how did you introduce the concept of santa to your DCs?

[katechristie]

Just wondering... as DS is 2.9yo and I'm not sure he's quite getting it all yet. He's started getting excited at all the "sparklies" as people start putting their lights up, and definitely remembers them from last year as they used to be our main conversation on out drive home from work/nursery and even last month he still said "no sparklies there anymore" in houses that used to have elaborate displays, but I'm not sure my explanations of santa are getting through yet, would love to hear how you explained it all and when your DCs started to understand?

[ruddynorah]

my grandma gave dd 'the night before christmas' open the flap book for her first christmas. that set the story for us.

[katechristie]

ooh, i hadn't thought of a book - unusual for me! will look out for that one.

[wreckofhesperus]

Thank you ruddynorah! I tried to explain Father Christmas to my 2 year old - hoping to use the "if you're not a good girl, FC won't bring you any presents" (I know - but it gets desperate here sometimes) and somehow we ended up with her saying "no, no magic man, no presents" and getting quite cross about it. Will definitely get the book. Assume it's "'Twas the night before Christmas, And all through the house..." etc?

[llareggub]

We just told him about a strange man who breaks into the house once a year. Nothing odd or scary about that concept, is there?

I don't know really. He was 2.2 years last christmas and did talk about Father Christmas although he had no idea about what that meant. This year however he definitely understands that Father Christmas brings presents if he is a good boy and that he must write a letter to him. He also knows that he must leave Father Christmas and Rudolph a drink and a snack. We've just talked to him about christmas, presents, reindeer then responded to his (many) questions. We haven't had a strategy about it though, the mention of presents and chocolate seemed to do the trick!

[ruddynorah]

yes that's the one.

this particular one has the main page showing for example the living room, then open the flap that's in the fireplace and there's santa coming down. and so on, through the house.

[Ninks]

"Teletubbies in the Snow" and "Happy Christmas from the Teletubbies DVD

Very simplistic narrative and repetitive Christmas phrases. Christmas Trees, children singing carols, decorations, presents, snow - 'tis all dealt with.

[ruddynorah]

oh and there's a good peppa pig episode (!!) that explains how santa gets in houses with no chimneys. i hadn't quite registered it but dd's grandad asked her how santa would get in seeings as we have no chimney and she said 'through the front door like on peppa pig!' so this year we're making a magic key (cardboard cut out plus glittery bits) for him to get in . this is her 3rd christmas.

[katechristie]

ah, teletubbies a fave here, that'll go down well too! thanks

[Trafficcone]

I didn't. Just hung his stocking and told him FC would fill it and the next morning I was proved right! I didn't ever feel he didn't get it or I had to elaborate and the other kids just followed his lead as they grew up. I think you're overthinking this!!

[katechristie]

ooh, a magic key, he would love that! except, he does have a (not used) fireplace in his room, so I hadn't even thought of bringing that one in, that might help too!

[katechristie]

oh, am not stressing about it trafficcone, just prob getting over excited myself and wanting him to enjoy the build up when he sees santa

[nappyaddict]

Mine is 3.4 and doesn't get it either. I explain to him and he remembers for that day and then the next time it is mentioned he gets a vacant look on his face. Perhaps I will have to read Twas the night before xmas every day from now until xmas eve!

[oldraver]

DS was nearly three last Christmas and as we had my Mum staying with us we got lots of the 'Santa is coming you have to leave a carrot/mince pie'...she did go on a lot until he was brainwashed understanding it.

This year he has remembered it all and is already talking about Rudolph. Since he saw the decorations in the Argos book he has been pestering to have the tree up

Last year we had the 'Thats not my Santa and Reindeer' books which are fun. I also have Night Before Christmas that I will get out this year. It was DS1's book illustrated by Penny Ives and it is a lovely book. I've also got on order When Santa Comes but Amazon have told me it wont now be available till 17th Dec

[ThePhantomPlopper]

I didn't - preschool did. Not entirely sure what they said to them, but we took him to the garden centre to see all the lights and decs, he had a massive melt down "NO NO NO Santa is bad, NO MUMMY"

He's not as bad as he was, I've talked him round, but he still prefers the sparkly trees and lights to Father Christmas.