Santa Claus vs Reality

[Tarek Morgen]

So it is my least favorite time of the year again, and I was pondering what your views on telling kids the truth about Christmas are. Do you think kids should know where their presents really come from, or should they keep believing in Santa Claus, Father Christmas, the Christkind or the Hogfather?

I for myself believe that kids should learn the truth as early as possible. Not to destroy their faith in something “magical”, but so that they can understand that all those presents they look forward to don't simply appear out of nowhere, but costs lots of money which has to be earned first. That sadly being nice is not a guarantee that they get all the gifts their family would like them to have, but that in tough times they might get much less than they would otherwise deserve.

[DPrime]

Oh, come on... they're little kids for f's sake.

I'm all about the truth when they're older... You know, Santa, the Easter Bunny, Jehovah, Allah, etc. But let them enjoy the magic while they can.

[Gypsy]

So it is my least favorite time of the year again, and I was pondering what your views on telling kids the truth about Christmas are. Do you think kids should know where their presents really come from, or should they keep believing in Santa Claus, Father Christmas, the Christkind or the Hogfather?

I for myself believe that kids should learn the truth as early as possible. Not to destroy their faith in something “magical”, but so that they can understand that all those presents they look forward to don't simply appear out of nowhere, but costs lots of money which has to be earned first. That sadly being nice is not a guarantee that they get all the gifts their family would like them to have, but that in tough times they might get much less than they would otherwise deserve.

Tarek, this is the time of the year when we reciprocate.

As about truth, they are just Kids. Let em' dwell in their magical world. Who are we to disrupt it? With the right upbringing, we won't need to explicitly tell em' if we ever go through a phase of economic squeeze. They'd understand.

[Doktor]

My son will be 6 in March. The last 2 years, Santa is "sending" less gifts every year. Next year there will be none.

This gradual transition is working so far so good, we will see how we will fare next X-mas.

I don't know if this is real luck, or his mother, but he is modest when asking for toys trough the year.

[YellowFever]

So being the admin of a great board is not enough.

Having dreams of conquering the planet is not enough.

Now you want to be Ebenezer Scrooge.

[Genosaurer]

I don't think any long-term good can come of lying to your kids. There should never come a time when a child finds out mommy and daddy deliberately deceived them for years, regardless of how "magical" it might be until they figure it out.

[Stitch]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!? There is no Santa Claus?!?!?!?!?! Thanks, Tarek, you just ruined my childhood innocence . . . .

[bigross86]

Yup, don't have those worries. A) I don't have kids, and B) the closest thing we have to an action figure is the Holiday Armadillo

[YellowFever]

Oh, and Tarek, I was going to suggest this in the "Suggestion" thread but you ignore those so let me do it here:

Your rat avatar was better.

Can I suggest you change it back?

Thanks, bud.

[bigross86]

What rat? That was The Brain!

[USSWisconsin]

I believe most kids figure it out in elementry school - in the first few grades. Many enjoy the fantasy and want it to continue - suspending their disbelief because they enjoy it.
My Daughter is like that; she knows what happens behind the scenes - but doesn't want Santa, the tooth faerie or the Easter bunny to stop coming to visit. I think it was in 2nd or 3rd grade when she started smiling and winking to me about it, knowing that she had personally picked most of her own gifts. Continuing to "officially" believe in the fantasies - sort of saying keep doing this Dad.

They're childhood fantasy games that kids often play with their parents and relatives. Nobody at my house ever thought of it as "lying".

[YellowFever]

What rat? That was The Brain!

It was a rat.

An ugly looking rat.

[Native]

The magic.
So you are telling me that you were scarred because your parents lied to you about Santa, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, etc.?
I have fond childhood memories of those holidays and special times. I don't remember when I learned the truth, but I never felt lied to.

[lemontree]

I would leave a bunch of presents under the Christmas tree for my daughter and she in turn would leave a chocolate bar near the window with a card thanking "Santa for the presents and giving him the chocolate"... so that he can snack if he got hungry while delivering gifts to the kids all over. That is innocence at its best and these moments are priceless. Now she is 12 1/2 years old and knows who the real Santa is...so what.

The magic is still there...I am still Santa to her,..and Santa exists for each and everyone of us in someone else.
Merry Christmas everyone.

[bonehead]

Wait???.........NO SANTA????!!! You mean I have worked so hard to stay off the naughty list for nothing? OK, next year no more Mr. Nice guy.