What to do when someone tells your kid Santa is real

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are the worst. Your poor kids, and I mean that seriously. What child has ever been long- termed damaged by believing in Santa at 5 years old?

Exactly.

Not OP, but some people have issues with actively lying to their kids. I DO know some adults who say this affected them negatively (not me). I want my kids to have the Christmas cultural experience, but I won't lie to him.

You know adults who say that believing in Santa Claus when they were kids "affected them negatively?"

Dear lord.

How do some people get out of bed every morning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are the worst. Your poor kids, and I mean that seriously. What child has ever been long- termed damaged by believing in Santa at 5 years old?

Exactly.

Not OP, but some people have issues with actively lying to their kids. I DO know some adults who say this affected them negatively (not me). I want my kids to have the Christmas cultural experience, but I won't lie to him.

Really?

So if you go to Disney World and your kid says “wow there’s Mickey!” are you gonna say “sorry kid, that’s just a person in a Mickey suit.”

Oh wait — you don’t go to Disney. You’re too good for that.

It’s sad you don’t feel like stoking some childhood magic is a nice thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are the worst. Your poor kids, and I mean that seriously. What child has ever been long- termed damaged by believing in Santa at 5 years old?

Exactly.

Not OP, but some people have issues with actively lying to their kids. I DO know some adults who say this affected them negatively (not me). I want my kids to have the Christmas cultural experience, but I won't lie to him.

Really?

So if you go to Disney World and your kid says “wow there’s Mickey!” are you gonna say “sorry kid, that’s just a person in a Mickey suit.”

Oh wait — you don’t go to Disney. You’re too good for that.

It’s sad you don’t feel like stoking some childhood magic is a nice thing to do.

Gotta bring it back to that actually pretty good Judy Blume thread. The real childhood magic is in free play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are the worst. Your poor kids, and I mean that seriously. What child has ever been long- termed damaged by believing in Santa at 5 years old?

Exactly.

Not OP, but some people have issues with actively lying to their kids. I DO know some adults who say this affected them negatively (not me). I want my kids to have the Christmas cultural experience, but I won't lie to him.

Really?

So if you go to Disney World and your kid says “wow there’s Mickey!” are you gonna say “sorry kid, that’s just a person in a Mickey suit.”

Oh wait — you don’t go to Disney. You’re too good for that.

It’s sad you don’t feel like stoking some childhood magic is a nice thing to do.

Gotta bring it back to that actually pretty good Judy Blume thread. The real childhood magic is in free play.

And you managed to become even MORE insufferable!

You’re right — us horrible parents who support evil Santa never let our children do free play. You’re such a better parent.

[Anonymous]

Hey, let's meet in the middle. I don't think there is no reason to tell a kid *who hasn't asked yet* that Santa is not real. But you also don't have to encourage the belief, other than participating in normal holiday stuff. For the kid who asks, there are lots of options other than lying to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are the worst. Your poor kids, and I mean that seriously. What child has ever been long- termed damaged by believing in Santa at 5 years old?

The number of kids who have been damaged by believing is the same number of kids who have been damaged by not believing. Why is OP's concern less legit than the opposite?

I would not tell my kid that some families believe in Santa. Because the reality is that there aren't entire families that all believe in Santa. I would tell them that some adults pretend he is real, it's like a game and it's fun, and it's not our job to spoil the fun.

[Anonymous]

WTF is wrong with you people. Seriously. Do you have so little in your lives that you need to sit here wondering whether you should tell your kid about Santa?

Get a hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTF is wrong with you people. Seriously. Do you have so little in your lives that you need to sit here wondering whether you should tell your kid about Santa?

Get a hobby.

Do you have nothing better to do than read and comment with nothing of substance? Get a life?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTF is wrong with you people. Seriously. Do you have so little in your lives that you need to sit here wondering whether you should tell your kid about Santa?

Get a hobby.

Do you have nothing better to do than read and comment with nothing of substance? Get a life?

Just pointing out that you all think your kids will be traumatized by SANTA.

LOOOLL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTF is wrong with you people. Seriously. Do you have so little in your lives that you need to sit here wondering whether you should tell your kid about Santa?

Get a hobby.

Do you have nothing better to do than read and comment with nothing of substance? Get a life?

Just pointing out that you all think your kids will be traumatized by SANTA.

LOOOLL

Oh, chill out. No one said anything about traumatized.

Some of us don't believe in creating a lie that we then have to undo one day, that's all. Plus numerous studies have shown that children below the age of 6 have very little ability to differentiate between fact/fiction. In order to help them form basic concepts about reality, it's best to stick to reality in the information we give them. That's the Montessori approach, at least.

Children do not pretend, they blindly and literally believe what you tell them is real. It's the adults who enjoy Santa. If you told your kid the truth they would be just as excited about Christmas, I promise.

[Anonymous]

Wow, way to drag the post off topic. OP simply asked how people with a similar parenting philosophy address this. It is not about whether or not Santa is bad or good. If you don't share the same approach, this post is not for you. SCROLL ON BY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTF is wrong with you people. Seriously. Do you have so little in your lives that you need to sit here wondering whether you should tell your kid about Santa?

Get a hobby.

Do you have nothing better to do than read and comment with nothing of substance? Get a life?

Just pointing out that you all think your kids will be traumatized by SANTA.

LOOOLL

Oh, chill out. No one said anything about traumatized.

Some of us don't believe in creating a lie that we then have to undo one day, that's all. Plus numerous studies have shown that children below the age of 6 have very little ability to differentiate between fact/fiction. In order to help them form basic concepts about reality, it's best to stick to reality in the information we give them. That's the Montessori approach, at least.

Children do not pretend, they blindly and literally believe what you tell them is real. It's the adults who enjoy Santa. If you told your kid the truth they would be just as excited about Christmas, I promise.

So you plan to literally NEVER indulge childhood pretend stories? Nothing about fairies, unicorns, etc.? And yes you’re definitely saying it’s because it would cause mental damage.

I feel really sorry for your kids. They probably have such boring childhoods, but hey — you’re following Montessori so it’s ok!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, way to drag the post off topic. OP simply asked how people with a similar parenting philosophy address this. It is not about whether or not Santa is bad or good. If you don't share the same approach, this post is not for you. SCROLL ON BY.

Oh no it’s definitely about how Santa is bad. Just when I thought I had seen everything. You all are CRAZY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTF is wrong with you people. Seriously. Do you have so little in your lives that you need to sit here wondering whether you should tell your kid about Santa?

Get a hobby.

Do you have nothing better to do than read and comment with nothing of substance? Get a life?

Just pointing out that you all think your kids will be traumatized by SANTA.

LOOOLL

Oh, chill out. No one said anything about traumatized.

Some of us don't believe in creating a lie that we then have to undo one day, that's all. Plus numerous studies have shown that children below the age of 6 have very little ability to differentiate between fact/fiction. In order to help them form basic concepts about reality, it's best to stick to reality in the information we give them. That's the Montessori approach, at least.

Children do not pretend, they blindly and literally believe what you tell them is real. It's the adults who enjoy Santa. If you told your kid the truth they would be just as excited about Christmas, I promise.

So you plan to literally NEVER indulge childhood pretend stories? Nothing about fairies, unicorns, etc.? And yes you’re definitely saying it’s because it would cause mental damage.

I feel really sorry for your kids. They probably have such boring childhoods, but hey — you’re following Montessori so it’s ok!

It’s not about not playing make believe. It’s if the kid stops and hey are fairies real? I don’t say yes. I say something like it’s fun to pretend they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTF is wrong with you people. Seriously. Do you have so little in your lives that you need to sit here wondering whether you should tell your kid about Santa?

Get a hobby.

Do you have nothing better to do than read and comment with nothing of substance? Get a life?

Just pointing out that you all think your kids will be traumatized by SANTA.

LOOOLL

Oh, chill out. No one said anything about traumatized.

Some of us don't believe in creating a lie that we then have to undo one day, that's all. Plus numerous studies have shown that children below the age of 6 have very little ability to differentiate between fact/fiction. In order to help them form basic concepts about reality, it's best to stick to reality in the information we give them. That's the Montessori approach, at least.

Children do not pretend, they blindly and literally believe what you tell them is real. It's the adults who enjoy Santa. If you told your kid the truth they would be just as excited about Christmas, I promise.

Agree!! Not really criticizing the other side.