Do you teach your children to believe in Santa?
Answer:
i don't see santa as lying. santa is a tradition and part of the joy of christmas.
even though i know that santa is make-believe, i also know that the spirit of santa is everywhere this time of year.
here's a wonderful answer i received on my santa question:
This is long, but worth the read.
*****I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous, cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten- dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.
I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.
I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten- dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes," I replied shyly. "It's . for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.
Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95.
He who has no Christmas in his heart - will never find Christmas under a tree.
i think its perfectly harmless, theres nothing wrong with giving a child a fantasy hun, its a lovely magical time for them
She is a child and children need something to beleive in.And Santa is a wonderful beleif for them.
My husband's Mom always was able to avoid the lies, and never lied once to him about Santa. I hope to do the same, but I need to talk with her to see how she did it. I think a lot of times, she would just say, "I don't know, I'm not sure, what do you think?" She didn't take the belief out, but she also didn't lie. I kind of like that idea.
yea its a lie, but i think it helps with their imagination...
Your doning the right thing, why spoil it for her, and frankly there are times in life when you have to lie about something,
So don't worry about it, the child needs to dream.
We all need to.
Heck I wish there really was a Santa. So perhaps its really just wishful thinking. Right.
Good luck and hapy holidays.
Meg
We have always told our kids that mom and dad our Santa. We have never had a problem other than reminding them not to tell other children because it may upset them.
I grew up without Santa so it was a no brainer to me how I was going to teach my children. My son is now 5 and has made it his mission to tell his cousins that there is no Santa. I had to explain to him that it's not the actual person Santa but more for what Santa stands for. "Santa" is the spirit of giving and sharing what you have with others. It was kind of hard but I always tell him that I don't believe in Santa, I believe in Santa's cause...
Yes it is a lie. I teach my children about traditions, but I do not lie to them...
Leviticus 19:11 ¶Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
Proverbs 22:6 ¶Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
To me i have always believed Santa is a part of christmas! I was raised by my mother, who would send me and my brother our on christmas eve to see if we saw santa flying around, and somehow when we were gone he always came! Figures right?! I dont think its a "Lie" really...i think it teaches imagination, its fun and who doesnt like getting a few extra special toys?! I wish i could have those times back, but i am going to be living them through my children insted. I think its sooo fun to see my nieces and nephews get excited over santa at the mall and things like that. My twins are only 2 1/2 but i know next year they will be way more into it and i cant wait! I say let kids have all the fun of christmas. They wont view it as your LYING to them.at least i didnt! I loved every single christmas as a kid and i know now as an adult how awesome mom was to get extra stuff from "santa" and let me have all the fun in the world making cookies for santa and all that! Have fun with your little girl!! Merry christmas!
There is nothing wrong to believe in Santa, I also teach my kids to be honest but this is an inocent lie that will not affect anyone & will make them happy to believe that Santa left their toys under the tree, I thinks it is nice to believe in SAnta even though we know is just in our minds but like I said before It will not hurt anyone ! But it is up to you to continue with this or not ! :)
She's still a small child, let her have a healthy childhood. She'll find out the truth sooner or later. My kids put 2 and 2 together; one day after visiting various malls, they asked- hey how come their are more than one Santa? Uppps they got me and I sat and
told them the truth. ;-)
Joey322 I loved your response. How lucky you were to have such a special grandmother. I think Santa is not a lie, he is a tradition. Believing in Santa does not teach children to become liars.
don't think of it as a lie. My parents told me about Santa,and I'm perfectly fine. My life is fine I'm a good person. the lie my parents did, did not turn me into a lairer. their is absolutely nothing wrong with having kids believe in Santa.
When I was growing up I was taught that there was a Santa Clause, But the man at the store was only his helper. Because
the real Santa Clause had already died. So as I grew up that was
the story I told my children and that is how it stayed. So when they see Santa Clause they know he is only his helper. But, there
is always a but, they expect a present from him as well and of course what do we say only if your good. Come on how many Santa Clause are they going to come across each day as they are
out an about with you at the store, and what are they going to say
How did Santa get over here so fast? Or Where Santa's Sled's.
They always have questions, and that is to be expected. So when
they turn 10 years old they are old enough to tell them thats it
kido, no more sitting on Santa's lap, your to old. Unless they start
at a earlier age, what ever age they are ready that is up to them
it'll be okay.
Imagination is wonderful for children. The wilder the imagination, the more creative the child. I also do not "lie" to my children but they do know about Santa. Santa is real. We see them in the malls all of the time. I think it is harder explaining how he isn't real when he is in your face for 3 months. Remember, Santa can be a person or a symbol for peace and giving.
I told my children about Santa and when my oldest started to doubt and ask questions, I said Santa is like God, you believe in him even if you never see him, he's in your heart, and that's all that matters, my son is very happy with that explanation and never asked again. Santa is another spirit of Christmas and it's nice to have something to believe in, for all ages.
its fine, tell her santa is real, kids need to believe in something magical, its good for their imagenation etc etc.
by the time she finds out santa is not real, she should know the diffrence between that kind of lie and the normal "it was me" lie
Good question..I had a very hard time with it too. I would never say that he was real.I would always avoid the question. I would say well you'll just have to see.Or thats what everyone says.I know it was the cowards way out but I couldn't lie to him.On the other hand I didn't want to spoil his excitement that Santa was coming. It's hard and I wish u all the luck.Plus when I found out he wasn't real I was very disappointed with my parents
Santa is real, he lives within us!
Telling a child Santa isn't real is like telling them the same about their favorite cartoon character.
My children believe in Santa, as well as the tooth fairy & easter bunny.
I told my children the story of Christopher Kringle. Saint Nicholas was born of wealthy parents in the year 280 in a small town called Patara in Asia Minor. He lost his parents early by an epidemic but not before they had instilled in him the gift of faith. Then little Nicholas went to Myra and lived a life full of sacrifice and love in the spirit of Jesus. Nicholas became so Christ like that when the town needed a bishop, he was elected. Saint Nicholas was even imprisoned for his faith, but later released. There have been many stories of his generosity and compassion: how he begged for food for the poor, and how he would give girls money so that they would have a dowry to get a husband. The story most often repeated was about how Saint Nicholas would put on a disguise and go out and give gifts to poor children.This is a true story and how the legend of Santa Clause began.As they got older I let them know that the presents they give and receive is in celebration of Christ's life.
Well, the bible says thou shalt not lie. I do not think anyone should tell their child santa is real. Not to mention he sounds an awful lot like God, dont you think? I mean think about it. He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when youre awake, he knows when you've been bad or good. Sounds like God to me. Please tell your daughter the truth. She will respect you for it. I told my son the truth when I realized it was wrong to lie and he loves me so much and knows now that mommy doesnt lie to him ever again.
Santa is innocent child fun. If she does not believe in Santa as a four year old how will she have an imagination for when she gets older. It is good for her to believe in santa and you are not lying to her you are just helping her imagination evolve.
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