Should you raise your kids to believe in Santa?
Answers:
I had this same problem-and this is what i did. I let my kids believe in Santa. When they are old enough, or start to come home from school saying that other kids are saying he isn't real, have on hand the facts. I have a story about how Santa Clause came to be. I just shared it with my daughter last year, shortly after Christmas, when she came home saying other kids said he wasn't real. I taught her that he was in fact a real person at one time, and I also told her of the different reasons for Christmas and Gift Giving. Believing in Santa and other "fairy tale figures" gives children their sense of imagination and adventure, let them hang on to it as long as possible.
My daughter has concluded that since Santa was real at one time, then that means he is still real, he's just not the one who brings the presents anymore.
Other Answers:
There is nothing wrong in letting your children believe in Santa or the Tooth Fairy, or anything like that.
I believed in Santa and so di my kids, and we are all perfectly rounded human beings.
Santa represents the spirit of Christmas and you should definitely keep that spirit alive. It is not as 'emotionally damaging' as you may think when a child discovers there is no Santa...my oldest son cried when he found out, but not out of pain, hurt or loss. He cried because he was overwhelmed with the idea that it had been ME all those years. He couldn't understand how I ever afforded to do it (single mom) asked me how I did it, he wouldn't stop thanking me and he had a very long moment of appreciation for me, as his mother and what I do. they should... its part of childhood.. when they grow.. they'll understand!
It depends on how you were brought up. I asked two mothers here and one said she will tell her children about santa and the other said she didn't and doesnt plan on it. She never said "there is no santa" because she doesn't want him to blab it to the other kids but she always makes sure he knows what christmas is about and he knows that three gifts are given to him from mom and dad.
The reason that I do not believe in Christianity, is for that very reason. I felt betrayed by my trusted parent, when my mother lied repeatedly about it. The more I questioned the more she lied, until I found out he hard way in front of some older kids. I fought them because I thought they were going to set Santa on fire. They beat me up and told me Santa wasn't real.I was devestated to find out that He wasn't real, that there was no such thing as reindeer that fly, that there was no Easter Bunny, that this was just something Adults made up to please children...
I quickly found the same questions applied towards organized religion. I suffered greatly in a futile quest for spirituality, since I never trusted what other adults, and then eventually what other people said.
To this day I am an Athiest, or a Daist, or something else, non christian, i don't know.. but the point is..
It was fun while it lasted. I wish I had the news broken to me properly.
My mom and dad never told us that Santa existed. My sister and I always knew that our parents were where our presents came from. I do not see anything wrong with believeing in Santa, but I can honestly say that I still had a normal childhood not believing in Santa. My parents said that it was the same thing as lying and that it is not a good example to set for us kids.
As for the ruining it for other children, just talk to your kids and explain to them that other kids believe in santa and why you have chosen to let them know where their presents come from. Children can sometimes understand things that parents don't think they can.
I personally don't feel there's anything wrong with kids believing in Santa and other holiday figures. You're child is going to get hurt feelings over something, somewhere. At least this is something that you have some control over and it usually leaves pleasant memories. I also believe that it helps teach children about life's disappointments.
Let's face it, if it were really that harmful of a thing, wouldn't more adults be emotionally scared from learning who the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa are?
let your child believe in Santa. do we explain advanced physiology to our children if they happen to ask where have they come from into this world. when you are young, cats and dogs actually do talk for real. what great fun it is. we soon outgrow, such child fantasies.
many miraculous things keep happening to us to reinforce our faith in Jesus. god and his ways our wondrous. count the number of born again Christians.
y not.theres nothing wrong w santa.we all go thru it and were all ok.its also fun pretending 2 be santa and hiding gifts. I toiled with this myself when my son was born 9 years ago. I opted to tell him the truth. Jesus is not fake. Jesus walked the Earth. When did Santa walk the Earth? Yes, my son did go to school and tell other kids there was no Santa. I simply explained to him that everyone's beliefs are different and we cannot impose our beliefs on other people.
I never believed in Santa and I rasied my child the same way. I wouldn't want her to be devestated when she found out Santa is a fictional person. However, there isn't anything wrong with having your own traditions with your children.
i think people should raise kids to believe in Santa. they are young. in time they will learn. if you take one thing out then you just have to take them all out like the Easter bunny and the tooth fairyTeach your children about the real St. Nick, St. Nicolas. It all started way back in the 1800's. This is what were going to teach our children, and as for our family, to instill the true reason for the season, is Jesus. And through life, we will teach them all the history, of all the holidays.Seeing that we home school with in a Christian group, were not worried about our children telling others Santa isn't real. He was, at one time, but way before that, Jesus was born on Christmas day.
Good Luck
When they are small it is cute but when they ask for the truth tell them, dont lie. Me myself i dont want to give all the credit to Santa for all the hard work I do! Even though my kids know the truth we still pretend there is a Santa just for fun. Well, believing in those things didn't kill me, or anyone else I know. We didn't require counselling when we found out the truth either. It is just a sweet thing for kids to believe in. Now that I have kids of my own I taught them that Santa only brings one special toy to each child and that the parent's and family buy the rest. Otherwise they may feel cheated seeing one kid with a billion toys and them with just a few. When they ask which toy did Santa leave them, I ask them which one they appreciated the most.
Santa rules!!!
More Questions & Answers...
- I want to get healthy before I get pregnant .?
- my 9 year old keeps getting lice from her dads house. how would you handle it?
- Any parents of b/g twins that can help?
- Help with daughter 8 yrs old lying to everyone!?
- Any fun recipe ideas for a 6 yr. olds birthday party?
- Should you tell a teacher if another child is bothering your kid?