To sell Santa as a story

[Iwontdosanta]

That is to say, make it clear it isn't 'real' but to still have fun with it.

That's my feeling Pouty, tbh

Capri works the same way as any other story - like Peppa Pig, DD knows it's a cartoon without me telling her. She still loves her, but I don't tell her Peppa is 'real.'

But it’s fine for everyone else to try and push Santa on the kids who don’t do it though. Talk about double standards.

You wouldn't be annoyed if you'd never thought it was real, because you wouldn't have the memories of thinking it was real.

This is clearly the sort of logical thinking that led me to never think it was actually real...

Yes, it goes:

Other kids and teachers and friends tell my kids Santa is real - fine

Not fine - the vague possibility my children may tell another child they don't believe.

stone the crows.

Rude

I am not comfortable with telling them something that is not true.

You're in for a shock if you think you can go their whole childhoods without stretching the truth.

Plus it's excellent bribery material from October-December

We treat it like any belief system. DD can believe what she likes, but she gets to it herself.

School pushes Christianity, we counter with pagan/Jewish/Muslim stories. People push Santa, we talk about kindness and giving, we don’t shove the argos catalogue at her to get her to make a grabby list.

She was forced to write a letter to Santa at school last week. She said she hoped snow leopards didn’t die out and that she’d like £10 to spend. Give me that any day.

Ahhhh I think each to their own. I disagree that the magic is for the parents as I distinctly remember that magic as a child. I also remember feeling a little sad when it was revealed it wasn't true but in awe of my parents for creating the magical 'reality' in the first place IYKWIM?

I don't think there's any harm in believing up until the child naturally begins to doubt, it's when adults try and force belief way past when the child is naturally beginning to see that it's 'just a story' that it's all a bit iffy.

Why not tell the story of st. Nicholas? I’m sure he’s the dude that Father Christmas is based on isn’t he? ( I may have this totally wrong!)

i like your DD pouty

Where have I been rude alexa?

Plus it's excellent bribery material from October-December

Yuck.

Yes that how it goes. If your children already know santa isn't real then it's no biggy that others do believe. The other way round is completely different.

i doubt you have anything to worry about blaaa

bit of a house of cards isn't it

I have always done this!

YABU. Children believe for such a short time. Why spoil the magic for them?

It sounds very stressful, this trying to prevent all other children from suggesting to your child that maybe it's just a story, when it IS in fact just a story.

Much easier to allow it to be just story from the beginning, since that's what it is.

You must be getting something out of it that you value highly, to put yourself through all this stress.

tbh because I am not at all convinced that it is a good thing for children to know one day that their parents have been lying to them persistently for years

Stressful?? I reckon the elf on the shelf is more stressful! Part of the reason the magic works is because children WANT to believe. Hell I'm sure if truth be told a lot of adults WANT to believe.

If children want to believe then kids in the playground saying it's a story won't be a problem then?

Part of the reason the magic works is because children WANT to believe.

The majority of children don’t get a choice. It’s pushed on them almost from birth.

Hell I'm sure if truth be told a lot of adults WANT to believe

Ain’t that the truth.

Really? If you think children are traumatised because their parents let them believe in father Christmas then I envy your sheltered life.

I'm yet to come across anyone who is resentful of their parents because of this. Most people are grateful their parents put so much effort into making Christmas that little bit more magical. And it does make it more magical...that ability to suspend disbelief is a wonderful thing.

Agreed. I think the chatter in the playground and just general common sense is what brings it to a natural close and that's fine. No need to try to combat every alternate view point. Children will believe for as long as they wish to. We always took the line of "so if so and so says x, what do you think?"

I still don’t understand the. Peppa is a tv, they just sit and watch it. They don’t “buy in” to anything.

When you say story how will you actually introduce the idea? What will you say to them?

Really? If you think children are traumatised because their parents let them believe in father Christmas then I envy your sheltered life.

There are people for whom this was a traumatic event. They may not be the majority, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

When you say story how will you actually introduce the idea? What will you say to them?

You don’t have to say or do anything. Wait till they ask a question about it (because society will push it) and then address it.