I agree with don't overthink it. It's probably instagram getting to your head (it got to mine too). But it's a lot of fun, you don't have to overdo it and I really feel like we should just go with things that bring joy right now. Take out the naughty and nice parts, no need for that and it doesn't align with much of the sort of parenting pushes these days so just drop that part. Instead santa is just a magical guy who brings a few fun presents (the rest are from mom and dad). My son's preschool teacher really believes in engaging in "magic" with kids, like fairies and gnomes and all sorts of things. She's really convinced us that it's a lot of fun for kids to be able to engage their imaginations in this way.

I don't say "son santa is REAL", we just say there are things in life that you have faith in even though you can't seen them, it's a special thing about being human to be able to imagine things even when you don't see them or know for sure if they are real or not. When he asks specific questions about how santa does xyz (he's 4) I say you know, I'm not sure. And talk about the magic aspect. I don't make up wild stories about it or try to convince him. I ask him what he thinks. And let his imagination go away with it. When our son is old enough, we'll ask him to help us keep the magic alive for his younger brother.

Anonymous wrote:We never really did Santa. We tried to get a pic with him when DS was 2 years old and he screamed his head off the entire time. That was it lol

Santa can be fun. Do it if you want. I think most kids nowadays figure out pretty quickly and early on that it's mom and dad anyway.

SPOILER ALERT!

Anonymous wrote:We have a toddler who still doesn't understand Santa, but this Christmas will probably set the stage for how we deal with Santa in the future. Deciding if we want to do it or not. I think we're slightly against doing Santa as a concept (not firmly set one way or another) but wondering if we'll all be missing out on part of the joy and excitement?

You can still have joy and excitement without the whole Santa ruse.

Do Santa. It’s not that hard. My kids are teens and Santa is even bringing me and the pet a couple of presents.

We did Santa and I told my boys I was Santa. They ended up thinking that I was the regional representative for Santa and therefore I was Santa for our entire neighborhood. So, I did not lie and they still believed for a few years. It worked out well.

Depends on the kid; we kind of tried to do it with ours but he was skeptical at 4 and now, at 5, is fully aware that Santa is not a literal man that will be entering our home by way of the chimney. Our 3y/o doesn’t appear to really “get” the whole thing and is pretty disinterested

Anonymous wrote:Santa is fun. Don't overthink it. It only lasts a few years.

+1

One of my greatest memories is when my child was about 4 or 5 and asked Santa on Christmas Eve through a letter for a set of lit yard reindeer for her mom (me) b/c she knew I wanted some. DH ran out to every store before they closed and finally found one set. We plugged them in and set them in the playroom. Santa left her a note in her stocking and she ran to the playroom jumping up and down yelling, “I did that for you! I did that!” She was so proud of herself, and it was the most joyous, magical thing ever.

Do it! Why rob everyone of the “magic” that comes with this holiday, for a fleeting few years. It is very fun, to see your child’s excitement and wonder. Otherwise, they may envy other families and ruin other’s kids’ enjoyment.

You need to lighten up, and bask in these special memories. Reality will come crashing back soon enough.

My 10 year old now knows about Santa. I asked her if she would've preferred she knew from the start? She said "Absolutely not! It's so fun and magical!" Do it for a year or 2 and see how it goes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in their 20s now and "santa" is till a source of joy. There were a few years of magic when they were preschool age and then they readily accepted that santa represented the joy of giving that we all have. Santa still comes to us...and always will.

Same here, assuming "do Santa" means stockings. My 20's kids aren't sitting on mall Santa's lap!

Getting stocking stuffers for adult kids gets harder and harder (and more expensive) but the kids still enjoy it and whenever I've suggested stopping they say no. I assume we can stop once grandchildren arrive.

No We never sat on Santas lap and Santa always brought surprises so no lists. Surprises are definitely harder now.

Some DCUM parents can be so rigid about this.

"Santa" is an alternate reality, a parallel universe, it's not a lie. As another poster eloquently expressed it on another thread, you can explain Santa in such a way that your kids gradually come to understand it exists on a different plane. It's the festive spirit of the Holidays, separate from the purely religiously. So start off however you like, OP, because you will of course need to tweak the Santa explanation year after year as your child grows.

My parents still talk about Pere Noel coming with gifts (we're French). We still talk about Santa's gifts with our teens. No one believes it's a flesh and blood person, obviously. But it's a welcome suspension of reality at the darkest time of the year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never did Santa and no regrets here. My son did tell me that he was the first of his peers to not know about Santa and he told someone that did believe, but I guess someone has to be that kid.

Good job mom and dad. You should have told your child to shut his pie hole. I guess someone has to be the Ass&&ole, right? And I pick your family.

You want her child to “shut his pie hole” so he doesn’t reveal your Big Lie?

Yes.

How about you tell your own child what you want him to believe and be honest that different families have different beliefs. It’s not PP’s kid’s job to uphold your falsehoods.

Anonymous wrote:We don't do Santa. We barely do Christmas. Our kids have plenty of joy and excitement in their lives, just not surrounding this holiday.

Depressing.

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in their 20s now and "santa" is till a source of joy. There were a few years of magic when they were preschool age and then they readily accepted that santa represented the joy of giving that we all have. Santa still comes to us...and always will.

Same here, assuming "do Santa" means stockings. My 20's kids aren't sitting on mall Santa's lap!

Getting stocking stuffers for adult kids gets harder and harder (and more expensive) but the kids still enjoy it and whenever I've suggested stopping they say no. I assume we can stop once grandchildren arrive.