Do you tell your children about Santa Claus? Why or why not? Can this be harmful to our kids?
Yes, I also tell them about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, too.
However, when Michael started getting older and started asking questions, I took him out for ice cream one day and we chatted about believing in fun things that aren't necessarily true, but it's fun to pretend. (My parents always told me, "Well, if you don't believe in Santa Claus, then I guess he won't bring you anything." - Heck, I still believe in him!) LOL
I also explained to Michael that since his siblings (both here and in Mississippi) were so much younger, it might spoil the fun for them if he started talking about Santa not being real.
I'm sure I'll have the same talk with Jordan soon. I'm not trying to be deceitful, I see it as a fun and magical part of the holiday season. But then in our house; Santa comes in second as far as Christmas goes. It is our first priority to celebrate Jesus' birth. So , maybe my children haven't been as caught up in at as some.
We are Christian parents and this is our take on the entire SANTA THEORY.
Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ and should be looked at that way. Gifts...OK the gift idea is great as it encourages a GIVING spirit. Our children receive 3 gifts a piece as it related to Christ receiving 3 gifts on his birthday. The children tell us the 3 items they want and we purchase them. The gifts are always simple...For example the 6 year old wants 1)Game Boy advance, 2)UNO card shuffler, 3)Candy Land. We lead a simple life and encourage our children to GIVE GIVE GIVE as we do in our everyday life. On Christmas Morning I go to the local church and deliver meals to the sick and shut in...There is NO SANTA in our home, we tell our children that some people allow SANTA to come into their homes and that is fine. We tell them the TRUTH and not some FAIRY TALE same for Easter, Tooth Fairy etc. I was never told about SANTA and I think I turned out just FINE!!At least I think I did!!!
For the people who think that telling kids about Santa Claus is scarring somehow, I think they're wrong. I was told about Santa. Most everyone I know was told about Santa. Finding out that he wasn't real was not any sort of major shock, and I continued to play along for many years (actually... I think I'm still playing along a little bit). I don't think I somehow lost a bunch of trust in my parents, I think I understood that they were trying to make the holiday fun. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for.
Now, as far as not telling kids about Santa Claus for religious reasons, that's perfectly logical and makes a lot of sense. Our family is multifaith, so Santa is just another dude in a whole string of dudes that any given one of us may or may not believe in, so that's not an issue for us. But I love the idea of a Christian family using the holiday to teach their kids about charitable giving and putting their own special twist on it.
I'm a believer in perpetuating the myths of childhood. I base my opinion on the fact that older children who know the truth will continue to encourage younger children to believe (exceptions, of course - usually deliberate meanness).
Small children live in a world that alternates between reality and make-believe. They don't mind having the older people join in on the make-believe. It's fun!
I certainly can remember the transitional time in my life when I still believed even when I knew the odds were against the reality of Santa Claus. I knew it was my Grandpa drumming his fingers under the table and not reindeer hooves on the roof. But I hustled off to bed to dream of jolly old elves, anyway.
Actually, I've written an article on protecting the innocence of childhood. Perhaps you would enjoy reading it.
http://www.whatsfordinner.net/article-sweeten-childhood.htmlJean