ChildsplayExistence..
By vivamir
@vivamir (671)
July 13, 2011 10:28am CST
Okay guys..heres one for you..
I was involved in a odd discussion the other day around 'learning the truth at school'..
Children attending primary schools etc..get worked into a world of make believe and Im not talking about them using their imagination to play a game of 'cops and robbers'..
Let me explain..my friend- who (now) has a teenage son, but when he was younger he never painted the fantasy of the 'tooth fairy' or 'Santa Claus'.. and it was during this discussion that my friend basically said..
If (when his son was much younger) his teacher had asked a classroom full of children to raise their hand if they believed Santa existed..his son would be the only one to not raise his hand- so would my friends child be made to look as though they are lying,? as obviously WE ALL KNOW..Santa does not exist!
My friend believes, children should pretty much know that their parents provide gifts etc.. although he isnt a full on Scrooge!
It was a interesting discussion..and Id like to hear others points of view..
If you are a parent, reading this, do you like to build a 'fantasy belief' for your child/ren? If so, why is this?
Please share..(",)
1 person likes this
7 responses
@marguicha (223107)
• Chile
16 Jul 11
I have the idea that I always knew that Santa did not exist. But that did not keep me from reading and having fun with fairy tales, pirates and other imaginary people. And even now, when I write (I´m a writer in my native language) I like to use those tales and characters with a twist.
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I cannot imagine a Cinderella with small feet. verytime I go barefooted, my feet go sore. But I do think we can have a Cinderella that is not waiting to be saved, but one that is in charge of her life.
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I cannot imagine a Cinderella with small feet. verytime I go barefooted, my feet go sore. But I do think we can have a Cinderella that is not waiting to be saved, but one that is in charge of her life.@vivamir (671)
•
16 Jul 11
Thank you for your comment marguicha.. I dont disagree with your comment- but I firmly believe there is a fine line between imagination and allowing your child to believe in something that is not real..
I used to love reading fairytales a child.. but never was I told by my Dad that they were 'real'..my Mum on the other hand tried to make things so 'magical' shall I say- but as I got older..things havent quite been so 'magical'.. I just think its important to be 100% truthful at all times..
@RJlady1 (144)
• United States
14 Jul 11
Children use their imagination in play all the time and still know the difference between fantasy and reality. If we didn't encourage imagination, there would be no creativity in this world -- no art, no music, no novels, plays, poetry. As a child of COURSE I intellectually knew there was no Santa, but I still enjoyed the stories.
To this day at Christmas, I feel magic all around me, and I love the Santa Claus story. Strangely enough, my adult children are not schizophrenic.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
13 Jul 11
I am with writergirl, I never told my children there was a Santa, but they knew other children did and I explained that some parents do this to make that time of year fun and exciting..It isn't that I am a scrooge, but today as adults, they know if they were to ask me something, I wouldn't lie to them. As one who is trying to eliminate some holidays full of mythical creatures, I can't comprehend the real reason other than everyone else is doing it..Which as I am trying to stop observing these days, I do see a lot of resistance for what I am doing, as my youngest is 9, and he will probably spend the rest of his life here without lies, but I won't deprive him either.
@sswallace21 (1824)
• United States
14 Jul 11
I'm not a parent, however, I do think it's okay for children to believe in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, etc. But also believe that children should be told the truth before they enter grade school. They need to know money doesn't grow on trees and that everything really isn't free. I think teaching this at a younger age allows them to grow up with realistic goals to be successful. It also helps them to know hardwork can pay off. Best Wishes!
@roneal (62)
• Mexico
14 Jul 11
Having fantasy tales throughout childhood is a part of growing up. It keeps holidays alive and magical. It gives the kids something to look forward to. I think it is also a social building tool that helps kids in a way. Believing in Santa, the toothfairy etc.. was always magical for me growing up and I would never take that away from my kids.
@vivamir (671)
•
16 Jul 11
I dont disagree roneal.. I understand the 'magical' side to it, but children can get this from having their own imagination stimulated..I just feel that if I sit there and tell my child the mythical story of 'Santa'..thats how it will be just a mythical story.. not making them believe something is real when it is not.
@Jelminrie (358)
• Philippines
14 Jul 11
I m not yet a parent but if i became one, i will not encourage my kid to believe in a make believe characters, I am a volunteer sunday school teacher I don't want them to learn about the existence of Santa, I am so sad when we talked about christmas and they do not know about Jesus, the first thing in mind that the formal school conceived in them was the existence of the imagination of people about Santa, So I went in a hard time convincing them Santa is a human made hero for Christmas but the real hero was JESUS. I might as well introduce my kid with the existence of Angels rather than tooth fairy, If will have a kid someday i will teach him/her about the bible heroes and Jesus' parables and miracles its much more inspirational and were true.
@vivamir (671)
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16 Jul 11
Thankyou for your response Jelminrie..but To be honest, without sounding disrespectful..I would not want that for my child..I would like them to be able to discover the world for what it is and not for what the human race has falsely created around us..and by this Im talking broadly about ALOT of beliefs.
@writergirl74 (802)
• United States
13 Jul 11
I absolutely do not like to instill fantasy belief stuff of any kind. I believe in giving it to my children straight and not giving them a false sense of reality. My mom did me the same way. To be honest, I don't like that the schools do this either and I find it hard to explain to my 4 year old because until I can finish completing the process to start my own preschool, I have to send her. Not that I don't like to celebrate the holidays or anything, I just want my kids to know the truth. Why build up all these lies to have to tear down later on. Some children won't adapt well to this depending on how deep the "fantasy" was engrained.
So NO, fantasy belief in this house. This is a good topic. I can't wait to see what others have to say. I will be staying tuned in.
@vivamir (671)
•
13 Jul 11
THANKYOU WRITERGIRL74! I really appreciate someone sharing this view.. I believe there is a fine line between engaging a childs imagination and then theres bare faced lying to them 'to make life seem more magical'..blah blah
I mean...my Mum used to do the whole 'fairy/santa' thing, whereas my Dad was the complete opposite!
So being a Daddys Girl..I automatically believed my Dad, however my 3 younger siblings werent so black/white with this particular scenario.. dont get me wrong as they got older they understood but still questions were raised..
Why did Mum say this..and why did Dad say that.. (*??????*)
