Santa, should he still be relevant?

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SoulTax

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So I have been thinking this for many years now. But now with a baby almost here, things like this need to be considered.

I don't feel that The Full Santa Myth is relevant to a kids development. Many will argue that they have lots of fun and get excited about Santa, and to deny them that is bad. I would argue that at 2 years old I can make my kid that excited about playing in a tree, or going to the park. Kids get excited about what you are getting excited about, not the actual subject matter.

So I have the opinion that, not telling them about Santa the mythical figure that rides flying animals and lives in the north pole with elves and candy canes everywhere, is a much better option. Instead I will treat Santa like I would treat Mickey Mouse. Tell my kid that Santa is part of the fun of Christmas, but that he is a person in a suit, not a magical flying fat man that breaks into your home at night.

So what do you guys think of it? Anyone that has raised their kids without the Santa myth? How did you handle it? How did your kids handle it with other kids?
 
Its up to each family to choose for themselves which customs they embrace and which they don't.
 
you cant stop your kids believing without crushing that childlike wonder. I tried to do what you say, but sitting with your 4 or 5 year old child and listening to them earnestly trying to convince you that Santa does exist is one of those things that makes being a parent worth it.

I try not to feed the belief, rather answering with things like "who knows for sure" or similar when they ask me what I think. I could sit them down and tell them that its all bunk, but I have come to believe that it is still relevant in its own way. Times may have changed but children have not.
 
My opinion... shame, your poor kid.


And no doubt you'll ruin it for everyone else as your kid goes around telling all the other kids in an attempt to ruin it for them. And despises you a little as all the other kids get two gifts...

I need to ask what harm you feel there is in the illusion?
 
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SoulTax said:
So I have been thinking this for many years now. But now with a baby almost here, things like this need to be considered.

I don't feel that The Full Santa Myth is relevant to a kids development. Many will argue that they have lots of fun and get excited about Santa, and to deny them that is bad. I would argue that at 2 years old I can make my kid that excited about playing in a tree, or going to the park. Kids get excited about what you are getting excited about, not the actual subject matter.

So I have the opinion that, not telling them about Santa the mythical figure that rides flying animals and lives in the north pole with elves and candy canes everywhere, is a much better option. Instead I will treat Santa like I would treat Mickey Mouse. Tell my kid that Santa is part of the fun of Christmas, but that he is a person in a suit, not a magical flying fat man that breaks into your home at night.

So what do you guys think of it? Anyone that has raised their kids without the Santa myth? How did you handle it? How did your kids handle it with other kids?
Click to expand...

Grinch
 
man, as a kid I used to love the idea of santa and trying stay awake long enough to catch him in the act...
 
SoulTax said:
Many will argue that they have lots of fun and get excited about Santa, and to deny them that is bad. I would argue that at 2 years old I can make my kid that excited about playing in a tree, or going to the park. Kids get excited about what you are getting excited about, not the actual subject matter.
Click to expand...

maybe at 2, but not at 5.
 
agreed, maybe at 2 it's not really valid. But for any young kid with an imagination.....don't be cruel, save the Santa
 
ave said:
maybe at 2, but not at 5.
Click to expand...

Yea 5 is when the whole thing explodes.

At two, although your child is talking, he/she cannot really grasp abstract things like Santa so the gifts are more important than the "source" or the idea behind the source. between the ages of 4 and 6 is when the whole imagination thing explodes. Suddenly anything is possible, children are talking to each other and feeding each others imaginations. This is the age where Santa is MOST relevant.

I would say by the age of 8 or so is when Santa is more of an idea than an actual being.
 
and other children around your child will be believing in santa, the tooth fairy, the easter bunny and will be running around all excited for the up coming events and your child will have had their moments crushed by an unfeeling father because.........why? all these people are "real" to little ones until they grow up.
 
Does it matter? Only if he's 15 and still believes in Santa do you have a problem.
 
They'll eat their Who-Pudding and rare Who-Roast Beast. But that's something I just cannot stand in the least. Oh, no. I'M SPEAKING IN RHYME! Why, for year after year I've put up with it now. I must stop this Christmas from coming... but how? I MEAN... in what way?
 
Dude just play along. it's not gonna do any harm and pretty soon they will figure out for themselves that there's no santa. Same goes for the tooth fairy, easter bunny etc etc. Just let them be children.
 
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