Will your kids believe in Santa Claus?

[Corvus of the Black Night]

I probably won't have kids so they won't have brains to even contemplate the idea of Santa Claus (or anything else for that matter...)

 

[antemortem]

I don't imagine so because I want my kids to have some sense of realism without having to teach them incorrectly (something that's not real) and then have to unteach them later when they eventually come to the realization none of those people were real all along.

 

[Treecko]

This is such a hard question. I'm not religious and I want my children to choose religion if they wish. I'm going to give them the facts and everything about religion and they can do as they please.

But Christmas is a Christian holiday, it is. Though some non-Christians celebrate it. I feel like either way I'm cheating them out of one thing or another.
If I teach them about him I might bias their opinion on Christianity and if they choose a different religion that Christmas is not involved with they will feel like I wasn't neutral in their learning.
Alternatively if I don't teach them I risk ruining the wonder and amazement that comes with the supernatural.

I think I'm going to have my own public holiday with gift giving and crazy hat wearing. But not teach the children that we're the only one's celebrating it. "What did you get for crazy hat wearing day?", "What's crazy hat wearing day?"
Lol :)

Just cause you're not Christain doesn't mean you can't celebrate Christmas. I know a few non-religious people who celebrate just the gift-giving and seeing family/friends aspects of Christmas but don't celebrate the whole "Jesus' birth" part of the holidays.

 

[Sopheria]

This is an easy one for me. I wouldn't teach them about Santa Claus, because I think it misdirects the true purpose and spirit of Christmas. That is, with Santa, it's all about getting presents. Santa comes by and gives you presents once a year (which is, in reality, you getting them the presents).

For one, I prefer that they think of Christmas as a time of giving, not a time of getting.

For two, I would prefer that when they receive a present, they know who actually got it for them, and know who to thank for it.

I wouldn't discourage them from believing that Santa is real. But if they asked, I would be honest. Which I'm sure they would ask at some point, because they'll eventually wonder why there's no presents under the tree from Santa.

 

[Zeffy]

Guys, real question: why is there some association with "imagination" and these myths? Are you all implying that believing in these myths is necessary to have an imagination?

And working on the assumption that that is the case, don't you think the fact that they will eventually know that the stories were lies hurt the imagination it was built off of? If your answer is "no", that that means their imagination didn't depend on the myth at all. If your answer is "yes", then isn't it better to just not lie to them in the first place?

Looks like someone had a bad experience with Santa! :p

Imagination is a relative term here. It is not real to begin with, so what exactly are you hurting if they eventually find out that [insert imaginative character here] isn't real? Doesn't the same apply to fictional television characters? In fact, I think television characters are much worse because, as surprising as this sounds, kids can actually see them! "To see is to believe," is what people say, right?

I personally think believing in a myth isn't at all necessary to have an imagination--it's not that important at all. What's important is how you imagine these myths--how you personify them. Every imagination starts with an idea, and myths serve exactly that purpose. Don't tell me that you don't imagine how, let's say, Santa Claus looks like, regardless of whether you believe in him or not?

Anyway, I personally would tell my children (if I decide to have some :p) stories of Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, etc. but I wouldn't tell them whether they are real or not. If they ask me, then I'd tell the truth. Otherwise, I'll wait until they're older--sooner or later, they'd figure it out themselves anyway.

Or I could just do the easy way and let their mother deal with it |D

 

[lozzop]

Hell yes my kids'll believe in Santa!
The best part of my entire childhood was the magic of waiting for Santa, for searching for the easter bunny, visiting Lock Ness for the monster and leaving out traps for the tooth fairy.

The foundation of every childhood is imagination, and imo adults and teens who have magical and fantasy filled childhoods grow up have a more positive or optimistic outlook on life, that's in my experience anyway. I don't want to be some bitter old parent who wants their kids to be realistic and logical from the day there brought into the world to the day they leave, if somebody wants to believe or to have faith in something, whether it's religion, fairies or monsters, the let them! As long as it doesn't bother you why not?

Essentially I just want whatever kids I may or may not have to enjoy magical and non magical occasions alike, to make sure that they go to bed at night knowing there is good in the world, and waiting up all night just to hear the sleigh bells ringing.

Ok, done now! So what's everybody doing for Christmas? XD

 

[Dakotah]

But Christmas is a Christian holiday, it is. Though some non-Christians celebrate it. I feel like either way I'm cheating them out of one thing or another.
If I teach them about him I might bias their opinion on Christianity and if they choose a different religion that Christmas is not involved with they will feel like I wasn't neutral in their learning.
Alternatively if I don't teach them I risk ruining the wonder and amazement that comes with the supernatural.

I think I'm going to have my own public holiday with gift giving and crazy hat wearing. But not teach the children that we're the only one's celebrating it. "What did you get for crazy hat wearing day?", "What's crazy hat wearing day?"
Lol :)

Sorry to be contradictory, but Christmas, originally, was not a Christian holiday. Not many people know that "Christmas" actually has Pagan origins. As quoted from The Buffalo News, Nov. 22, 1984:

The earliest reference to Christmas being marked on Dec. 25 comes from the second century after Jesus' birth. It is considered likely the first Christmas celebrations were in reaction to the Roman Saturnalia, a harvest festival that marked the winter solstice—the return of the sun—and honored Saturn, the god of sowing. Saturnalia was a rowdy time, much opposed by the more austere leaders among the still-minority Christian sect. Christmas developed, one scholar says, as a means of replacing worship of the sun with worship of the Son. By 529 A.D., after Christianity had become the official state religion of the Roman Empire, Emperor Justinian made Christmas a civic holiday. The celebration of Christmas reached its peak—some would say its worst moments—in the medieval period when it became a time for conspicuous consumption and unequaled revelry.

Christmas is just one of many celebrations usurped by Christianity in order to convert the masses over to Christianity.

As far as Santa Claus is concerned. I, a 40 year old, still believe. Not in the figurehead, but the ideal. I believe that in each one of us lives a Santa Claus and we show it with every good deed we do. It's unlikely that I will have children, but if I had, I certainly would tell them that Santa Claus is real. Because I believe it to be true. As they grow older and loose faith in the figure, I hope they don't loose faith in the ideal.

 

[acatfrommars]

Yeah I'll have my kids believe in them if I have kids. Hopefully they won't believe in him by the time they get to middle school, if they do then I'll have to find some creative way to change their world. Yeah sure, believing in those begins are a major part of being a ki! I don't want to ruin that for them.

 

[Aeroblast]

Boring, generic, mood-killing answer: Who knows the future?

"Different" answer: I'll tell my kids to believe in it, and crush their hopes when they get older if they didn't realize the "truth."

 

[Sydian]

Of course! I'm a sucker for the holiday season, and this is one of the highlights of it in my opinion. If they don't believe in Santa, he'll still visit anyway. :) Besides, if they don't believe in Santa, that defeats the magic of 90% of Christmas movies...that they will be forced to watch, of course. And I have too many great memories of sleeping in the hallway in hopes of seeing him leaving presents, and hearing my me maw tell me about how she has hot chocolate with him every Christmas Eve. I used to think she was secretly Mrs. Claus. <3

 

[Her]

the hell is the sandman

well
i've always thought that those who intentionally go out and tell kids that santa isn't real, just so they can 'grow up', are arseholes
who are you to spoil the childhood beliefs of a little boy and girl, simply because they're not old enough (or willing) to understand that santa isn't real
smh
don't tell them to grow up
you grow up
it's fine to make private jokes that they won't understand but outright telling them that 'oh btw santa isn't real' is just a dickish thing thing to do
let them figure it out on their own, it's all part of growing up
this reasoning applies to any other childhood mythical being

 

[Juno]

It's a long way in the future and I'm still not sure if I even want kids, but if I do, they'll probably have a Santa.

I just remembered that believing in Santa made Christmas so much more magical and fun. My mom used it as an opportunity to get me to practice writing good letters at a young age too, that was another plus. It's not like Christmas stopped being fun when I stopped believing in Santa, but it was just so exciting waking up Christmas morning to find that mysterious present under the tree. Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, all these things just made me happy, and I was not crushed or scarred when I grew out of these myths, but they were fun while they lasted.

It was a very natural realization for me when I was about 8 years old, and no one ever had to "unteach" me that Santa didn't exist.

 

[Sopheria]

The thing is, I don't think imagination has anything to do with it. At least, not as much as everyone seems to think it does. As an example, consider this: when you read a good fiction book, does knowing that it's fiction make it any less enjoyable to read? Would believing it to be non-fiction make it any more enjoyable? Does knowing that it's fiction harm your imagination? Would believing it to be non-fiction enhance your imagination at all? I seriously doubt it.

I think the Santa story is a good thing for kids to know about and be aware of, and they can still enjoy it without believing it's real.

 

[LoudSilence]

I don't think it's that bad to tell your kids Santa Claus or any other things along that line such as the Easter Bunny , Tooth Fairy , etc is real. There's worse things you can lie about like say a death of a pet or the ending of sad movie

That's the thing though. I guess I just really don't like lying.

Looks like someone had a bad experience with Santa! :p

>:(

Imagination is a relative term here. It is not real to begin with, so what exactly are you hurting if they eventually find out that [insert imaginative character here] isn't real? Doesn't the same apply to fictional television characters? In fact, I think television characters are much worse because, as surprising as this sounds, kids can actually see them! "To see is to believe," is what people say, right?

Thing is, you can take some things from your imagination and make it real. It's about exploration of what comes before and after the limits of the universe. I am 100% for that creativity, but I think what's "hurtful" here is the idea to lie to your kids in order to do it. I believe honesty is the best policy for everything -- there are plenty of ways to make Christmas fun (if you celebrate it) without resorting to saying someone else gets their presents for them.

Don't tell me that you don't imagine how, let's say, Santa Claus looks like, regardless of whether you believe in him or not?

Well those Coca-Cola commercials tell me what he looks like so I've never had the chance :p

 

[Legobricks]

Not unless that's what they chose to believe; I would not tell them any stories, and would be honest if they ask. Ultimately, there are just too many far more exciting and real things to tell youngsters about. Inspiring them with nature, not the fables of mankind, would be far more worthwhile, I think.

 

[zakisrage]

Just cause you're not Christain doesn't mean you can't celebrate Christmas. I know a few non-religious people who celebrate just the gift-giving and seeing family/friends aspects of Christmas but don't celebrate the whole "Jesus' birth" part of the holidays.

That's what I do. I usually only buy small gifts for people. On Christmas, my family does different things.

I don't believe in Santa, never did, and so I won't teach my kids. (Some Lebanese Christians - especially the Catholics - have him as part of their traditions. But they don't call him Santa. By them he tends to be called Papa Noel, or Father Christmas. It's due to the long-standing French influence. Their traditions related to him are more in line with European traditions than American ones.)

 

[Austin]

Sure, my kids will believe in Santa Claus! Or at least for a few years. Of course, they'll be geniuses, so they can find out the truth on their own.
Plus, it's a tradition. The legend of Santa must continue through the generations! Christmas as a kid wouldn't be the same without Santa Claus.

 

[Thief]

Damn sure I will.

While I don't believe in them (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.) at age 17, I'm so so so glad that I felt the magic of Christmas, Easter etc. when I did. I remember putting out the milk and cookies for Santa, carrots for his reindeer, before going to bed. And I always got that warm Christmas feeling inside of me, where you just picture nights in front of the fireplace, sat near the Christmas tree, hot chocolate, Christmas movies/music and blankets while snow falls outside.
While I ended up putting 2+2 together when I realised 'Santa's' handwriting was the same as my Nan's, and I was pretty upset/disappointed... I would never ever want to get rid of that feeling I had when I was younger.

My kids are going to grow up with wild imaginations and that's just the way I would have wanted it for me (which I got). Anyone who says it's best to introduce them to the 'real world' straight away, you're just stripping them of a magical childhood, because they sure as hell aren't going to have a magical adulthood. Those of you who think it's 'terrible to lie to your kids', there is NO harm coming from it. At all. It just increases their enjoyment of the festive holidays, makes them believe there's more out there than just school, dinner, bedtime. I'm GRATEFUL for being 'taught' about them and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I have a feeling replicating it for my kids will also go some way in replicating it for myself, and that'll be lovely for my family to experience Christmas like that.

Hey, I can see myself making some 'childhood idols' up, too.

 

[mikey]

Heck yes. I believed in Santa and it made my holidays very enjoyable. I think that my kids will enjoy believing in Santa as well, but it may be harder by that time to keep them from finding out the truth with all the technology nowadays.

 

[Shining Raichu]

My children will be introduced at a young age to the art of German efficiency. They will stand in a corner and be silent and invisible until they are of use, and no frivolity such as Santa will ever cross their minds.