There is no right or wrong answer to what every parent should teach their children about Santa.
There are many strong opinions about whether or not to teach your child that Santa is or is not real and I am not here to tell you what to do or shame anyone for their decisions.
In this post, I will bring up a few thoughts on teaching about Santa to help you make your own decisions on if that is something you want to teach your child.
Income Differences
Let’s start with the fact that not all families have the means for a big pile of Christmas presents from Santa Claus.
So, when they go to school and hear how the wealthy child in class got a big expensive gift from Santa, it leaves the other child feeling like Santa didn’t give them as nice of a gift and maybe Santa Clause likes the other child better than them. All the while, their parents are working overtime just to give their children a happy Christmas and give all the credit to Santa.
If you choose to teach that Santa is real, how will you explain that scenario to them?
Going Along With The Lie
Santa is no little white lie. It’s a full-on deep hole dug kind of lie. There is so much effort that goes into it!
From planning what gifts are from Santa, what paper to wrap it in (or not to wrap), having to use different handwriting on the name tags (that was a give away to me when I was younger. Kids are smart! They know their parent’s handwriting), or making cookies just for Santa.
Children write letters, call a fake Santa Claus hotline on the phone, sit in a random stranger’s lap dressed as Santa for a picture, stay up all night hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa & his reindeer landing on roof tops (but never will).
When you think about it, what’s the point of going along with the lie of Santa, when one day your child will find out its all for nothing and that it was all a big lie? One that you had the main part to play (because you are Mr. and Mrs. Clause after all).
Fueling Stress
While millions of kids get excited about Santa coming to deliver presents or sitting on Santa’s lap to tell him what they want for Christmas, there are also millions who stress about it.
Some children stress about Santa coming into their house at night and worry about the elf on the shelf watching them all the time. Or worry if their name might show up on the naughty list because they made a bad decision 2 weeks ago.
Not all children like to go sit on Santa’s lap. I’ve seen countless children crying while having to take their picture with Santa. It is not always joyous for them.
Teaching Children To Be Good For A Reward
Children try to be good around Christmas time in hopes they won’t get a lump of coal on Christmas (when they should try to be on their best behavior year round). And what happens when they find out Santa isn’t real?
What will be the plan of action to keep their behavior in line around the Holidays? On top of that, their trust has been broken because they found out Santa isn’t real and found out you’ve been lying for years.
Teaching Children Trust and Honesty
Trust is easy to lose and hard to gain. I don’t want my children to have any reason to not trust me.
Teaching honesty and trust is easier when being honest with your children, always. Children learn from what you do and say.
The best way to teach truth and honesty is through your own actions all year long.
Christmas can still be just as fun and magical without thinking that Santa flies around the world in one night, giving free presents & comes through a chimney.
Ways To Make Christmas Fun Without Santa
- Decorate togetherMake special cookiesStart a Family Tradition! Here is a post I made with ideas for creating new family traditions at Christmas.
- Teach the true meaning of Christmas Day
- Talk about Santa as a fictional character and play make-believe – like he is their favorite superhero or tv character
- Teach of the story of Saint Nicholas and how the idea of Santa came to be, and that the people who we see dressed as Santa represent the spirit of giving, kindness, and positivity.
- Drive around looking at Christmas lights
- Decorate together
- Listen to Christmas music
- Dress up as a family and take a Christmas photo to have forever
- Host a Christmas party with all the children’s friends
- Check out the Family Traditions post for more ideas.
Have Fun, Spread Joy
No matter what you choose to believe and do for your children at Christmas, you are doing great things for the little ones you love with good intentions and joy at heart. Seeing their smiles and excitement is so fulfilling and something to be truly thankful for.
God Bless you and your family & Merry Christmas.
