My mom tried to tell me that Mrs. Claus already had th recipe, but I didn't believe her. That next Christmas I accidently found all my presents and that kind of sealed the deal.
2007-12-18 03:14:56 · answer #3 · answered by sprite 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure when i found out. I really don't remember at all. I think i was about 8 or 9 and i found out from my brother who told me. But i never stopped me from being happy as hell on Christmas eve to see what my mom bought me.
I do think it's okay to let children believe in Santa, some of my best memories are of trying to sleep Christmas night while Santa came to my house. I think people tend to get silly about Christmas anymore.I think people are going to do what they want.whether that is to believe in Santa, or to believe in Christ being born on Christmas that's COMPLETELY up to the individual.
To me children should be allowed to be children and fairy tales and stories are all they need. Save the growing up for the teens.
2007-12-18 03:15:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believed til I was 5...I'll never forget my mom telling me that Santa was coming to eat dinner with us...then in the door cme a man in a red suit...looked like Santa to me...till I figured out he looked an awful lot like my Uncle Al. I remeber crying for what seemed like hours. I was crushed. But got over it when the presents were passed out. I have never pushed the Santa thing on my kids. They believed til they were about 6. No major heart break when they realized he was a fairy tale. My youngest daughter took it worse than my other two....she said "I guess that means there is no Tooth Fairy either, huh Mom?" I'll never forget her asking that....like santa was no big deal, but the tooth fairy was another matter all together!LOL
2007-12-18 03:03:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
never, the spirit of Santa Claus lives on in people every year. Volunteers, donations, caroling, baking, forgiveness. It all seems to be a bit better around the holidays.
2007-12-18 03:26:29 · answer #6 · answered by zzyzx08 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because my mom didn't want to lie to me, when (at age 5 or so) I asked her if Santa was real she would say, "Everyone who gives presents is a Santa Clause."
That just blatantly gave it away that he was fake, and it was no fun after that. I'd rather she would have lied to me. I think the whole Santa thing is harmless and fun. No need to take it all so seriously.
2007-12-18 03:05:15 · answer #7 · answered by mistaken4sane 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never celebrated Christmas growing up so I never have had that problem. Over the past 3-4 years, we have been celebrating with my in-laws, but they are starting to try to incorporate Santa and the Nativity story to my almost 3 year old. It bothers me because 1. I think Christmas has nothing to do with Christ because its more materialistic and people place Santa alongside Christ (plus its not a Biblical holiday among being created by the Catholic church to bring convert Pagans) and 2. If you tell your child that Santa is real and he can see all that you do, but you can never really see him and then they find out he's not real .... what reason then do they have to believe in Christ?! He can see all that you do too and I don't know about you, but I haven't seen him either. Are you really okay with lying to your child?! I'm not.
2007-12-18 03:05:15 · answer #8 · answered by Spitfire88 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I can't remember when I stopped believing but it was never an issue for our family. We still had fun on christmas day, and I got to help pick out the stocking stuffers for my younger brother once I learned the truth. Both of my boys believe in him.
2007-12-18 03:48:24 · answer #9 · answered by jesscblu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I figured it out at about age 5 or so. I was asked not to tell my sister, but was encouraged to help create diversions and also was "hired" to wrap presents. Even then I did a good job and really liked it. At the same time I made the connection to the Easter Bunny.
2007-12-18 03:10:21 · answer #10 · answered by oldernwiser 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i did believe in santa claus until the year i turned 10. my mom told me.
although i look back, i wish i would not have been lied to all those years.
i remember asking why santa's handwriting looked a lot like my mom's and she said that he needed her to write our names on them because he didn't have the time.
i forgive my parents for lying to me about santa claus and all, but i wish i hadn't believe in him in the first place. because even with Christians, if you incorporate the believing in santa claus and everything, children can start to forget the real meaning of Christmas.
besides, there's always the story that "santa" would bring you a lump of coal if you've been naughty. if santa were real, EVERY child would get coal instead of presents because they are naughty from time to time.
"santa" always brings toys to both good and bad kids. it just shows that kids can do whatever they want and still get presents from santa claus.
and kids who believe in santa claus worry too much about impressing santa claus by being good.
i know there was the st nicholas years and years and years and years ago, but why should we lie to our children?
i just don't understand...if you want your children to trust you, don't lie to them about ANYTHING.
2007-12-18 03:41:31 · answer #11 · answered by Chris' Sweety 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋