Why do parents push their kids to Santa

I know! I have often wondered the same thing. My daughter went willingly to Santa when she was one so we got her the obligatory Santa Photo in our collection. But when my son was one, he screamed and would not have a part of it. So after he was tried again the next year with the same result, we gave up. I reckon that his instincts were pretty good. Sitting your child on the lap of some overweight smelly stranger is not really a natural thing that we would do is it? The whole dressing up as Santa is not really something that should be done in Australia either I feel. Sure most shopping centres where they sit are air conditioned, but I have also seen them in small country towns set up outside of the shops in the heat. Wearing those suits in summer is just ridiculous if you ask me.

I don't know why parents do it. It seems to be part of the current 'initiation ceremony' for kids up to the age of about 7. I am a 'Santa' (I prefer 'Father Christmas') and I am fascinated by the many different reactions I get from kids. It isn't just in the Grotto. I occasionally do 'walkabouts' in the shop (mostly when I'm going for a break) and I see a lot of kids who are not just shy but really scared. I don't understand it but I do have to deal with it. How I do it varies a great deal. Sometimes it is best just to disappear, at other times I talk to the parent a little and the fact that I seem to have a normal voice (even though I have a startling white beard and a red cloak) seems to reassure them a little. If they are old enough, I may joke with them a little. The children who are most apt to be really scared are aged between one and two. Older than that, they are either terribly shy, very outgoing but slightly wary or, just occasionally, I get delightfully spontaneous hugs (two so far this year). Quite a number of parents want photos of their kids with Santa. I'm not really sure why ... maybe it's part of the package they think they paid for. It's actually quite fun getting the kids to stand still next to me, face the camera and actually SMILE. Of course, I do talk to them first (and try to get them to talk to me ... some need NO encouragement, others have to whisper what they want to say to their parent as an interpreter). I count it a success if a child comes in very shy and tongue-tied and goes out having told me their name, what they are hoping for for Christmas, what their Christmas tree has on top and knows the answers to the catechism of what you should leave for Father Christmas and Rudolph on Christmas Eve. I do try to get in some idea of what Christmas is really about (not just for Christians but for all people everywhere, whatever their religion, because I don't know where my visitors come from or what they have been taught to believe). We very often don't get that far, at least, not this year (maybe next, I tell myself).

My niece is terrified of Santa. We've talking screaming afraid. When my mom took her to Santa, the Santa said, when she's a grown up, these are the pictures you'll treasure. For me, I won't treasure any memory of a child I'm responsible for being so freighted (I don't care how many years ago it was).

Children and parents have different views to many things. Parents like Santa and hope their children will have a photo with Santa. They think it will give them a happy childhood memory. However, not every child feels the same. Some are not familiar with a stranger, even if he is a Santa. I also hope my son can take photos with characters like Santa. But my son is not interested in it. So no matter how much I wish he will have a photo like that, I can't force my son to go there if he doesn't want to. I love China

I always gave my kids the opportunity to see Santa but if they did not want to or it was upsetting them then I would not force them. I don't think seeing Santa should be a traumatic experience. It would kind of stink to stand there in line for 2 hours and then have your kid decide when they are next in line to start freaking out. I would not force it though.

It is a nice memory. If the kids aren't into it why push? I think it is normal for a strange man to be scarey to little kids. I think parents do it because they think it would be cute and Santa is such an icon. They just don't think that this man is going to scare their kids. Just don't think PERIOD.

I never did push my child to Santa but I tried to encourage her to go to see him. My husband had to take her up there because she would not go by herself but wanted to see him though.

often, the kids WANT to see Santa UNTIL they get up there, then there's this strange man who wants them on his lap... and kids are told not to talk to strangers... There is also the fact that they do want those pictures... one of those things they can pull out and show to dates in 10-12 years...

Mine only cried when they were babies. Once they got to the age of about 3 they were excited to see Santa because they understood who he was. Yes I do have pictures of each of my kids crying the first time they visited Santa. I don't think it is cruel. It is only a minute of uncomfort while the picture is snapped and the child is happily back in the arms of their parents. The photo, crying or not, is a keepsake. I show mine to the kids anytime I come across them and they all laugh at how they were afraid of Santa the first time they met him. It's not like it causes life long trauma.

I have never understood that either. We spend a lot of time and effort making sure our little ones don't talk to strangers. We stress that strangers are bad and that they could hurt our children. We say any manner of things in order to scare our kids enough to keep them safe from predators. Then we take them to the mall and practically through them them in the arms of this huge, hairy, stranger who probably smells bad too after being trussed up in that hot red suit. Is it any wonder that our kids are conflicted??

I have no idea why parents do that. I remember when our daughter wanted nothing to do with Santa. So we did not force her. Eventually a year or so later she looked forward to sitting on his lap. Why bother with a picture of a terrified child or a crying one. Just a waste of time and money. Plus it just stresses out the child.

some parents forgot that santa only appear once a year, and thought that Santa appear once in a life time!! Well, for me, I don't really bother, I asked my child if she wants a photo, if she shake her heads, I just continue walking.. I think kids have their utmost decision in some situation, and of course,we have to respect that. In addition, some parents wish they are all kids again, taking the advantage of having the child with the Santa, and they squeeze in between.. LOL!

If my children were that afraid and upset about it I would definitely not force it. Your exactly right, for what? To pay for a terrible picture? No thank you! I would rather NOT have my kids that upset for a picture that costs too much as it is...

just like you say,parents want to catch their child's perfect twinkling,but they forget to realise that those photos are not going to be nice.in my pnint of view,we must don't do that if children indeed hated

It's actually difficult to say why this is the case. I guess some kids actually do want to see Santa, while others simply don't and are afraid of him. For some parents, it could be more for themselves than for their kids. I guess it depends on the case.

Yeah, my mom was telling me that my brother and I were afraid of Santa. The people suggested that maybe she take us back when we were less upset (as if that makes sense, anyway), but my mom decided that it would be better to capture the moment. There are actually a few pictures of us crying, not just with Santa. I agree with you and think that it is cruel. It's also kind of stupid. I mean, parents tell their children not to talk to strangers, and then they are going to force their crying children to sit on some guy's lap? It just doesn't make sense. Tradition is very important to a lot of parents. I think that they remember all the stuff from their childhood and want their kids to have the same great memories. Unfortunately, we don't always remember things a hundred percent accurately, and we may forget the stuff that our parent's forced us to do that we hated; and that our children just may have different interests than we did as a child.

I agree. For some kids a big man all dressed in red can be quite scary so who wouldn't be afraid of him. The pictures are more for the parents sake then it is for the child itself.

Well. usually all kids love Santa Claus in our countries, and mostly all kids want to be near him. In my home I stoped making believe in Santa Claus , since , with me wasnt that good, didnt bring me gifts as they show in tv. My family was poor and didnt have money to make my wishes come true , but , I believed in Santa Claus and write letters every year , so , when Chrismas came I was so exited about it , and sometimes gave me small gifts or sometimes none. So , I was confused why didnt bring gifts to me since I was a good girl. Now , in my own family with two kids , I taught them that Papa and Mama work and with that money they can afford to buy some gift and depend of the income that will be the price of the gift. They understand very well , and when Santa Claus is in the malls I ask them if they want to take a picture with him , if they say no I wont push them , they know he is just a dressed man as Santa Claus. I am still not sure about if making believe in this fairy tails is good for the kids or not.

I am thankful my parents never pushed me to meet Santa (though one time I burst into tears as they made me take a picture with the Hawaiian Punch mascot; that was so traumatizing I've completely wiped it from memory). I think parents mostly do it for themselves for the memories. Maybe they think their kid will like being able to meet Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas, but really, if the kid's crying then don't force them to do it. It's just mean to make a kid who is so afraid of something to keep on making them do it.