Poll: What will you tell your kids about Santa?

[EboMan7x]

I'd tell them about Santa Claus and make sure they knew about the scientific method and plausibility, and why people believe things and wait for them to figure it out themselves. Seems fitting, given that I'm an atheist who does Christmas. Also I'd probably tell them at about 11 or 12 if they hadn't gotten it, but at least for my generation that was when we all started to figure it out anyway.

 

[Kargathia]

Presents would appear under the tree. I wouldn't tell my kids how or why, I'd let them come up with their own answer. If the come to Santa Clause, I'll let them believe that until their about 7 or so, the age that I learned Santa wasn't real. If they come to the conclusion that it was me who put the presents under the tree, then good for them. If they come to some other conclusion, then I'll let them believe that until about 7 years old.
No need to force any views upon them early on, and the conclusion they come to could tell me a bit about how they think.

Pretty much. I honestly can't remember the last time I celebrated St. Nicholas / christmas before I figured out that there was a certain correlation between my parents baking cookies, and said cookies appearing alongside presents from a magical figure I'd never see.

Small children generally don't need much of an explanation anyhow. In december there's a tree, with presents. How it got there tends to be significantly less important than what's in the box.

 

[Xan Krieger]

I find it impossible to understand how people can lie to their children for many years and then expect the kid to be honest to them later in life. That is why I'll just come out and say Santa is bullshit.

 

[Mikejames]

I don't recall my family ever professing that he was real outside of the actual Saint Nick.
Didn't have to worry about disappointing some unrealistic gift expectation that way, and you knew who actually deserved thanks.

 

[Insanity72]

I'm kind of conflicted on the issue, I personally don't want to have to eventually tell my child he isn't real and break their spirits, but at the same time, I don't won't my finishing of their 1st year of schooling and when all the children are getting excited for Santa, they either

A.) Ask me about it, I tell them, I tell them he's not real, and then they go and break all the spirits of the other kids saying that he is not real
B.) Can't join in with all the "Oh my god! Santa is coming! atitudes

 

[Insanity72]

Maybe dress up as Santa, and purposefully get caught by your child and tell them that everyone has their own personal Santa that is their mother and father?

 

[Strazdas]

I believe its wrong to lie to children. i would explain to them, in simple terms of course, the different celebrations that come in this time of the year. WOuld i give him gifts - sure. but i wouldnt try to hide its me who gives them.

Small children generally don't need much of an explanation anyhow. In december there's a tree, with presents. How it got there tends to be significantly less important than what's in the box.

i currently have a sister that is 5 years old, so i have a perfect observatory ability and trust me the way she asks those things, msot adults dont think that far....

 

[LongAndShort]

Yep, right up until the point that leaving coal under the tree and seeing there faces no longer becomes funny.

I am a horrible person.

 

[Screamarie]

I intend, if I ever have kids, to very much let them believe in Santa and the tooth fairy and the sandman and fairies and unicorns and everything else. I don't think there's anything wrong with letting children believe, for a time, in the mysterious and fantastical.

When I was a kid believing in Santa just made Christmas more fun and I look back on those memories fondly and I eventually came to the conclusion that Santa wasn't real when I was old enough to understand properly without any leading by my parents.

Now am I saying that this is how I KNOW my hypothetical children will take it? Hell no, but your going to fuck your kids up one way or the other, so the only thing you can do is take your childhood and the way your parents raised you and any general knowledge about the world, and what your kid is like and try to craft it into a way to raise your children.

 

[Quesa]

Sadly I must vote what I'm required by wife to do and not what I would do. I was raised with no Santa but my wife loves every holiday, so we're doing up every holiday. Bleh.

 

[Signa]

Threads like this make me hate atheism and the people here. Nope, it's all got to be logical, provable, and NO FUN WHATSOEVER for anyone in their lives.

Of course I would tell my kids that santa is real! I figured it out on my own in good time, and it was no big deal at all. In fact, I wanted to spread the news to my friends, because it felt awesome solving that "puzzle," and I wanted to share that triumph with someone.

 

[fenrizz]

I let my children believe in Santa until they figured it out for themselves.
Did not take them too long either.

I don't see the problem.

I find it impossible to understand how people can lie to their children for many years and then expect the kid to be honest to them later in life. That is why I'll just come out and say Santa is bullshit.

Oh please.
I really don't think my children bear a grudge against me for letting them believe in Santa.
Why not let them believe in fairytales for a short time while they are very young and innocent?
They will find out that these things are not real soon enough.

I intend, if I ever have kids, to very much let them believe in Santa and the tooth fairy and the sandman and fairies and unicorns and everything else. I don't think there's anything wrong with letting children believe, for a time, in the mysterious and fantastical.

When I was a kid believing in Santa just made Christmas more fun and I look back on those memories fondly and I eventually came to the conclusion that Santa wasn't real when I was old enough to understand properly without any leading by my parents.

You said it much better than me.

 

[shrekfan246]

Threads like this make me hate atheism and the people here. Nope, it's all got to be logical, provable, and NO FUN WHATSOEVER for anyone in their lives.

Of course I would tell my kids that santa is real! I figured it out on my own in good time, and it was no big deal at all. In fact, I wanted to spread the news to my friends, because it felt awesome solving that "puzzle," and I wanted to share that triumph with someone.

Don't worry, you're not alone. I'm not even religious, but sure as hell I'd let my kids believe in Santa. I grew up thinking he was real, and there was no emotional scarring or "crushing realization" that I had been "lied to" all those years when I figured it out, and I didn't need my parents to let me in on the whole secret. Santa was part of the wonder and amazement of Christmas for me, part of what made it so fantastic and fun.

The real world is boring, I say let the kids think there's more out there.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

You bet I'm gonna let my theoretical kids believe in a magical man that brings them presents once a year, why not?

That's the "magic" and wonderment of Christmas when you're a kid, not everything has to be based in reason and logic when you're a kid. Why not let kids be kids? I'm fairly sure they will figure it out that there isn't one when they get older, I know I did, but I really don't think it's going to give them emotional scars if I tell them there is a Santa Claus when there really isn't.

 

[beniki]

I just had this conversation with my class

The general consensus was, 'Yes it's ok,' as it promotes imagination, and makes things more fun for the child involved. Most kids don't get the idea of 'togetherness' being something to celebrate, and very young kids simply can't fathom special family occasions (around 3-4 years old). Having a jolly fat man come once a year to give them presents entrenches the idea of the special day, and keeps them excited during the long preparation time. Essentially, they have a reason to be a good boy whilst Mommy and Daddy spend a lot of time peeling potatoes for Xmas dinner.

 

[Olas]

Santa, Easter bunny, loch ness monster, tooth fairy, bigfoot, ghosts, mothman, ancient aliens, slenderman, God, the Philadelphia Expirament, I'm gonna make sure they believe in every goddamn one of em for as long as possible.

 

[smithy_2045]

I plan to tell my kids that Santa eats babies.

 

[Strazdas]

and very young kids simply can't fathom special family occasions (around 3-4 years old).

your so wrong. they not only can but do fathom special occasions, wait for them, prepare. their understanding of "special" may be different though. a visit from an aunt you may hate will be "special" for them.