What are your thoughts on telling children that Santa is real? (1 Viewer)

[alo]

title ^^^

Not sharing my opinion but will say: I'm a non Christian, my parents are Hindus (though now I don't follow any religion in particular), and I was told about Santa Claus, because we celebrate Christmas culturally. I believed in him for a long time lmao .

 

[Ahsoka]

No one died from believing in Santa afaik so

 

[cocomelon]

misleading children is good cause they're annoying need smth to shut them up

 

[alo]

No one died from believing in Santa afaik so

That's true (i didn't either, yay!) but no one died of not believing in him either? Additionally, kids can and do feel very betrayed when they learn that he isn't real lmao (i was that kid).

 

[Magician]

Santa Clause is not a Christian figure btw

Well, I don’t mind about telling children about him, since they can believe in whatever they want

My family in Ireland believed in San Nioclás tho'

 

[alo]

misleading children is good cause they're annoying need smth to shut them up

yeah kids are very annoying, but teaching them that they should be good only so that they can get a reward isn't exactly instilling good values in them either?

 

[alo]

Santa Clause is not a Christian figure btw

Well, I don’t mind about telling children about him, since they can believe in whatever they want

My family in Ireland believed in San Nioclás tho'

ooh he isn't? well i was misled, my apologies!

 

[Ahsoka]

That's true (i didn't either, yay!) but no one died of not believing in him either? Additionally, kids can and do feel very betrayed when they learn that he isn't real lmao (i was that kid).

True that, I don’t particularly care one way or another tbh

 

[cocomelon]

yeah kids are very annoying, but teaching them that they should be good only so that they can get a reward isn't exactly instilling good values in them either?

i think its helpful for them to be disclipined.

 

[ChiaraStar169]

I don't have a problem with telling little kids he's real, as long as you don't let them find out the hard way that he isn't. @Magician had a good point about how kids can believe whatever, but they're going to find out one way or another, so you may as well spill the tea. And if you let it go too long, it might become bully fodder, especially if your kid is already prone to being bullied. I was bullied all through school for my various obsessions, and Santa used to be one of them, so my mom knew she had to tell me before they started picking on me for that, too.

 

[Michael]

It's a lie; but it's harmless. Nobody has grown resentful of it that I know. At least, I was told a similar lie, and I'm not resentful of it. I actually remember it as the best part of my childhood.

 

[Tickita]

It never made a difference to me. Now that you've mentioned it, I'm thinking for some families it may encourage the child's imagination. Same with tooth fairy. And I doubt anyone bats an eye at children knowing fairy tales, which they eventually find out to be fake as well.

 

[RockyGoose]

I can't remember whether I believed in Santa Claus or not.
But I have been told that my parents didn't make my brother in Santa Claus because they were afraid that he was going to later think that Jesus was something made up like Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.

 

[alo]

I don't have a problem with telling little kids he's real, as long as you don't let them find out the hard way that he isn't. @Magician had a good point about how kids can believe whatever, but they're going to find out one way or another, so you may as well spill the tea. And if you let it go too long, it might become bully fodder, especially if your kid is already prone to being bullied. I was bullied all through school for my various obsessions, and Santa used to be one of them, so my mom knew she had to tell me before they started picking on me for that, too.

I'm so sorry you were bullied! Kids can be mean, truly.
Apart from that, I do agree, it sucks to be a kid finding out the "hard way"

 

[alo]

It's a lie; but it's harmless. Nobody has grown resentful of it that I know. At least, I was told a similar lie, and I'm not resentful of it. I actually remember it as the best part of my childhood.

As I look back, I do indeed have many good memories associated with Santa! While I did feel betrayed for a while, overall, I liked the experience of believing in him :)

 

[alo]

It never made a difference to me. Now that you've mentioned it, I'm thinking for some families it may encourage the child's imagination. Same with tooth fairy. And I doubt anyone bats an eye at children knowing fairy tales, which they eventually find out to be fake as well.

Well, I never was told fairy tales were real actually. I was simply told they were fictional stories. And imo kids have very active imaginations without necessarily being told about Santa or the Tooth Fairy.

 

[alo]

I can't remember whether I believed in Santa Claus or not.
But I have been told that my parents didn't make my brother in Santa Claus because they were afraid that he was going to later think that Jesus was something made up like Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.

Thats... an interesting perspective on this.

 

[SnowWhite]

I don't mind them believing in it, they'll eventually find out anyway. I didn't grow up in a place that celebrates Christmas so it depends if my partner's culture celebrates it ofc.