The Santa myth: harmless fun, or a myth that harms?

[Anonymous]

Do you think Santa is harmful to children? Do you tell your kids there’s no Santa because you want them thinking logically and rationally?

How do we keep our kids safe and logical when Santa keeps threatening their independent and reality based lives with presents and candy we all know he doesn’t bring?

[Anonymous]

Scrooge

[Anonymous]

We love myths and legends in this family.

[Anonymous]

Harmless

[Anonymous]

This is dependent on an individual family.

Parents who have their kids do the santa thing should NEVER expect anyone, child or adult, to go along with their myth. But if that's what they want to do/follow/believe in their own household, that's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is dependent on an individual family.

Parents who have their kids do the santa thing should NEVER expect anyone, child or adult, to go along with their myth. But if that's what they want to do/follow/believe in their own household, that's fine.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is dependent on an individual family.

Parents who have their kids do the santa thing should NEVER expect anyone, child or adult, to go along with their myth. But if that's what they want to do/follow/believe in their own household, that's fine.

Absolutely, don’t be a part of the Santa delusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think Santa is harmful to children? Do you tell your kids there’s no Santa because you want them thinking logically and rationally?

How do we keep our kids safe and logical when Santa keeps threatening their independent and reality based lives with presents and candy we all know he doesn’t bring?

Teaching our kids all-or-nothing thinking does not keep them safe, nor is it logical. What if your kid has an imaginary friend they created - are you going to disabuse them of that notion, because you think it won’t keep them safe or logical?

Newsflash: people can be logical and rational *and also* believe in imagination and fun and make-believe, especially for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think Santa is harmful to children? Do you tell your kids there’s no Santa because you want them thinking logically and rationally?

How do we keep our kids safe and logical when Santa keeps threatening their independent and reality based lives with presents and candy we all know he doesn’t bring?

Teaching our kids all-or-nothing thinking does not keep them safe, nor is it logical. What if your kid has an imaginary friend they created - are you going to disabuse them of that notion, because you think it won’t keep them safe or logical?

Newsflash: people can be logical and rational *and also* believe in imagination and fun and make-believe, especially for kids.

Santa is a Christian myth that is not based in reality. Do you think it helps kids to believe in lies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think Santa is harmful to children? Do you tell your kids there’s no Santa because you want them thinking logically and rationally?

How do we keep our kids safe and logical when Santa keeps threatening their independent and reality based lives with presents and candy we all know he doesn’t bring?

Teaching our kids all-or-nothing thinking does not keep them safe, nor is it logical. What if your kid has an imaginary friend they created - are you going to disabuse them of that notion, because you think it won’t keep them safe or logical?

Newsflash: people can be logical and rational *and also* believe in imagination and fun and make-believe, especially for kids.

NP. We never did Santa for our kids, but I agree with this. What creeps me out is when the parents outright lie and threaten when kids start to question about Santa. "You think it's not true? Well I guess you won't get any presents this year!" Inevitably the reason they do this is for themselves, because they want their child "to have the magic" for longer. It's so, so weird.

It's hard to be a kid. You're incredibly vulnerable and your brain and body go through so many changes. Why some parents think it's ok to start gaslighting, instead of celebrating the new cognitive growth that has occurred, is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think Santa is harmful to children? Do you tell your kids there’s no Santa because you want them thinking logically and rationally?

How do we keep our kids safe and logical when Santa keeps threatening their independent and reality based lives with presents and candy we all know he doesn’t bring?

Teaching our kids all-or-nothing thinking does not keep them safe, nor is it logical. What if your kid has an imaginary friend they created - are you going to disabuse them of that notion, because you think it won’t keep them safe or logical?

Newsflash: people can be logical and rational *and also* believe in imagination and fun and make-believe, especially for kids.

Parents can tell their kids anything they want regardless of how lacking of truth it is. It’s not anyone else’s job though to play along in the make-believe land you created.

[Anonymous]

No, Santa isn’t harmful. It’s a fun tradition with a very short window, that children naturally grow out of. And then they do the same for their own children because they remember how awesome it was.

[Anonymous]

I don’t mind it. Elf on the shelf is diabolical tho.

[Anonymous]

Really Santa is outdated and very old fashioned.

He is a relic that probably causes more harm than good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, Santa isn’t harmful. It’s a fun tradition with a very short window, that children naturally grow out of. And then they do the same for their own children because they remember how awesome it was.

IDK. People who were spanked/beat as a child are more likely to spank/beat as parents. I don't think it's because it was awesome for them.