What are your thoughts...Is It OK to Lie About Santa?

December, 2010
Samantha Kurtzman-Counter
Huffington Post

Is It OK to Lie About Santa?
There's a high premium on the truth in my house. Imaginations abound, but we are firm believers in recognizing truth from fiction. Though it's tempting at times, I've never been one to candy-coat reality, to tell little white lies to avoid dealing with some of the hard stuff of parenting. Therefore, my four-year-old son has a very well-honed baloney barometer -- for the most part, he can smell it a mile away. (He is known to whisper in my ear "Beware!" when he senses that someone is pulling his leg.) So when it comes down to perpetuating the myth of Santa and the canon of other beloved imaginary characters of childhood, I really stumble on what to do.
The question: What is your take on whether or not to spin tall tales to children about the existence of Santa (or the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the like)?
***

Well, I think it's okay to try but only for the sake of the fun of it while it lasts. My parents and grandparents had fun with the Santa story, and felt a little bit of loss when we reached the age of awareness.

I do believe it's going to become increasingly more difficult for modern families, families whose children grow up with the new line of computers, to lie to their children. Even if a parent restricts internet access to worthy sites, can the parent(s) be expected to block all Santa sites out of the fear of the story being spoiled? I suppose it's possible but might be considered a bit extreme.

I think that the other problem is that children are becoming more intelligent than they were in ages past. (venting: I'm 44 and attend college. I recall that when I was in my 20's a full-time college student was considered to be anyone who took over 6 credits. Well, today the kids that surround me are taking over 17 credits. I feel as if I have a full load at 6 credits, and last semester I took 11 and was overwhelmed.) The problem then with increased intelligence is that the more that a person knows, the more difficult it is to deceive them.

If I was a parent, then I'd go forward with the Santa story as long as I could. It was fun for me as a child, my parents and grandparents loved it as long as they could, and in its own way it was an initiation from childhood to young-adulthood.

Are parents/grownups lying if
they are carrying on a centuries
old tradition of gift giving in
the name of old St Nick

Honestly, I think we need to modify Christmas...

Santa`s a gonner...

It is true that the season, at least for a short period, spawns good will in people toward each other. The thing is Santa is not the origin...I believe the Christian faith might be...

The flip side of the coin, is the materialistic programming of consumerism. I don`t believe that the kids are getting the proper message. i do believe, generally speaking, that this christian celebration is more commercial than christian.
I live in a place that runs on the oil, gas and timber industry. It`s interesting to see what we do to the most pristine environments in order to have things that we don`t really need...like christmas for example...keep the holiday, quit buying so much unnecessary stuff...

As far as Santa is concerned, i grew up with him, a very nice tradition, and also one of the biggest proponents of consumerism out there...30% of retail establishments would close without christmas.

So as far as I`m concerned Bridget, if the kids never heard of Santa I would rejoice. After all, there is still fellowship, good will toward people and the winter solstace. These are the things of importance...

If man wants to evolve(grow up and be responsible)...well...here`s a place to start...

Jim

Reikijim wrote:

Honestly, I think we need to modify Christmas...

Santa`s a gonner...

this sounds like the grinch speaking

It is true that the season, at least for a short period, spawns good will in people toward each other. The thing is Santa is not the origin...I believe the Christian faith might be...

Merry Christmas is not always so merry
as folks look for gifts and parking
spaces during this busy shopping season.

The flip side of the coin, is the materialistic programming of consumerism. I don`t believe that the kids are getting the proper message. i do believe, generally speaking, that this christian celebration is more commercial than christian.
I live in a place that runs on the oil, gas and timber industry. It`s interesting to see what we do to the most pristine environments in order to have things that we don`t really need...like christmas for example...keep the holiday, quit buying so much unnecessary stuff...

Commercialism certainly left children like
myself asking, why Father Christmas did not
leave me a beautiful doll like my other friends.
The explaination I got was that Father Christmas
knew they needed it more than me.

As far as Santa is concerned, i grew up with him, a very nice tradition, and also one of the biggest proponents of consumerism out there...30% of retail establishments would close without christmas.

So as far as I`m concerned Bridget, if the kids never heard of Santa I would rejoice. After all, there is still fellowship, good will toward people and the winter solstace. These are the things of importance...

The Christmas tree sure is part of Winter solstice.

If man wants to evolve(grow up and be responsible)...well...here`s a place to start...Jim

Jim, I like your style of thinking

Buck wrote:Well, I think it's okay to try but only for the sake of the fun of it while it lasts. My parents and grandparents had fun with the Santa story, and felt a little bit of loss when we reached the age of awareness.

As a parent/ grandparent I very much
understand the feeling of loss when
a child begins to question, is Santa
real.

I do believe it's going to become increasingly more difficult for modern families, families whose children grow up with the new line of computers, to lie to their children. Even if a parent restricts internet access to worthy sites, can the parent(s) be expected to block all Santa sites out of the fear of the story being spoiled? I suppose it's possible but might be considered a bit extreme.

good point

I think that the other problem is that children are becoming more intelligent than they were in ages past. (venting: I'm 44 and attend college. I recall that when I was in my 20's a full-time college student was considered to be anyone who took over 6 credits. Well, today the kids that surround me are taking over 17 credits. I feel as if I have a full load at 6 credits, and last semester I took 11 and was overwhelmed.) The problem then with increased intelligence is that the more that a person knows, the more difficult it is to deceive them.

I'm inclined to think that by the age of
reason [7]children begin to figure it out
but who really wants to give up getting
gifts from Santa.Can we stretch it to 10
the magic of our imagination

If I was a parent, then I'd go forward with the Santa story as long as I could. It was fun for me as a child, my parents and grandparents loved it as long as they could, and in its own way it was an initiation from childhood to young-adulthood.

ahh the real world is that when we
have to start acting our age