Will you tell your kids about Santa??

[V8]

I have been thinking about this and i don't think i want to tell DS about Santa or the easter bunny or anything like that.

I am thinking it's only a big disappointment because kids eventually find out santa isn't real and i don't like the fact that kids are told that they won't get anything from santa if they don't behave. The other thing i dont like is kids writing their 'wishlists' to santa because there's a certain expectation they will get a bike or this or that, and when they don't get it, they think santa is mean or something.

The only thing i'm worried about is my kids saying to other kids that santa isn't real and upsetting other kids. I know it's not something i need to really worry about as DS is only just 1, but for his next christmas he'll probably be more aware of santa.

What have you told your kids about santa?

[Seekrit]

Cobey will be told about the magic of santa, coming every year, to give him gifts!! IMO I don't think it's fair to rob him on that piece of childhood. He'll only be a kid for such a short amount of time, I don't want him to not believe in magic... Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and any other thing I can cook up will all be believed in this house!
When I stopped believing I wasn't disappointed, I just didn't tell mum so I could get more presents :devil6:

He's already sat on Santa's knee this year! :xmas:


The only thing i'm worried about is my kids saying to other kids that santa isn't real and upsetting other kids. I know it's not something i need to really worry about as DS is only just 1, but for his next christmas he'll probably be more aware of santa..
I'm glad you're thinking like this. Lots of parents will say "My kid knows better than to..." which is completely not true.. kids can be spiteful and catty in the play ground, even the most well behaved ones.

[bekkyboo]

G will know about santa. I agree with Nikki, i dont want him to miss out on such a fun part of his childhood just because he will have a little bit of disapointment later on. I can remember finding out - i wasnt shell shocked - i got over it rather quick and wouldnt have had it any other way.

I can still rememeber putting out water and stuff for the reindeers!

[Billy]

Yeah I tend to agree with the others on this one- thats not to say I didn't consider it for awhile :detective:

But I remember how it felt to believe in something like that and it was wonderful...:wizard: Sometimes I wish I still could believe in these things, just to have a break from the often heartbreaking reality of the world as it is today...

I say bring on santa!! :xmas:


(and also the true meaning of Christmas :angel: )

[NZMama]

DD1 was told about Santa etc and at 5 years old she has already started to wisen up. But shes not dissapointed because its just all part of the magic.
DD2 will be told also.
I dont see any harm in it. As a child I liked the imaginary world that was created....fairies, santa, easter bunny. They will learn that they are only make believe but so are soo many other things and these are harmless IMO

[V8]

It's not that i don't have anything against santa or anything and DS has had pics with santa last year, even though he was only 6 weeks old, it's just the whole falseness of the whole thing.

As i said before, i really disagree with parents telling their kids they have to be good so santa will give them presents and also the whole i want this and this for christmas. I have cousins that had their rooms littered with presents at christmas time and rubbed our noses in it because we only got a few small gifts. I hated that part of christmas (the spoilt brat part). I remember being 4 or 5 and knowing santa wasn't real because my dad used to dress up as santa for local events. I used to pretend i believed in santa to get more presents too, not that it really worked! lol

To me, it's just pointless, christmas can be special without some big fat jolly guy in a red suit! There is no significance of santa to me and i don't want my kids to belive in stuff that's not real. I would feel like i am lying to them...

[jasminesmum]

My 8 yr old still sort of believes in Santa.

I think he has got to an age where hes knows that santa is probably not real but he still wants to believe anyway. Therefore I don't think it will be a dissapointment when he does find out as he is at an age where he will understand.

My dd will only be 20mths old but we will carry on the tradition with her.

Yea all children do eventually find out but its so much fun while they do believe. Theres nothing like an excited child waking up at 4.30 on christmas morning to see what santa has bought him. :tree:

[Mamaduke]

I would never deny my kids the excitement and joy that goes along with Santa.
It provided me with years and years of joy thinking that a special man in a red suit sneaked into my house to give me toys and to eat the food I'd left because I'd been good (or at least tried!)...I want the boys to experience the same.
They're going to be adults for such a long time and something magical to believe in whilst they're children is a fantastic thing - it's so pure and innocent...just the way children should be!
We were having a conversation about Santa last night and Jesse commented, "because he's (Santa) not real is he Mum"...:eek:
I then asked him, "well then, who brings the presents, who leaves snow out the front of the house, who eats the biscuits and drinks the milk if it's not Santa?" He answered, "well that's what I was wondering too."
He then went on to tell me that one of the boys at his kinder told him that Santa's not real and Jesse wanted to know why he would say such a thing. I told him that that boy is probably naughty all year and doesn't get any presents so that's why he doesn't think Santa's real. Jesse remarked that maybe if he tried to be good Santa would bring him toys this year.
I won't let anyone spoil my boys' Christmas!!!

[NZMama]

Oh I dont tell my child that they need to be good for santa, although she is told that she needs to be good, kind and caring all year round.
We also dont do the wish list thing, it all depends on what we can afford at the time. I just take note of certain things and of course she also tells us what she wants but this isnt reserved just for xmas time.
As for the spoilt brat thing I dont think that has anything to do with Santa, thats more to do with the parents. So not too sure why he is taking the fall for that, he is imaginary remember?

I dont think its pointless, Santa doesnt even need to give anything to mean something to a child. Even now when I see someone dressed up as him it gives me the fuzzies because I love this time of year.

[Little_Toad]

My sister and her family are born again Christians.

One christmas I saw her and her daugheters and asked what Santa brought them.
My siister replied "We don't belive in Santa, we light a candle for jesus' birthday".

I thought it was very sad they should miss out on the magical christmas feeling. We had it when we were young.

Plus, I think by the time they are old enough to find out that Santa is just really mummy and daddy, it's no big deal as they kind of realise they will still be getting presents.

At Christmas time we got all our presents from mum & Dad and one from Santa infront of the fireplace.

[Littletreasures]

Cobey will be told about the magic of santa, coming every year, to give him gifts!! IMO I don't think it's fair to rob him on that piece of childhood. He'll only be a kid for such a short amount of time, I don't want him to not believe in magic... Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and any other thing I can cook up will all be believed in this house!
When I stopped believing I wasn't disappointed, I just didn't tell mum so I could get more presents :devil6:

He's already sat on Santa's knee this year! :xmas:

.
I'm glad you're thinking like this. Lots of parents will say "My kid knows better than to..." which is completely not true.. kids can be spiteful and catty in the play ground, even the most well behaved ones.



i agree completely

My sister is not telling her 2 kids about santa as she dosent want to lie to them,
So that has got me stuck between a rock and a hard place cause what happens now when my nieces turn around and tell my DS that santa dosent exist?
Do i tell DS the truth? do i tell my nieces that he does exsit?
i understand that he is not going to believe in Santa for ever but i say let the kids dream and grow an imagination.....

[Mamaduke]

My siister replied "We don't belive in Santa, we light a candle for jesus' birthday".

We do both! I've told Jesse (as Lukey's still too young) that because it's Jesus' birthday and because He loves us so much, that He wants us all to have presents to celebrate...easy!

[Little_Toad]

We do both! I've told Jesse (as Lukey's still too young) that because it's Jesus' birthday and because He loves us so much, that He wants us all to have presents to celebrate...easy!

Fantastic idea. Shame she couldn't do that too.

Plus.. Isn't Santa based on St Nicholas?
he was considered good enough to become a saint so why not celebrate him??

[SilverStarfish]

I'd like Sarah to believe in Santa, and when the enevitable happens and she comes to me and says with a sniffle "Mamma, Johnny said that Santa isn't real..." I plan to tell her about St Nicholas and how the Santas today are continuing his work etc... :fingerscrossed: that works! Santa was never a big thing in my family, I always knew where the presents came from. As for the Easter Bunny, my parents always told me flat out that he didn't exist.

DH and his brother both believed in Santa when they were little. He has a favourite Chrismas eve memory of playing in the lounge room when his uncle suddenly burst into the room shouting "Come quick, come quick!! I can see Santa in the sky above the town!!" DH and his brother tore outside and searched the skys looking for the sleigh and reindeers.

Just when they thought they'd missed it, the went back inside to find that a big pile of presents had magically appeared under the tree.


:tree: :reindeer:

[TwoBlue]

I am thinking it's only a big disappointment because kids eventually find out santa isn't real

I think most of us, as adults could tell you that even if we were dissapointed when we found out Santa wasnt real that we soon got over it..

When i found out (from a nasty boy at school) that Santa wasnt real i asked mum and dad and they sat me down and explained it to me, i was fine, it made sense, i still got gifts etc etc...

I believe it would be more dissapointing to grow up and realise you missed a HUGE part of childhood fantasy and fun. I know i would feel really ripped off.

[Billy]

DH and his brother both believed in Santa when they were little. He has a favourite Chrismas eve memory of playing in the lounge room when his uncle suddenly burst into the room shouting "Come quick, come quick!! I can see Santa in the sky above the town!!" DH and his brother tore outside and searched the skys looking for the sleigh and reindeers.

Just when they thought they'd missed it, the went back inside to find that a big pile of presents had magically appeared under the tree.


Oh Wendy!! That is such a beautiful story!! It actually brought a tear to my eye at how amazing that must have been for your DH!!! :yes: :reindeer:

I love this time of year and I can't wait to fill my daughters life with the magic that makes Christmas :xmas: :kiss:

[tootiredtosleep]

We will have Santa visit at our place. Kids have the best imaginations and "pretend" play is always part of their day, so I don't see the harm.

I always remember running into my Mum and shouting "Santas been!" and she would have to look at every present and pretend that she had never seen them before. I can't wait to do that.

[V8]

Thanks for the advice ladies, some of what you said makes sense and all, i guess i am just trying to find a balance, with my childhood the earliest memories i have of christmas is when my dad dressed up as santa, so i never really believed and if i did, i don't remember anyways cause i was probably too little.

I like the christmas season with presents and family get togethers and also going to church for Jesus' birthday etc. I like the idea of someone saying the story of St Nicolas and then that's how santa came about etc. My kids aren't going to be missing out on christmas because christmas is a very special time, i'm still unsure really about the significance of santa and whether i will talk to my kids about him, i guess if they ask, i'll tell them, but i dont think i'll be making a big deal about it. I sound like such a 'bah humbug!'.

[V8]

Thanks Princess :D That's so nice of you.

I like to be concious of what i'm telling my kids and i also don't want to force any beliefs on them, i want them to be free to make up their own minds, i'll give them the answers to their questions and let them make up their own minds about certain things. This even includes Santa, they are free to believe in him if that's what makes them happy and i'll decide how much emphasis will be placed on these certain things i guess.

Thank you for not making me feel like a scrooge, lol!

[Ana Gram]

Thought you might like to hear from someone else who doesn't do santa.

There is nothing wrong with not doing santa. Christmas time still has it's "magic" and there is nothing wrong with Ruby's imagination.

[V8]

Chelle, thanks for that :D I think christmas is a great time of year, but i'm not going to place any emphasis on santa. Glad someone else feels the same.

[Ruby Slippers]

Tell my Children what about Santa ?
I don't want to hear noooooooooooooo
la la la :laughing:

[Ruby Slippers]

My 10 year old Dd is kind of starting to find out :crying: but I can show her the other side of Christmas the Magical side :wizard: .

[*Chels*]

Im gonna tell Riley about Santa.
I have such fond memories of xmas eve.It was sooooo exciting-leaving out carrots for the reinderr and writing Santa a note and leaving him cookies.:xmas:
I still remeber one xmas,me and my bro were sleeping in his bunks and we thought we heard the reindeer on the roof.I could have sworn I heard it LOL.
And waking up to find our santa sack full.I cant wait to do that with Riley.
Also I loved Easter bunny and tooth fairy.I would be determined to stay up to see them or catch them in the act-but I never did!:wizard:

[kymmy]

I don't perpuate the myth. I don't tell kids to be good for Santa. To my way of thinking its like me lying to my children. My girl does believe in Santa the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny because it is commercialised and she just gets caught up in it. At the same time she tells me its not real.
I think its good in that way - imagination and make believe like watching movies.

[Lil Mamma]

proudmumma its your choice as a parent! Its what you feel comfortable with. We didnt do santa either, and me & my brother didnt feel like we were 'deprived' or 'missed out' on anything

[catalicious]

I can not believe how early your kids stopped believeing in santa.

8-10 far out I still believed in santa when I was 12!

And to some extent I still believe in the idea.

My family by no means get along, but come every christmas magic happens and we all get along and spend time together and laugh, cry reminise(sp?) together.

We used to put the food out for Santa too, but we also used to wake each other up at like 2am every christmas morning just to run out and see what santa had left. We where not told if we where not good we wouldnt get anything off santa.

Christmas is such a fantastic time, so is easter and all the other "make believe" things that kids get taught to believe in.

I would rather go blind than to not have my kids experience and have as wonderful christmas memories as I do. It cetainly gives them some time before they have to come to grips with all the other bull$hit that is going on i the world lately.


This is all because of SANTA!! :xmas:

I remember one christmas eve there was a storm and we watched the news and they said its ok but kids we just got sight of santas sleigh he will still be able to make it tonight.:reindeer: (good reindeers they are too not be afraid of a little thunder and lightning)

Things like Santa and the Easter Bunny etc need to stay around for the kids of this generation because what else would they grow up with then, constant wars and fighting.?

Id rather let my children be children than to expect them to grow up to quickly.

Dear Santa,

Thats right I still believe in you and Love you.

See you on Saturday

Love cat

Thats all I need to say:ecomcity: , santa knows how I feel, thats all that matters :tree:

[~MinkeyMoo~]

I think it is all part of the magic of growing up....like faries in the bottom of the garden. My DD's will certainly know the real meaning of christmas but I will be letting the believe in Santa. After all I dont know too many adults who are emotionally scared from finding out the truth.

As for expecting toys. As children we were told that, as santa had lots of kids to give presents too, the mums and dads had to give him some money to help pay for it all. They would stick up an evelope on christmas eve with money in it and in the morning it would be gone ;) This not only gave as a great start in the value of money, but made us not greedy in what we wanted. I remember we used to ask for one main present and anything else we got was a bonus.

My girls are getting one main present each and one to share for christmas. I think people tend to go overboard, especially with younger kids.
Sorry I digress a bit :o

[jaysmommy]

We are all free to celebrate how we want to and to tell our children whatever we want to about christmas but i agree with what several people have said that for me it was THE most magical thing ever to believe in santa and to be Soooooo excited on xmas eve listening out for sleigh bells ringing, leaving his drink and the carrot for Rudolph, then waking up ridiculously early the next morning desperate to see if he'd left anything..i will definately carry on that tradition with my son (he already loves the whole santa thing) and i'll do tooth fairies etc..our young are innocent for such a short time and i want his childhood to have as much magic and wonder as i can cram in before the realities of the world fall upon him. I never felt diappointed or deceived about it all when i realised it was all made up..i felt grateful for such magical memories.
If you feel strongly that it's not important in your family then you should go with what you think, but i have such strong emotional feelings about it that i had to write!!
:noel: