After Kids Doubt Existence Of Santa Clause, Mother Imagines And Implements Creative Solution
Dec 22, 2021 by apost team
The story of Christmas and Santa Claus has been shared by children for generations. Even if you don’t mean to tell a lie when you are a parent, sharing the magic of the holiday is hard to resist. However, as your kids get older, they start to realize that Santa couldn’t be in so many places at once, and slowly it dawns on them that what they were led to believe is not true. One mom made a post on Facebook sharing the way she told her kids about Santa that kept the spirit of Christmas alive and helped her kids be more giving.
The post explained that when the child is at the age that they start having doubts about Santa Claus, then it is time to sit them down for a serious chat. The mom recommended taking your child out for coffee or hot chocolate to make the time seem extra special. Then you use a conspiratorial tone as you tell them that they are now ready to learn the truth and become a Santa Claus themselves. This way, the children don’t feel like they were being lied to but instead are being let in on a secret.
Telling your children that it is their turn to act as Santa inspires them to adopt a spirit of giving. At the root of the story, being Santa is not about eating cookies and going down a chimney. but instead, it’s about giving to others without expecting recognition or anything in return. Keep reading to learn more details about this story and how to do this with your own kids.
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The Facebook post starts with this explanation: “In our family, we have a special way of transitioning the kids from receiving from Santa, to becoming a Santa. This way, the Santa construct is not a lie that gets discovered, but an unfolding series of good deeds and Christmas spirit.”
The original poster said to tell the child, “You sure have grown an awful lot this year. Not only are you taller, but I can see that your heart has grown, too. (Point out 2-3 examples of empathetic behavior, consideration of people's feelings, good deeds, etc, the kid has done in the past year). In fact, your heart has grown so much that I think you are ready to become a Santa Claus.”
The mom even thought of a way to explain why some children don’t believe in Santa. She suggested saying, “You probably have noticed that most of the Santas you see are people dressed up like him. Some of your friends might have even told you that there is no Santa. A lot of children think that because they aren't ready to BE a Santa yet, but YOU ARE.”
The post also said you should encourage the children to choose a person in their life who could use a gift and then allow them to give the gift anonymously.
This is also a great way for older siblings to help their younger brothers or sisters understand the “truth” of the Christmas story. The mom shared, “When it came time for Son #2 to join the ranks, my oldest came along and helped with the induction speech. They are both excellent gifters, by the way, and never felt that they had been lied to--because they were let in on the Secret of Being a Santa."
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How did you tell your kids the truth about Santa Claus? Would you try this method? Let us know, and feel free to pass this along to your friends and family that have young children.