How should a parent answer if a child ask " "Is Santa Claus real"?
@wasif123ster (92)
December 2, 2015 5:36am CST
My daughter will be turning three after a few days. She keeps asking me silly questions which I actually have no answer to it.
Now, she'll be going to school and will hear many stories, out of which one of them will be the story of the Santa. All the children are told, that Santa comes over during the Christmas Eve and distributes presents to all the children when they are asleep, which is not true.
However, I have decided to give her a present from this Christmas, so she feels happy about it like other children do, but, what should I tell her? I do not want to lie to her about Santa Claus.
Later on if she asks me, "Mumma, does Santa Claus still exist, is he real?" What would I answer then.
Please advise as how to go about it.
Thank You.
9 people like this
11 responses
@owlwings (43914)
• Cambridge, England
2 Dec 15
As a Father Christmas myself, I know all about how real I am (on the Saturdays and Sundays up till Christmas when I appear). When you go to a play or see a movie, you are seeing actors but you never think about whether the characters they play are real or not - you KNOW they are (if they are good actors), at least for the duration of the play or film.
Children are very used to the reality of make-believe and it doesn't confuse or deceive them at all to believe in Santa or unicorns or dragons or Barney or whatever. It is not a lie to say that Santa is real and children don't feel deceived when they learn (at the age of six or seven, usually) that it's really a fiction which is part of Christmas.
5 people like this
@purplealabaster (22091)
• United States
2 Dec 15
@owlwings My daughter is eight, and she still firmly believes in Santa Clause, even though she realizes that not everybody believes. Then again, I am a little bit older than eight
, and I still believe in Santa.
, and I still believe in Santa.3 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
2 Dec 15
@purplealabaster I was taught in school already that Santa is just in stories, and children just enjoy it by creating dramas of Santa Claus. So, I am planning to the same thing with my daughter.
@wasif123ster (92)
•
2 Dec 15
Well, then I have to become a Santa every year for my little one, of which I would love to. I just wanna give her each and every happiness of this world. . :-)
@else34 (13516)
• New Delhi, India
2 Dec 15
If I were you,I would say,'Yes,Santa does exist.'Frankly speaking,I don't know whether he exists or not,but I would never pull the child down to the harsh realities.Let them roam in the wonderland of their fantasies.The child in me wants to believe Santa exists just like you and I do.If someone tells me he doesn't exist,I'll be shattered.
5 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
2 Dec 15
Ok. It's fine if she roams in her wonderland, I have no isuue. I also tell her that Santa is real and he has gifted you something this Christmas. It's fine upto here.
But, later when someone teases her saying that Santa doesn't exist and your parents have lied to you, what will she think then. She will feel defeated. I don't want to put her down in any aspects.
@else34 (13516)
• New Delhi, India
3 Dec 15
@wasif123ster Sooner or later she too would know the truth.Now what matters for the little one is her imagination and fantasies.
1 person likes this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
3 Dec 15
@else34 Correct. I have already planned how should I deal with it. Thank you for your opinion dear. . :-)
@youless (112371)
• Guangzhou, China
2 Dec 15
I have a different opinion here. I want my child to have a beautiful imagination and hope for something nice. And Santa Claus is one of these nice imaginations. So every year I bought a nice gift for my son, but I had never told him I bought it for him. I would secretly put it into his bedroom. My son would be excited to find it and then I would pretend to be surprised to say that Santa Claus sent him a present
He is a good boy and therefore Santa Claus likes him and gives him a present to make him happy.
He is a good boy and therefore Santa Claus likes him and gives him a present to make him happy.3 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
2 Dec 15
Well I used to do this with my nieces and nephews. I think I should try it with my daughter too. But, she is a book of questions, have to deal with it anyhow. . lolzz. . :-)
@purplealabaster (22091)
• United States
2 Dec 15
I don't think that we are lying to our children when we tell them about Santa. I think that Santa embodies the spirit of giving, which does come alive around Christmas time. There are some people that are not into the holiday, but even people that do not celebrate Christmas still tend to be more lighthearted and more generous this time of year. That is what Santa represents, in my opinion.
3 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
2 Dec 15
Nice opinion. I can add it in my books, so that I can explain it to my daughter when she asks for the explanation. . lolzz . . :-)
2 people like this
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
2 Dec 15
The image of Santa Clause to a small child is magical and this is all they can talk about. They love to see him, wave at him, write letters to him. But as the child grows up they start to realize a few things. Why is there so many Santa Clauses out and about. This is the time when our little white lies will get us through one more year. We are the ones who want to keep the image of Santa alive and part of the magic of Christmas.
I think when the child is around the age of 8 to 10 and they ask this question it is up to you to decide when to break the magic in their eyes. If you child really loves Santa keep it alive another year. If they aren't so interested tell them the truth.
2 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
3 Dec 15
Thank you Ann for your advice. I will surely keep it in mind and will not let my daughter feel hurt in any way.
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
3 Dec 15
@wasif123ster I feel Santa, Easter Bunny and Tooth fairy are all images of what we knew as a child. I have no idea who ever invented the tooth fairy but I do remember when I lost my first baby took I was given a book about the tooth fairy. so somewhere out there a person created this magical person or fairy so we could earn a few cents from a tooth falling uot.
I know my grand daughter knows these are not real and it is us who do these. But when he hit I think it was 12 or maybe before one of the late teeth fell out. I had a good laugh at her. She told us she would put this under her pillow for the tooth fairy. He dad chimed in and said Wow wait a minute now this one has gone too far. You know it is us to give you this money so there's no need to continue to play this game. She laughed and said well anyhow it was worth a try.
1 person likes this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
3 Dec 15
@poehere Glad to read your response. Even I have heard about the tooth fairy when I was in school, but never ever gave it a try. My daughter is so much fond of Santa that I don't wanna let her down. So I thought of playing a drama with her, so that she understands and get to know that Santa is seen in dramas and television only. . lolzz. . :-)
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
2 Dec 15
@wasif123ster i dont think 3 is the right age. maybe around 6 when she has a better grasp of understanding things.
3 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
2 Dec 15
Correct! But, since I'm a Guide and a teacher to her, I wanna be frank. I would like to search for a solution where she is happy with the Santa as an imagination, and I am happy by telling her the true story of Santa.
@dodo19 (47278)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
2 Dec 15
My husband and I tell our kids that he is real. We feel that, as kids, they should believe in this sort of thing. We both did as kids. A part of us probably still does a little. But that is just us. I know there are parents who tell their kids that Santa doesn't exist, which is their choice. I think that you should tell her what you feel and think is best. Go with your gut instinct. As parents, that's the best we can do at times. That's the best advice I can give in this situation.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41118)
• United States
2 Dec 15
I don't know of any child who was psychology harmed by learning that Santa isn't "real." Most kids (adults too) enjoy make-believe.
2 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
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2 Dec 15
It's not about getting psychology harmed. It's just that children these days are so smart that nothing is hidden from them. Now, in that case how can I deal with her question? This is the concern, that's it.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (1784)
• United Kingdom
2 Dec 15
whilst she is so young I would say yes he is real. She will find out when the time is right for her. Let her enjoy being a child.
2 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
•
2 Dec 15
I think you are right. I am planning in such a way that she enjoys her imagination of Santa being real and I enjoy it by creating a drama for her every year. . !
@totobasso (331)
• Canada
3 Dec 15
Once we lie to our children can they ever trust us? If we lied once, how do they know if we are not lying again?
1 person likes this
@totobasso (331)
• Canada
4 Dec 15
@wasif123ster Never mind what people say. A lie is a lie! Be true to yourself and even more important be true to God. God hates liars!
@wasif123ster (92)
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3 Dec 15
That's the reason Toto, I do not wanna lie to my daughter. I wanna be a friend, a guide and a frank parent to her.
@marijuana (570)
• Tel Aviv, Israel
2 Dec 15
I remember mama and dad always told us Santa Claus was real but I remember the funny looks of their faces :)
2 people like this
@wasif123ster (92)
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3 Dec 15
One really have to be an actor, in order to tell their children that Santa is real. Now a days, children are so smart that they catch and figure out things real fast.
