Should we tell our kids Santa is real?

[Dumb Ideologies]

1. Santa was never my idol.
2. This isn't about telling a child who already believes in Santa that he isn't real. This is about whether we should teach them that Santa is real in the first place.
3. No Santa does not mean no presents. Parents can still give children gifts. They could just be honest and say that they bought them.
4. Father Christmas represents the Christmas spirit. The Santa Claus from America murdered Father Christmas and turned Christmas into a shopping-fest.
5. And wait... 12? A bit old to only just start questioning the existence of Santa.

If you learned at a young age that someone you thought was real wasn't, you'd become a pretty disturbed person.
What it your mother wasn't real?

What if daddy was milkman?

[Italios]

If you learned at a young age that someone you thought was real wasn't, you'd become a pretty disturbed person.
What it your mother wasn't real?

Then your life is going to be pretty messed up
Delivering cow juice

What if daddy was milkman?

[The Cobalt Sky]

1. Santa was never my idol.
2. This isn't about telling a child who already believes in Santa that he isn't real. This is about whether we should teach them that Santa is real in the first place.
3. No Santa does not mean no presents. Parents can still give children gifts. They could just be honest and say that they bought them.
4. Father Christmas represents the Christmas spirit. The Santa Claus from America murdered Father Christmas and turned Christmas into a shopping-fest.
5. And wait... 12? A bit old to only just start questioning the existence of Santa.

If you learned at a young age that someone you thought was real wasn't, you'd become a pretty disturbed person.
What it your mother wasn't real?

Then you shouldn't tell them that he's real to begin with...

[Auxha]

We should tell kids these little lies like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy etc..... that way they can believe in the big lies like Truth, Justice, and Liberty etc.

A cookie for those who get the reference.

[Scyobayrynn]

I maintained all the fantasies for as long as possible with all my children.
Santa, BUnny, Tooth Fiary, Boogey Man, Lizard King, Coocooey, Hoop snake, Snow snake, just about everything you could think of .

Children are blessed with sincere wonder and joy, and fear, and as they age it goes away.

My oldest children arent afraid of anything anymore, and they miss it-- they miss santa because its just not as much fun once you know.

My youngest son(last of 4) still believes in santa, though I lost him on the scary stuff. Next year maybe it will be time, but for a little while he will get to have a fantasy of a pure friendly kindness.



I dont think it does any harm.

Maybe not to your kids, but that's a lie if you're talking about everybody.
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2 ... ful-lie-2/

Right, so when my daughter's biological Mother died of a heroine overdose a day after her then boyfriend had broken her jaw, it would be unhealthy for me to have lied to them and said "You mother was sick", far better that I take them to the morgue to the body and tell them (6 and 4 at the time) that their mother was a junkie prostitute and the reason they had been at the babysitters for 2 months where no one knew they were and noe one could find them was because a Junie doesnt actually care about anyone who cant get them high.

Of course the BLOG you linked to which is just an editorial piece, and not an actual article on researched psychology-- an editorial article from someone who in point of fact does not have even a TWO YEAR degree in Psychology. She has a Couseling Certificate and a Degree in sociology, and is a proponent of "Progressive Theory" parenting, which advocates against not only the use of any deception though other far more extensive studies have demonstrated that lying serves an important component in our societal make up and in our day to day interaction with each other.
She also supports the notion that ALL FORMS of discipline or punishment are bad for children...Of course this progressive parenting or rather Attachment Parenting is an off shoot of her particular political bend.

See you should really examine the author of something before you can popping up with their ill concieved tinfoil ideas as if they were gospel truth on a matter and not the fringe quasi-science they really are. Voodoo is a more respectable --and reviewed --- system than her nonsense.
I mean her anecdotal evidence that it was the deception that wounded her son and not her emotionally bankrupt system of parenting which left him far too vulnerable to easily emotionally injured is utter nonsense. Dahmer believed in Santa too, so by the logic she is presenting belief in Santa is likely to cause cannibalism of homosexuals. I mean she LITERALLY produced as much evidence as I did.


Yeah.

Progressive Parenting is code word for horse shit.

[Scyobayrynn]

1. Santa was never my idol.
2. This isn't about telling a child who already believes in Santa that he isn't real. This is about whether we should teach them that Santa is real in the first place.
3. No Santa does not mean no presents. Parents can still give children gifts. They could just be honest and say that they bought them.
4. Father Christmas represents the Christmas spirit. The Santa Claus from America murdered Father Christmas and turned Christmas into a shopping-fest.
5. And wait... 12? A bit old to only just start questioning the existence of Santa.

If you learned at a young age that someone you thought was real wasn't, you'd become a pretty disturbed person.
What it your mother wasn't real?

You would?
You are aware that the Santa myth is neither new to this generation nor uncommon, so I by your statement I am to take you believe that based on the Santa myth over the last ....lets say 5 decades it specifically has created HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of and I quote "Pretty disturbed" people.

Okay, sure.

OH and biologically your mother has to be real, the woman you reference as your mother-bond doesnt have to be biologically related to you and you cant emotionally bond to her if she isnt there, so your point well your point ISNT.

[The Cobalt Sky]

Maybe not to your kids, but that's a lie if you're talking about everybody.
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2 ... ful-lie-2/

Right, so when my daughter's biological Mother died of a heroine overdose a day after her then boyfriend had broken her jaw, it would be unhealthy for me to have lied to them and said "You mother was sick", far better that I take them to the morgue to the body and tell them (6 and 4 at the time) that their mother was a junkie prostitute and the reason they had been at the babysitters for 2 months where no one knew they were and noe one could find them was because a Junie doesnt actually care about anyone who cant get them high.

This about Santa. Not about that. My point was that not all kids were ok with being lied to about Santa, which you said you didn't see as harmful. Relax.

Of course the BLOG you linked to which is just an editorial piece, and not an actual article on researched psychology-- an editorial article from someone who in point of fact does not have even a TWO YEAR degree in Psychology. She has a Couseling Certificate and a Degree in sociology, and is a proponent of "Progressive Theory" parenting, which advocates against not only the use of any deception though other far more extensive studies have demonstrated that lying serves an important component in our societal make up and in our day to day interaction with each other.
She also supports the notion that ALL FORMS of discipline or punishment are bad for children...Of course this progressive parenting or rather Attachment Parenting is an off shoot of her particular political bend.

Again, that site had examples of kids NOT LIKING IT when they were told that Santa wasn't real, which your previous statements would suggest that you thought it never hurt anyone. I never said that I agree with every opinion she carried, please take the time to read my post.

See you should really examine the author of something before you can popping up with their ill concieved tinfoil ideas as if they were gospel truth on a matter and not the fringe quasi-science they really are. Voodoo is a more respectable --and reviewed --- system than her nonsense.

You've put words in my mouth and distorted my point. All I was saying was that not every kid is so accepting after they realize they've been lied to.

I mean her anecdotal evidence that it was the deception that wounded her son and not her emotionally bankrupt system of parenting which left him far too vulnerable to easily emotionally injured is utter nonsense.

So, instead of actually thinking that not EVERY single child is ok with it, you just attack her and say she's a bad parent. Nice.

believed in Santa too, so by the logic she is presenting belief in Santa is likely to cause cannibalism of homosexuals. I mean she LITERALLY produced as much evidence as I did.

So... Why are you complaining? You assert something without evidence, and so does she. It's all opinion if that's the case.

Yeah.

Progressive Parenting is code word for horse shit.

I don't want to lie to my kids if I don't have to, Santa being an avoidable lie. I also didn't think that every kid is fine after they find out they've been lied to. That's my point. That's it.

[Eastern Denmark]

1. Santa was never my idol.
2. This isn't about telling a child who already believes in Santa that he isn't real. This is about whether we should teach them that Santa is real in the first place.
3. No Santa does not mean no presents. Parents can still give children gifts. They could just be honest and say that they bought them.
4. Father Christmas represents the Christmas spirit. The Santa Claus from America murdered Father Christmas and turned Christmas into a shopping-fest.
5. And wait... 12? A bit old to only just start questioning the existence of Santa.

If you learned at a young age that someone you thought was real wasn't, you'd become a pretty disturbed person.
What it your mother wasn't real?

Seriously WTF?!
You have never seen the tooth fairy or Santa, there is no visual evidence that they even exist! You see your mother every day most likely, if she disappeared:she's dead. That would disturb a child, but if their mother didn't exist,how does the child even exist?!?

[Conscentia]

1. Santa was never my idol.
2. This isn't about telling a child who already believes in Santa that he isn't real. This is about whether we should teach them that Santa is real in the first place.
3. No Santa does not mean no presents. Parents can still give children gifts. They could just be honest and say that they bought them.
4. Father Christmas represents the Christmas spirit. The Santa Claus from America murdered Father Christmas and turned Christmas into a shopping-fest.
5. And wait... 12? A bit old to only just start questioning the existence of Santa.

If you learned at a young age that someone you thought was real wasn't, you'd become a pretty disturbed person.
What it your mother wasn't real?

Did you even read what I wrote?

2. This isn't about telling a child who already believes in Santa that he isn't real. This is about whether we should teach them that Santa is real in the first place.

[Utceforp]

Santa is real. Don't let the Liberal Atheists tell you otherwise. I know for a fact he is real.

IT BEGINS!

[Greed and Death]

I find it ironic how folks always say the holiday season is a time for cheer and brings out the best in people. When in fact it brings out the worse go to toysRus wal-mart or any other major toy selling retailer the lines are packed and fighting all to get specific toys and stuff like that also road rage is higher than average around this time. And greed as well. We all seen the black Friday riots. Also standing in lines for photographs with Santa Claus getting irritated. Influx of people at malls it gets to extremes for the worse in people in fact.

Isn't buying things for other people the opposite of greed?

I think it is the marketing behind santa that you are only a good person if you buy stuff for others.

[Degenerate Heart of HetRio]

If you learned at a young age that someone you thought was real wasn't, you'd become a pretty disturbed person.

I stopped believing in Father Christmas by the time of my 4th birthday's Christmas. No qualms about it whatsoever, because people believed in Easter Bunny and I always found it absurd.

("Believing in phantoms doing impossible things is one thing, specially given how nobody has chimneys in the tropics and December is amazingly hot, now believing in cartoon-like fantastical animals is too far. Next you are going to tell me I can learn to fly.")

[Sociobiology]

No, its good training for dealing with other made up characters.

[South Pacific Republic]

No, its good training for dealing with other made up characters.

(Image)

Just HAD to bring religion into this thread, huh?

[Olerand]

No, it serves no purpose, and it's not harmful to tell the truth.

My parents never played that charade, and nothing happened.

[Conscentia]

No, its good training for dealing with other made up characters.
(Image)

Except it isn't. Not really.

[Degenerate Heart of HetRio]

Except it isn't. Not really.

Yes. It was a part of my experience as an atheist, but to most people it isn't.

[MERIZoC]

Santa is real. Don't let the Liberal Atheists tell you otherwise. I know for a fact he is real.

IT BEGINS!

You love that gif.

[Fortschritte]

IT BEGINS!

You love that gif.

Who doesn't?

[The Sotoan Union]

Isn't buying things for other people the opposite of greed?

I think it is the marketing behind santa that you are only a good person if you buy stuff for others.

Tis better to give than to receive? Yeah I don't see how that's selfish. Plus not every Christmas present needs to be bought.

It's just that kids want things that cost money. Plus they think Santa bring the presents. The parents are the ones who spend money and they aren't the target audience for the Santa story.

[Costa Fierro]

If you learned at a young age that someone you thought was real wasn't, you'd become a pretty disturbed person.
What it your mother wasn't real?

What if daddy was milkman?

You'd be the glint in his eye.

[Southern Louisiane]

One of the problems I have with Santa, is his discrimination of ones economic situation where the gifts reflect such, making some poor kid feel bummed out that "Santa" got them some cheap plastic toys for Christmas, while the poor kid's rich friend got a PS4 from "Santa", it could create hopeless wishing and feelings of unfairness, bitterness, jealously, on the poor kids part and possibly contribute to the level of snobbery to the kid more well off. One could say that it would happen either way with Santa in the picture or not, solely based on the fact of their economic situation, but the way Santa is portrayed as loving, fair, caring, it would make one feel betrayed and heighten these emotions for those who believe in Santa, rather than someone who knew about their situation which resulted in them not getting the best of presents.

[Othelos]

Point to me on the Santa doll where he touched you.

That's not funny. That's offensive. You are probably just jealous that he doesn't give you presents. I know he gives me presents because he gives me gifts I didn't ask anybody but him for.

I am so sad that some people can't seem to live in reality, no matter how hard people have tried to get them to question things.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

There's no harm in it if its done with a spirit of fun and giving and not as merely a stupid tool to make your kids behave during the year. It's a fun tradition, and the way we've always handled it is Santa represents the good spirits of the holidays, and that we as adults are the 'helpers' - those who carry it all out. The kids have fun with it, they eventually grow out of it and then they get to be the 'helpers' for the younger ones.

My folks did it, I did it, our kids have done it, and we've never had any negative repercussions. Nothing wrong with believing in something good, then learning to look for that good in other places as you get older - in fact, find ways to be part of that good and pass it on along to others.

Half the time people who rant on about 'the sooner they find out the harsh realities of life, the better' are sorts who tend to be miserable, and want more company in their misery. Let kids be innocent and enjoy the fun while they can. There's plenty of time to grow up, and nothing wrong with enjoying some fun and believing there's some good out there. Because there is. We make it.

[Flipline]

There's no harm in it if its done with a spirit of fun and giving and not as merely a stupid tool to make your kids behave during the year. It's a fun tradition, and the way we've always handled it is Santa represents the good spirits of the holidays, and that we as adults are the 'helpers' - those who carry it all out. The kids have fun with it, they eventually grow out of it and then they get to be the 'helpers' for the younger ones.

My folks did it, I did it, our kids have done it, and we've never had any negative repercussions. Nothing wrong with believing in something good, then learning to look for that good in other places as you get older - in fact, find ways to be part of that good and pass it on along to others.

Half the time people who rant on about 'the sooner they find out the harsh realities of life, the better' are sorts who tend to be miserable, and want more company in their misery. Let kids be innocent and enjoy the fun while they can. There's plenty of time to grow up, and nothing wrong with enjoying some fun and believing there's some good out there. Because there is. We make it.

I guess this is fine!