Dec 22, 2017 its never easy, but there are a few poignant ways to tell your curious children the truth about santa claus. Of course, things change when one is talking to an adult who wants to know how his work compares with the work of others. The original author of this letter is martha brockenbrough who wrote this response back in 2009 after her daughter lucy gave her a note asking. Dec 15, 2014 when i became a parent nine years ago, i made this deal with myself. Rodrigue suggests that children, on learning the truth, be enlisted to keep the secret from others, it is also helpful to tell your child that now heshe knows there is no santa claus or easter bunny or tooth fairy you need their help to keep this special secret so their younger siblings or cousins can enjoy the magic of believing.
Dec 19, 2019 santa claus is a magical part of christmas, but telling a child the bittersweet truth about the cherished tradition can be another stress for parents during an already busy holiday season. Most psychologists suggest that children need to know they can trust their parents to tell them the truth, even about things like this. Santa has several aliases, depending on the part of the world you live in. That has left her mother grappling with how to explain that belief and wonder dont have to end with this news.
Dec 07, 2016 whether its a jerky fifth grader on the bus ruining the fun or a child old enough to put it all together on their own, its sad and the end of an era. Santa claus will soon be coming to town, bringing gifts to children. One mum has shared a magical way to tell your kids santa. And the big easter bunny question or the santa question, the tooth fairy question, etc. Shes in 3rd grade, and she still believes in fairies. This way, the santa construct is not a lie that gets discovered, but an unfolding series of good deeds and christmas spirit, hutchinson wrote. The english call him father christmas, the french know him as pere noel, and kris kringle seems be a version of the christkind, or christ child, who leaves treats for good german. What psychologists really think about you lying to your. We may feel we are crushing a belief that our child. As the eldest of three siblings, my newly single mom relied on me to pitch in more around the house.
How to tell kids the truth about santa 3 scripts a few years ago i wrote a blog post that got a bit of attention about why to tell kids the truth about santa. Appropiate age to talk about tooth fairy tale and other myths. Tell your kid the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, says coulson. Say to them youve loved the idea of being rewarded when youve lost a tooth so do other kids, so weve got to keep up that story and then their parents can explain it to them when. The good news is that there is no one right way to tell your kids the truth about santa. Yet, she could tell from the tone of her child s voice that carrying on down that path was not going to. Nov 20, 2014 martha brockenbrough has blessed us with a beautiful letter that she wrote to her daughter in 2009 regarding the truth behind the north poledwelling gift giver.
This feelgood picture book helps parents with the inevitable question is santa real. Theres really no one right time to tell kids that theres no santa claus, says glen elliott, ph. If youd rather not deceive your children about the reality of santa, you can begin reading this book to them now. When im an adult im never going to tell my kids that santa is not real. I was told i wouldnt get the gifts i coveted that year because santa wasnt real. Theres the classic, sweet santa is all around us message about how hes more of an. One way to answer this concern might be to explain the context of storytelling and mythmaking, perhaps pointing out to the child that lets pretend is a game for people of. Im not telling my big kid the truth about santa todays parent.
Tardo we americans take santa claus, presents, holly, trees, carol singing and all the other pleasant christmas customs very much for granted. Telling kids the truth about santa popsugar family. They may start out by pointing to his sleighriding skills or the fact he can go. Dec 20, 2017 the sweetest way to tell your kids the truth about santa december 20, 2017 by sharon silver santa is everywhere you look during the holiday season, and that can be confusing for children. My open letter to my 11year olds my kids are older and they have a bombardment of friends who know, and are eager to tell them the truth about santa. When is an appropriate age to tell kids the truth about santa. Dec 07, 2016 last month, charity hutchinson posted on facebook her special way of telling her kids that santa isnt real, and its taken off like wildfire on social media, wracking up nearly 3,000 likes and. Paperback illustrated, october 1, 1997 by alan barrington author, joe mccormick illustrator. Brood, a book of poems inspired by his experiences of fa. So when the time comes to tell your kids that truth about santa and the easter bunny and such or if it already has, just be sure not to spew from the mouth about it in public, no matter how good it feels. Heres an idea for breaking the santa news without breaking.
If you have young children and celebrate this aspect of christmas, you need this book at some point. Should i be the one to tell my kid the truth about santa. Santa was real at one time, started by a man named. Then, at christmas time, they themselves tell their little children this santa claus lie. Telling the truth about santa doesnt necessarily mean the. Santa claus, the tooth fairy, and the easter bunny. Nov 25, 2016 the magical way to tell your kids the truth about santa let me start by saying my husband teared up at the thought of telling our oldest that there isnt a santa. Letter to child about santa i think im as ready as im going to be to tell christopher this year the truth about santa. Hence the association of christmas with santa claus. With that act, they become the essence of what we know to be santa. As a parent, i tend to think that my kids cant handle the truth.
When is an appropriate age to tell kids the truth about. Her book and site help parents gain more patience by responding instead of. The big secret, the whole and honest truth about santa claus is an irresistible instant classic no parent should be without. If youd rather not deceive your children about the reality of santa, you can begin reading this book. Yep, written in capitals to emphasize her desperate need for an answer. Elliott is an associate professor and the director of the department of child and adolescent. How kristen bell told her daughter the truth about santa claus. Martha brockenbroughs daughter, lucy, has figured out the truth.
Nov 18, 20 the truth communicated by saying thats amazing or i love it in response to a child s drawing is never difficult to find or feel. Her daughter, lucy, wrote a noteall in capitals for emphasis of coursereading, i need to know, are you santa. Telling kids the truth about santa does not take away the magic of christmas the fun of santa is playing the santa game. Telling kids the secret of being santa popsugar family. Dec 01, 2017 i told my children santa is real, but not in the way that we think of as real. Nov 15, 2019 rather, she eased her child into the truth by telling her santa claus is an imaginary game we play because its really, really fun. Jul 19, 20 the big secret, the whole and honest truth about santa claus is an irresistible instant classic no parent should be without.
How intriguing it is to trace them to their origins. Through the year, parents punish their children for telling falsehoods. Theres also the worry that youll do it wrong and traumatize your child by telling them the truth. Historically the story of santa is actually about unconditional love. He lives in the thoughts and the hearts of everyone who does something selfless for another person. Mom has brilliant idea for telling your kid santa isnt. Sep 30, 2009 tell them the truth before you tell them a lie.
And no parent wants to burst the magical bubble that makes the christmas season so precious. The sweetest way to tell your kids the truth about santa. Dec 23, 2015 we visit santa at malls and the kids just love telling him what they want for christmas. How to explain santa to your child, from parents whove. Santa can be whatever you want him to be and whatever. A helpful letter for parents to tell their kids about santa as a parent, it is always difficult to know how to respond when your child comes to the age that they start asking about santa claus. Please tell me i dont have to do it until my kids are as old as your kids. Instead of making your child feel as if they have been lied to, you effectively let them into the grownup secret, telling them they are now a santa claus in their own right and ready to share some. Is it any wonder many of them, when they grow up and learn the truth, begin to believe god is a myth, too. How to explain santa to your child, from parents whove been.
In defense of parents who dont lie about santa psychology. Dec 19, 2017 this moms poem is a brilliant way to teach kids the truth about santa marianne vogel updated. My friends first instinct was to reply something along the lines of, well, all i know is that kids who believe in santa are the ones who get gifts in our house. Telling kids the truth about santa popsugar smart living uk. Parents dont always understand what theyre doing to a child when they fill their brain with those stories.
Is it any wonder many of them, when they grow up and learn the truth. You dont have to be a grinch about it just tell them the truth. Mom has brilliant idea for telling your kid santa isnt real. No matter how uncomfortable it might be at times, i would always tell my child the truth. You know, the talk about how awesome he is open this. This moms poem is the perfect way to tell your kids the. In other words, when your kids ask if santa, the tooth fairy and the easter bunny are real, you should tell them the truth. Justin coulson thinks that parents are overcomplicating the whole thing. Why you should lie to your kids about santa pbs newshour. Theres a brilliant, heartfelt way to tell your kids the truth about santa. Yet, she could tell from the tone of her child s voice that carrying on down that path was not going to cut it that night. Fatherly spoke to coulson at length to find out why he thinks radical truth about the myth of santa claus is the best for kids. My kids know the truth about santa, the easter bunny, and.
I for one was personally sooooo not going to fall for believing in god after all those fake stories i was fed. Dec 16, 2009 illustration by barry falls belief and wonder dont have to end when a child learns the truth about santa. One mom is sharing a way to talk about santa with your children in a way that wont leave you all traumatized. Since then, every year around this time, people continue to find that post on the internet. This is the age people think you should have the santa. Many of our cherished traditions are buried deep in the pagan past. How to tell kids about santa explaining the truth about. Her approach was simple, sweet, and still kind of magical. Miraculously, this book tells the real truth about santa claus in a way that makes it even more joyous and beautiful. My dilemma has been brewing for two years do i tell them, or do i let the natural information from their peers take over. Mar 12, 2018 sure, sometimes its tough to see your child growing up. Get them talking about all the reasons they think santas the best.
Telling the truth about santa doesnt necessarily mean the childhood magic will end. Always, when the girls have came home with stories about a child telling them santa wasnt real and that their parents bought the presents i. Dec 18, 2018 there are proponents of the santa myth who claim that lying to our children about santa helps their critical thinking skills, because the kids eventually have to figure it out. Jan 28, 2020 theres really no one right time to tell kids that theres no santa claus, glen elliott, phd, an associate professor and the director of the department of child and adolescent psychology. Answering objections lets look at some objections to telling your kids santa claus isnt real. I have a book that explains how the true story of santa claus really started. How to tell kids about santa explaining the truth about santa. Do yourself and your kids a favour and drop the santa charade, writes ben pobjie. This christmas tell your children the real santa claus story. However, every child will ask the inevitable question at some stage are you santa. Apr 17, 2019 once your child knows the truth, you may need to explain to them they now have an important role in keeping the mystique alive for other children. Nov 25, 20 there may be children, though, who are sensitive to issues of truth versus lying and who may sincerely wonder if their parents have lied to them about santa claus. Im not telling my big kid the truth about santa todays.
856 1 216 992 1384 1019 394 31 93 360 1007 1180 480 882 483 249 862 332 1648 141 1212 816 685