Should parents trick their kids to believe in Santa Claus?

[Jazzy]

The tricking of children into belief in a higher being, that brings presents (on Christmas) and also has the supernatural power of generally changing the lifetime - being it Santa Claus in English speaking countries, Child Jesus (Ježíšek, Ježiško, Jézuska) in central European countries, Christkind in German speaking countries, and otherwise named figure elsewhere - is widespread not only in the Western civilization. This is not typically a malicious trick, but just a fun trick to foster a belief in the figure. Yet, many wonder whether this is ethically justified, and whether it is healthy for parents and children that strive to develop mutual trust.



Do you think it's okay to let a child believe there is a Santa Claus? How old where you when you found out there is no Santa Claus and how did you feel?

 

[Cranos]

Yes, it's a fun story that brings joy to children's lifes. I think I was about 6 when I found out Sinterklaas (our Santa XD) wasn't real, but I don't remember how I felt. It couldn't have been that bad, considering I don't even remember.

 

[The Dragon Master]

I think it's fine letting children believing in Santa Claus. It makes Christmas more fun and builds anticipation, so children get more out of it. I can't remember how old I was when I found out that Santa wasn't real. I remember not feeling very bothered.

 

[Rapunzel]

The tricking of children into belief in a higher being, that brings presents (on Christmas) and also has the supernatural power of generally changing the lifetime - being it Santa Claus in English speaking countries, Child Jesus (Ježíšek, Ježiško, Jézuska) in central European countries, Christkind in German speaking countries, and otherwise named figure elsewhere - is widespread not only in the Western civilization. This is not typically a malicious trick, but just a fun trick to foster a belief in the figure. Yet, many wonder whether this is ethically justified, and whether it is healthy for parents and children that strive to develop mutual trust.



Do you think it's okay to let a child believe there is a Santa Claus? How old where you when you found out there is no Santa Claus and how did you feel?

Difficult.



I like the idea of a Santa who brings presents to children.



I don't like the idea that's it's okay to encourage children to sit on a strangers knee at Christmas, when it's wrong for the rest of the year.



I believe children should be encouraged to use their imaginations.

(You wouldn't believe how hard it is these days for children to use their imaginations. The computer has stultified imagination.)



I also think Santa represents Hope. Children hope for certain gifts from Santa.

Yet, when they are older, hope is sometimes all they have in a life that may be grim and dreary.

Hope, like imagination, should be encouraged.



Ethically, I think it's wrong to encourage children to believe in a higher being when there is no proof of his existence.



Yet what is a belief in Jesus Christ if not a belief in a higher being when there is no proof of his existence?



How can the people who vilify Santa then promote the idea of Jesus Christ, when both beliefs require an acceptance of a higher being when there is no proof of their existence?



Personally, I promote the belief in Father Christmas. It encourages hope and teaches imagination. Children soon learn from their peers that Santa is a mere myth. Yet adults are never encouraged to believe the same of Jesus Christ. Maybe because belief in him encourages people to hope and to use their imaginations to believe. Believe in a better life, a better world, a better place after this one perhaps.

 

[wheezy]

Yes, I think they should. It's something that a kid would probably never forgot. I'm glad that my parents made me believe in Santa.

 

[Always Hope]

Yes it is good to believe in Santa but it's even better to know your parents spend money on you for Christmas . I found out when I was 8 and I was happy because I knew my parents loved me if they bought things for me

 

[Evil Eye]

Well, I never believed in Santa but I think I believed in our version till I was 7 or so. Didn't really change anything.



Might as well have kids believe in him. People need something to believe in after all.