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Step 1
Have a plan. As hinted above, there’s only so much you can do to protect the Santa myth in your own home; you have to prepare for the day when your five-year-old comes home from school and asks, “Mommy, is there really a Santa Claus?” Since very few parents are prepared to lie through their teeth, it’s okay to say something vague and Hallmarky like, “Well, honey, he’s not a real person, but he lives in each of our hearts during the Christmas season.” (Needless to say, a flat-out “of course not!” is a very bad idea.)
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Step 2
Bend the rules. Kids can be amazingly literal-minded, so if you don’t have a chimney in your house or apartment, be prepared for a barrage of questions about how Santa can deliver their presents. That’s the good thing about the Santa myth: it isn't derived from one indisputable source, so the specifics can be molded to fit your circumstances. Perhaps Santa can come through an open window, or a floor vent—it’s okay to be creative.
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Step 3
Keep your older kids in line. There’s nothing an older brother enjoys more than bursting the Christmas bubble of his precious, doe-eyed younger sister. Read the Yuletime riot act to any kids 10 or older: if they dispute the existence of Santa with their younger siblings, there’ll be one less present for them under the tree on Christmas morning.
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Step 4
Keep your ego in check. It’s a question psychologists have pondered for ages: when your five-year-old wakes up to find her presents under the Christmas tree, does she think they were really delivered by Santa, or does she appreciate deep down (perhaps subconsciously) that they were bought by her parents? We may never know, but no matter how eager you are to take credit, there’s no reason to burst her bubble on Christmas Day. Wait until she’s older, and brings the subject up herself.
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Step 5
Don’t dress up as Santa yourself. Unless you honestly believe your kid is so thick that he can’t recognize his own dad under a moth-eaten red suit and a clip-on beard, resist the temptation to dress up as St. Nick and allow your toddler to “catch” you at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning. Even if you do an exemplary job, your kid may be one of those who never bought into the Santa myth, and will be just as likely to run to the phone and dial 911 as to scream “Santa!” and give you a big hug.
Comments
stewiegunkala said
on 6/15/2007 (I'm on my sisters account.)
stewiegunkala said
on 6/15/2007 (I'm on my sisters account.)
stewiegunkala said
on 6/15/2007 You realize kids do go on this site and will type up random stuff, like chocolate, thier name, and a myth like Santa Claus or the Easter bunny. So, this is pretty stupid. By the way, I'm 12. :) I'm not stupid and I know about "St.Nick" and I have a lot of friends and most importantly a LIFE. You should get one. But everyone, you should totally think about what you guys are doing! Every kid finds out sooner or later. I for one, knew for about 5 years before anyone said anything, (kept my mouth shut to keep getting extra presents.) But all that will happen if you continue to do what your doing is that your kids won't trust, talk, or listen to you for a period of time. Think about it.
psychotic said
on 5/24/2007 Well Catch Them Young to preserve old age myths!! And make them delusional about unreal things! What an old age trick to befool young minds.
When thier own rational mind starts working at a certain age there will be conflict and then symptoms of anxiety, depression and all that stuff.
If you don't believe don't ask your kids to believe.
The joy, happiness and curiosity about this could be arisen in other ways and on other occassions as well. The human mind is the same, it experiences the same emotions again and again on different occasions.
Please don't befool little kids, for GOD's sake!
Shough94 said
on 11/28/2006 When my son was at that iffy age, but still afraid to question Santa ~ probably about 8 or so ~ I decided I would include him in the joy of Santa. He was shopping with me in a huge mall (for that era) and had bought a gift for his Dad. I was a little nervous, but asked him if he wanted to buy a stocking stuffer for his Dad ~ the delight and joy in that kid's face was something I will never forget. When he came back with his stocking stuffer for his Dad, I asked him if he wanted to buy a Santa gift as well. To this day, at 38, he still loves stocking stuffer shopping and buys everyone a Santa gift, too. With a little guidance to curb the exuberance, kids love the whole Santa scene, no matter if they are 7 or 77!!! Happy Holidays to everyone!!