I know its really early but for those who tell their children about Santa/Father Christmas, how do you explain him?

[babyblue2]

DD1 (4) is now talking about Christmas and is asking if she can have 'everything she sees on television'. We've previously told her santa delivers the presents but I need to make it a bit more believeable and would like to know what other people tell their children when asked. I want her to believe in santa so not involving him is not an option at this age. I did find another thread but it didn't really satisfy my curiosity.

Just explain to her that because Santa delivers a present to evey child in the world, that he only has room on his sleigh for one each. And that the mummys and daddys buy the rest of the presents

Message withdrawn

And that in the run up to Christmas, when Santa is very busy at the north pole, he has several Official Santa Helpers, who go out and be him at all the various grottoes, parties, parades etc. But they are not allowed to have flying reindeer, as they have to rest for their big journey on Christmas Eve.

Oh now I quite like that explanation Orinoco it sounds a bit more 'magical' with the reality that we buy the presents. Yes I think that sounds nice, and ChippyMinton, I shall use your suggestion if asked.

Sorry thelittleElf but I need a bit more magic than he delivers 1 present but thanks for your idea anyway.

I am now satisfied, however, how do we send the presents to Santa???? (just trying to think like an inquisitive 4 yr old

Royal Mail

You send a letter to santa and he gets the presents/makes them in his workshop. You might get suprises from santa as well as things you ask for. Only children get presents from santa. Adults buy presents for each other and sometimes buy extra ones for children.

We have told our DD (4) that we have to pay Santa for the presents that he delivers and that he can't bring her everything that she wants because he only has a year to make all the presents for all the children in the world. If she has everything she wants another child will have to go without!

Lol tottie I suppose I could say we posted them, thinking about it there's no other explanation.

ProfessorPlum - I'd thought about that but changed mind because santa is traditional and i can't quite picture him with his soldering iron making lap tops or whatever, that you see in Toys r Us.

the reindeer pick up the parcels on their training flights.

we just told dds they could ask santa for 3 things. They were young, they didn't question. Tell them whatever you like.

Oh dear me, I wonder if I have spoilt Christmas for my son?

He asked "Mummy, does Santa Claus make sense?"
So I said, no, he doesnt. Why? "Well, first of all reindeers cant fly, and it is impossible to bring presents to all the children on the planet in ONE night, with ONE sledge-load, pulled by flying reindeer."
So, then he asked. "Mummy, do Jesus make sense".

Very hard to pull the wool over DS1's eyes (this is the child that walked into Disneyland aged 4 and said the characters were just people dressed up)

I have told him that if he doesn't believe in Santa, Santa won't leave him any presents. He is wise enough to continue the charade to believe.

I still haven't decided if i'm 'doing' Santa for dd3...but since she's only 9 months old i think possibly i'll take another year thinking about it
Meanwhile she gets a stocking this year.

Message withdrawn

Take a leaf out of Peter Kay's book, santa and his helpers watch through the alarm system! (if you have one)

Do you say that every present is from Santa?

We have stocking presents from Santaat the end of the kids beds, and tree presents from family. Santa doesn't bring those. Not in our house anyway.

I told my eldest dd that if she stopped believing in Santa, she must tell me, so I could start bringing her a stocking instead.

She looked confused...but if you believe, then its Santa that brings it, right?

When ds1 was about 5 he snuck into my bedroom and found a load of wrapped presents and wanted to know what was going on. Thinking I was being really clever I said yes, but Santa comes and takes them away & then he delivers them on Christmas Eve. DS1 looked at me and said "But isnt that a bit pointless when you've already bought them and then wrapped them up"

same as Orinoco here works well for me

Santa brings ONE present

the other presents come from us and people who love him

why do people give Santa all the credit .. it makes no sense to me

Santa brings the stockings are one or two (usually inexpensive) presents here.

We have stocking presents from Father Christmas

however ds is sort of aware that it is a story and just part of the magic of Christmas. I don't think you have to tell huge elaborate lies in order for them to enjoy the story of FC and get excited about Christmas time. I know he isn't real and I still believe and am thrilled by it all

I'm not keen on telling them the traditional (i suppose) magical thing about how santa brings every single present, but I want it to sound more exciting than him bringing a stocking. I just remember that in my household as a child me and my brother used to be so excited at the thought of all these presents being delivered by santa and I don't remember being too distraught at being told he wasn't real. A little disappointed perhaps but not massively. I need a bit of an in between explanation (part magic but part reality) and I think there are some really good suggestions (for me) on here.

Oh I think the stocking is wildly exciting! Mine always were, and we go a bit oTT for ds I love stockings, me and dp have one too

Perhaps its because I was brought up with the whole 'santa brings all presents' explanation. Do we as parents use a similar story to that that we were told?

Father Christmas brings stocking presents.

I'm not sure what DS (nearly 4) thinks about Father Christmas. Will find out, gently.