How can i introduce christmas to my 3yr old?

Question

Im not religious. i dont like santa and that whole be good and u'll get wat u want thing, just my opinion etc how do i introduce christmas? every shop i go into, people ask him 'is santa gunna bring u presents?' 'have u been a good boy? if ur not, u wont get any presents!' etc etc
we have a christmas tree, the house is decorated and he loves the idea of giving presents to his cousins and all that jazz...

Answer 1

I do not encourage a belief in Santa Claus with my 2, I have a 4 yr old daughter and son who is almost 3. In fact we tell them that it is fun to pretend there is a Santa but that he is just a character in a story. When people at stores ask, then my daughter pipes up and tells them that daddy is Santa Claus. I think sometimes that she get confused by other people trying to tell her he is real and it is very irritating especially when it is someone close (like family) who do not respect our wishes.

I have a co-worker who is irrate over the fact that I do not want to lie to my kids, she says I have ruined Christmas for them, but I do not think so. They are still getting gifts, and besides I want their Christmas memories to be about family and being together and giving, rather than the gimme, gimme, gimme attitude that all the kids seem to have no a days.

I am religious, and I want them to know the true meaning of the holiday also. I do not want it to be muddled in with society's commercial version of Christmas.

Answer 2

We're in the same boat. We have a tree and exchange presents, etc., but we're not religious and we pretty much downplay the whole santa thing. When others ask my daughter what she wants from santa, she just shrugs. If necessary, I'll step in and say something like "I'm sure santa will bring a nice surprise", and then change the subject or move along. We also talk about how different people have different beliefs and traditions.

Merry Christmas!

Answer 3

We are not religous at all around here. We do celebrate Christmas though. We have a big tree and the house is decorated with lights and garland and everything. We do let our child believe in Santa though. I don't see anything wrong with letting her believe in something as harmless as Santa. Besides Santa does good right, why not let her belive there is someone who is still out there doing good for others.
People are gonna ask him about santa, it's a normal thing that people do. There is nothing you can do to stop it. It's really not a big deal how you celebrate the holiday, everyone does things different, and eventaully he'll catch on to how your family celebrates. Later you may get asked question thoguh about why people celebrate it different ways, so be prepared for that.

Answer 4

The best thing is to talk with your child about the different ways people celebrate the holidays, and why you believe and celebrate the way that you do. Don't try to have some long conversation with your 3 year old, just make little comments here and there. My 3 1/2 year old son told me the other day that the neighbor needed to put Christmas lights up outside. I told him that Christmas is about your family loving each other and being together so you don't have to put up lights if you don't want to. When my son eventually asks me if Santa clause is real I'm going to tell him what my mother told me. Santa was a very nice man who lived long ago who liked to make little kids happy so he would give them presents, as long as you believe in his spirit and the good things he did you will receive presents from him. If you wanted to start giving gifts from Santa so he doesn't feel left out, but not lie to your child in the process I think this is a good way.

Answer 5

Just beacuse you're not religious doesn't mean that you shouldn't share the real meaning of Christmas with him. Even though he's only 3. He's a kid, and even though you don't like santa, you don't have to lie and tell him that there really is a santa. Once I figured out that there really wasn't a santa, my mom still did santa presents. He won't understand really, but you could tell him about the real St. Nicholas and tell him that he brought presents to all of the children who couldn't have presents and because of him and because it's the day we celebrate as Jesus' birthday, we give presents to each other. I would still give "Santa" presents but you don't have to make him believe. Just tell him that Santa gifts are great big surprises and they are the best gifts that you get. (Even if they're really from Mom and Dad...see what I mean?)

Answer 6

it quite is a sturdy question which you're thinking, for a three 365 days old there could no longer be fairly some solid Christmas movies to observe. in the journey that your nephew grow to be older, i could reccomend The Polar exhibit, yet i could think of that he could be scared by potential of the ineffective toys scene. and that i do no longer think of any PG movies could be appropriate for him, so as that could strike out fairly some Christmas movies. If he's into Sesame street, then i could reccomend Christmas Eve on Sesame street, or Elmo Saves Christmas. i could reccomend that final Sesame street video, if he gets the belief of having Christmas daily, then you definately could positioned it on for him to observe, and notice for himself why you are able to't have Christmas daily.

Answer 7

Why introduce Christmas if you are not religious? Christmas is a religious holiday! Just do what you would normally do on Dec 25 th.

Answer 8

If you celebrate the holidays Im sure the kid will catch on. If not once he gets to be school aged he'll hear all about it.

Toss the kid a holiday coloring book, pop in a frosty the snow man dvd, and read the kid a winter or christmas themed book.

......I know read a book to a kid a shocking, revolutionary idea huh?

Answer 9

wOW! I really want you for a mom! You sound so fun- no Christmas. How about Halloween, do you sit home and do chores? What about the fourth of july?


YOu really should celebrate- it is a fun part of childhood.