To think this 'comedian' on Radio 4 shouldn't have said this at 11.30am?

[Imchangingmyname]

In the car earlier with DD 3.5 and baby DS. Radio 4 is on, with a comedy-type show presented by Sue Perkins (who I love by the way), when some silly bint announces that all 5-year-old's should be told that Santa doesn't exist?!? All said very seriously, given it was supposed to be a 'comedy' show. DD didn't say anything but is the type of child who stores things up and mentions it later. Didn't want to say anything at the time as didn't want to draw attention to it.
AIBU to think she shouldn't have said it??

But I do think saying that Santa doesn't exist at a time when small children might be able to hear it is a bit thoughtless.

On CBeebies maybe, not on programmes not aimed at kids.

YABU

Why should everything be censored for children I along with many other adults want to listen to radio programmes that are aimed at adult listeners

For all those saying 'it's an adults show' blah blah blah..by that argument, they shouldn't be discussing fucking Santa then!

I didn't hear it. From your op she said that 5 year olds should be told that Santa doesn't exist. That is clearly aimed at adults. I don't understand the obsession with Santa and some parents' over the top efforts to keep children believing in something they freely acknowledge isn't true is a good subject for discussion on the radio.

I have absolutely no issue with people doing the Santa Claus/FC is literally real with their children, but I fail to grasp the intense adult emotional investment involved in maintaining an elaborate pretence against what seems to be perceived as a grim, encroaching adult world determined to deprive them of 'magic'. That's adult thinking and a set of adult feelings about childhood.

And the fear of R4 thoughtlessly undoing 'weeks of Santa work' stuff is killing me . Surely doing elaborate Elf on a Shelf stuff is a choice, rather than a duty?

If they were actually discussing Fucking Santa, then I could see your point.

I don't know, Patricia, 'Santa Baby' is pretty kinky when you think about it...

What other subjects should be off limits tooth fairy perhaps

I turned down the radio the other week while listening to The News Quiz when they discussed Knob in a Pig how could I explain that to ds he wanted to know why I was crying

The world does not revolve around your children your life does

Thanks DoctorTwo. It was on the tip of my tongue but just couldn't bring it to mind :)

OP, are you still whining on? You are the adult, not R4 controller so do YOUR JOB and exercise your channel changing finger. Leave our programmes alone!

For these two snippets alone I love MN:
Stealth boast re listening to R4.
Weeks of Santa-work.

The very essence of first-worldness is to come onto an internet forum with these concerns. Love it.

I just don't get the Father Christmas thing. Do people ever actually really believe?

Growing up, I knew he was a nice story, but my parents never told me he was real. In fact, they never told me he wasn't real either.

Why are you all setting your kids up to 'find out' something upsetting? And why are you getting shirty about your lie being found out?

It doesn't ruin 'the magic of Christmas' whatever that is. Kids love family time, presents, decorations, everybody getting excited. Christmas excitement is nothing to do with this weird reverse burglar.

OP - YABU.

YABU

There are loads of threads on this kind of thing this time of year.

Basically the bottom line is that once you choose to tell your kids this lie, you have to live with the fact that the rest of the world doesn't have to join in.

Much easier just to talk about Santa as a story, or a "game we play at Christmas". DC have great imaginations and still get excited but there is no risk if an unwanted big reveal.

If you listened to the end of the segment, Andrew Maxwell made a very pro FC statement that would have easily cancelled out Josie Long!

Elf on a Shelf? FFS.

AMEN! Elf of a Shelf is the hight of ridiculousness. It is a creepy little fucker, and even a part of any Christmas tradition like trees, advents and the Father Christmas story is.

Making your kids think that toys/ornaments are sentient beings is even worse than the reverse burglar!

Elf on a shelf is barbaric but I quite like the Kindness Elves idea. Makes the "festive season" about being thoughtful and kind towards others rather than grabby consumers only contributing to China's GDP.

m.facebook.com/thekindnesselves

I was once lectured told by a friend in RL about elf on a shelf. Inside I died a bit and felt a bit guilty that I couldn't be arsed to do such wankery for my children.

Then I copped on.

cactus but my 3.5-year-old can't access and read MN.

So you want your ideas on precious childhood stories to be taken into account on a radio station that aims their programmes to adult listeners

So all programmes on radio 4/BBC London radio and similar stations that provide programmes for adult listeners should take into account the stories you choose to tell your children just in case they are listening

My logical DD had figured out by age 5 that Father Christmas was fictitious. My SIL said she thought it was really sad that she didn't believe, as though she thought her eldest DD (9) still did

YANBU

But there are a lot of self righteous prigs on MN who wait with baited breath every year to bang on about the evil that is the Santa lie.