Santa?

Should you teach your child to believe in Santa or not? Nickelodeon Parents Connect asked in a poll, “Do you let your kids believe in Santa Claus?” 65% answered, “Of course! It’s a magical part of childhood. What’s the harm?” 13% answered, “No. I think Christmas should be about Jesus, not Santa.” 10% answered, “Yes, although I’m not so crazy about the whole idea of lying to them. It’s just hard not to go along with it.” 4% answered, “We don’t celebrate Christmas.” 8% answered, “What? Are you trying to tell me there’s no such thing as Santa?” Each year, millions of children eagerly anticipate the jolly old man’s magical trip around the world. But, is it harmful to teach a lie?

Dulce Zamora (MedicineNet.com), in an article, reported that studies from the United States and Canada suggested that virtually all children know about Santa Claus, even if they do not view him as a real person. Around age 7, a significant percentage of believers discovered the truth behind the fantasy, while only half of kids aged 8 to 11 still believed in Santa. Most reacted in a positive manner when they learned the truth, and two out of three kids felt a sense of pride in figuring it out. Half of them said that although Santa was not real, they liked the idea of him. Benjamin Siegel, MD, FAAP, professor of pediatrics at the Boston University Medical School says, the way children experience Santa depends on how he is represented to them. If Santa Claus represents is nurturing, good, thoughtful, and generous, then it’s a good experience. But, if parents strongly believe they are betraying their children’s trust by sharing the Santa Claus fantasy, they probably do not need to tell them the story.

Developmental psychologist Carolyn Saarni, PhD, Professor of Counseling at Sonoma State University in California gives a nod, saying, a good imagination is important in all ages, but it’s crucial for very young children. Fantasy Play is central to cognitive development in children. They master the world through the ability to manipulate things in fantasy. Play allows them to practice what they will do in the real world. Humboldt State University in Arcata, California’s Assistant Professor of Psychology, Tasha Howe, PhD, adds to the discussion stating that parents can use fantasy to encourage critical and independent thinking. When children ask questions such as “Is there really a Santa Claus?” or “How do reindeer fly?” she suggests encouraging them to come up with their own explanations. Thus, since there is no scientific research to suggest the Santa fantasy is either helpful or harmful to kids, it becomes a personal choice for parents, without harm either way.

This generation of children are part of the post-9/11 generation. To them, the United States has always been at war, and always had troops in Afghanistan. Lock-down/security drills are part of their school routine, and terrorism headlines are in the news on a daily basis. They can choose to view their world as a scary, war-torn place, living each day in dread of the next bad thing, or see the world as an ever-changing landscape with promises of better things to come. A little fantasy about a man flying around the world in a day, passing out presents to all the children, may have an effect on the choice they make. After all, Santa represents all the good things in humanity: kindness, generosity, justice (he knows if you’ve been good or bad), and hope.

The polls and experts seem to imply that more families than not participate in the Santa fantasy. Age 7-11 are ages when most children discover the truth. It is also the time to lead your child to the truth as questions arise. When questioned, it is better to allow him/her to find their own answer (“What do you think?”). Fantasy is important to cognitive development, and there is no research to indicate harm or benefit to a child. In fact, it is totally up to you to decide what is right for your family. If you choose not to participate in Santa, tell your child not to share the information with other children. So, to answer the question, Should you teach your child to believe in Santa or not? It’s a personal choice! As for me, I will always believe in Santa. MERRY CHRISTMAS!