Should parents tell their kids the truth about Santa?

[BornReady]

Some parents say it is wrong to lie to your kids about anything including Santa Claus. It's good to tell your kids about Santa but you should tell them he is a fictional character. It's okay to play the game because it's fun to pretend but your kids should know you're pretending.

Another lady I heard speak said she was going to lie to her kids about everything... fairies, Santa, monsters under the bed, you name it. If her husband wants to be the good guy and tell them the truth then good luck trying to keep up with her. Mark Twain said a lie can make it half way around the world before the truth can get its shoes on. Why is she going to lie? Well partly because the expressions kids give you when you BS them are so funny. But also it will teach them to question authority. She will feel successful as a mother when she tells her son something and he says that's bullshit.

What do you think, should parents tell their kids the truth about Santa?

 

[Kyle B]

If kids are told about Santa and view him as a nice jolly guy who gives them presents, and that makes them happy, then why not?

That lady you alluded to doesn't seem to want to make her kids happy but rather mess around with them for her amusement.

 

[itsmeJonB]

Santa, the Easter Bunny, Jesus. Who cares, let kids make up their own minds and believe in whatever mythical person they want

 

[Francis]

I explained to my kids, as soon as they could understand, that Santa was a more of a Spirit then a person as such as that if they want to believe he lives in the North Pole, so be it, but Saint Nicolas ( Santa ) was someone who embodies what Christmas is all about and that although Christmas Present are what stories are toild about him that Families and Love are even more important. We talk about how in the old days there were no WalMarts and BestBuys to get gifts and that people would hand make something for each other if they could. That the important thing in life was to spend time with Family and friends and to remind them that we cared and loved them.

That spirit will never die..

The Easter Bunny and Tooth Ferry are totally different stories..

 

[darkangel]

The Easter Bunny and Tooth Ferry are totally different stories..

And all this time I thought the Tooth Fairy had wings and could fly. Didn't know she had to take a Ferry to get around! LMAO! :24:

 

[Dana]

no... end of discussion. theres ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with letting your child believe in Santa Claus.

 

[skyblue]

no... end of discussion. theres ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with letting your child believe in Santa Claus.

:homo:

children are exactly that,children

when my kids were young i had this little bell,so when they went to bed they heard a tinkling sound outside.....all talk on christmas day was how they heard the sleigh bells...it was absolutely fantastic

let kids be kids

 

[sexysadie]

The memories of when I believed in Santa were some of the best memories of my childhood.........how can that hurt anyone? To be honest with you, something inside of me really still believes in Santa,I think most of us do, at least the spirit of the old guy anyway.........

 

[Kyle B]

:homo:

children are exactly that,children

when my kids were young i had this little bell,so when they went to bed they heard a tinkling sound outside.....all talk on christmas day was how they heard the sleigh bells...it was absolutely fantastic

let kids be kids

Listen to this one :

A guy I know once told me that on Christmas Eve, his parents would set up the Christmas tree and decorations after he went to bed. Then on Christmas morning they would tell him that Santa set up the tree and everything.

 

[FreightTrain]

I have a 7-yr-old here who believes in Santa and flying reindeer and the Tooth Fairy. Children figure things out as they grow up. There's nothing wrong with carrying on these traditions. I figured things out on my own and I'm glad my parents never told me otherwise.

 

[HottyToddyChick]

I haven't decided if I'll tell my kids yet. When I found out, I was so hurt and angry, I didn't speak to my mom for a whole week! You can't raise a child to believe that telling lies is wrong only to let them find out one day that you've been lying to them their entire lives!

 

[BornReady]

That lady you alluded to doesn't seem to want to make her kids happy but rather mess around with them for her amusement.

The lady is Rebeca Watson. With her, it's kind of difficult to tell when she's joking and when she's serious. She doesn't have any kids so I don't take her too seriously.

Anyway, Rebeca seems to think kids are not so fragile as most think. Actually she said she wasn't going to tell her kids about Santa because he's boring. She's going with some more interesting Christmas legends like Krampus and the Yule lads.

 

[satinbutterfly]

I haven't decided if I'll tell my kids yet. When I found out, I was so hurt and angry, I didn't speak to my mom for a whole week! You can't raise a child to believe that telling lies is wrong only to let them find out one day that you've been lying to them their entire lives!

This is why I'm on the fence as well. While it's adorable to see my nephew get excited about Santa, I feel bad for him for when he will have to learn Santa isn't real. And hopefully it isn't other kids who make fun of him for believing.

I like Francis's way. Explaining to your kids the spirit of Christmas rather than lying to them to get them to be good with the naughty or nice list.

 

[All Else Failed]

eh, I figured it out for my self. It sort of goes in a natural decline as their IQ increases

 

[sexysadie]

I haven't decided if I'll tell my kids yet. When I found out, I was so hurt and angry, I didn't speak to my mom for a whole week! You can't raise a child to believe that telling lies is wrong only to let them find out one day that you've been lying to them their entire lives!

I don't think it's lying.....it's just a beautiful traditional tale that makes for great childhood memories. It's totally up to you of course how you choose to raise your children, but doll, there's nothing like the excitement in a childs eyes when they just know that Santa is on his way.....speaking as a parent I hope you dont' deprive your child or yourself out of that feeling.

 

[AUFred]

Christmas is about magic. Society has red-nosed reindeer & Dancing snowmen. Santa is embodiment of the giving spirit. I do not believe our children were scarred in bellieving in Santa.

 

[All Else Failed]

Personally, I think Krampus needs to become an American tradition:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

 

[Dana]

Personally I'd never tell my child lying is wrong because sometimes one has to lie, in my opinion. But then again, i don't forsee myself having children. I can not see myself telling a child lying is wrong when I do it myself.

 

[Peter Parka]

Personally I dont believe in lying to children, especially pointless lies which the're going to find out the truth about anyway and lose trust in you. I'd rather kids know that a real person who loves them bought them their presents, not thanking some mythical beardy twat.

 

[per Me]

why not let them believe? we insist they continue to believe in a mythical being that inexplicably knows all, is all, has power over all, yet we have no proof. what's the difference?