Santa Claus -- Do you allow your children to believe in him?

[Lisa_delo]

Santa Claus -- Do you allow your children to believe in him?

I know some parents tell their kids from an early age that Santa is a myth and doesn't exist. Nothing against parents who do, do this was just wondering why? I know some parents feel like they are lying to their children and don't like doing this. Just wanted to understand better the reasons some parents have.

I love the magic of Christmas and I love how excited my kids get over waiting for Santa. I remember how much more exciting Christmas was as a kid when I did still believe in Santa. Yes Christmas was fun as an older child as we all love receiving presents. But once the magic has gone Christmas never feels the same. I have loved having children of my own and being able to relive the magic again.

How old were your kids when they stopped believing or started asking questions whether he was real or not?

I am happy to let my kids believe as long as they want.

We tell our children that Mummy and Daddy buy all the presents and the elves take them to Santa to be wrapped and to stay hidden until Christmas eve. This clears up why they can't have everything they want. Each child receives one gift from Santa which he delivers along with all the other presents.

I honestly couldn't imagine the world with no Santa and Christmas with out him. Maybe I just a big softy and a child at heart.

Don't forget to Track Santa on with NORAD on Christmas eve http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

[kaspears17]

I'm torn on the issue. My older 2 believed in Santa, and it didn't destroy them when they found out he's not "real". My 8 yo still asks lots of questions about it, but knows it's not "real." We discuss it a lot in front of Ramses, so I doubt he'll believe, same with the newbie coming. I don't think we'll give them "Santa" presents this year. We tell them about Santa, and why some people believe and why he embodies the "spirit" of Christmas.

[Sweet_Fantasy_Fox]

we let santa stay alive! he is part of christmas and its fun! I will not tell my kids he is a myth unless they ask me, I wasn't heartbroken as a kid and I know my kids will be just fine too.

[Deanner03]

Originally Posted by Sweet_Fantasy_Fox we let santa stay alive! he is part of christmas and its fun! I will not tell my kids he is a myth unless they ask me, I wasn't heartbroken as a kid and I know my kids will be just fine too.

Also, how else would I play the "Santa's watching" card

[Calideedle]

Originally Posted by Sweet_Fantasy_Fox we let santa stay alive! he is part of christmas and its fun! I will not tell my kids he is a myth unless they ask me, I wasn't heartbroken as a kid and I know my kids will be just fine too.

[Skittle]

I don't mean to offend or judge anyone who choses to let their kids believe in Santa

As for my family, husband and I are devoted Christians and we don't believe that it's right to make up something like the Easter Bunny or Santa. Our child will grow up knowing there is no Santa. Sometimes it makes me sad because it's so much fun but we can't purposely lie to her.

edit: I know that Santa Claus was real while Easter Bunny etc. isn't but I can' tell DD that it's Santa while it's the neighbors uncle :P. KWIM? DH and I aren't much into traditions neither and we do gifts whenever we feel like it. I remember when I believed in Santa and how devastated I was when I found out it was my aunt.

[HadassahSukkot]

Originally Posted by Skittle I don't mean to offend or judge anyone who choses to let their kids believe in Santa As for my family, husband and I are devoted Christians and we don't believe that it's right to make up something like the Easter Bunny or Santa. Our child will grow up knowing there is no Santa. Sometimes it makes me sad because it's so much fun but we can't purposely lie to her. edit: I know that Santa Claus was real while Easter Bunny etc. isn't but I can' tell DD that it's Santa while it's the neighbors uncle :P. KWIM? DH and I aren't much into traditions neither and we do gifts whenever we feel like it. I remember when I believed in Santa and how devastated I was when I found out it was my aunt.

^^ something like this.

We're Messianic and do not celebrate Christmas. I know my inlaws are confused because I was raised Baptist, and at one time did celebrate the holiday at my parents wishes. However, we (Dh and I) do not now. We celebrate Hanukkah.

Saint Nicolaus was a very good saintly man, and I will eventually teach JD about him. However for now, no tooth fairy, no Carnival, no easter bunny (we do Passover, not Easter), no Halloween, no Weihnachtsmann / St Nick...

We will tell him how other people do and how people like to pretend, and it's ok, but we do not do this and why. It just is not our holiday, or our way of doing things.

My sister went through a severe crisis of faith when she found out Santa and the tooth fairy and the easter bunny were not real. I do not want that for my children. My sister figured if my parents lied to her about the fairy creatures and people that sure enough -- G-d could not be who He is/was for her.. He must be made up also. All at a tender age of 8.

[Skittle]

Originally Posted by HadassahSukkot My sister figured if my parents lied to her about the fairy creatures and people that sure enough -- G-d could not be who He is/was for her.. He must be made up also. All at a tender age of 8.

How terrible

[meghann8]

We're Christian too, and we do Santa, because he WAS a real man. And doing Santa is keeping his spirit of giving alive, which is a part of the real meaning of Christmas.

My 8 year old figured it out this year. He wasn't too sad, especially when he realized that he now gets to be in on playing it up for the little kids. It made him feel grownup to be in on the secret.

On the flip side, we don't do the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny, because neither of those is based in truth.

[kimsansf]

we will be doing the santa thing... not only is it part of christmas tradition for us, its such a classic source of my family memories ... that I cant imagine not making similar memories with jackson.

I remember santa calling on the phone when we were being bad, saying that his reindeer told him we were fighting (we grew up in an area with a ton of deer around) ... and being amazed by it. you better believe we didnt fight after that! My mom had just asked one of my uncles to call and pretend to be santa, but it sure did work! even my older brother, who I think didnt believe in santa at that point was extra good 'just in case'

and the letters to santa?! my mom keeps our santa letters framed in a collage... who would jackson write to ?