Christmas Thread! What are you going to tell your kids about Santa?

Caught this article a couple of days ago on twitter:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-children-know/201212/imagining-the-impossible-christmas-time

I think it's mostly full of crap, but then again I haven't thought much about what I'm going to tell my kids about Santa, or how I would go about revealing the dastardly truth that he's only an idea. Maybe I'd just let them figure it out for themselves without my input.

How have you folks dealt with this, or how do you plan to?

 

When you find out Santa isn't real, just remember what they told you about Jesus.

 

he is jesus' generous uncle

 

I try to never lie to my kids, when they ask a question, I answer it truthfully but on their level. They know Santa Claus isn't real, but it's fun to pretend and have make believe. They love santa and going to the mall to see him, it doesn't make their christmas any less magical or fun.

We also aren't religious either if that helps.

 

Well Santa is a somewhat positive imaginary friend.

 

lol, I will tell him santa is fake probably. Why should some imaginary figure take credit for the presents I worked so hard to pay for?

 

the way growing up and schools work is that the idea just sort of gets gradually chipped away. call it cynicism, call it curiosity- call it whatever. there's probably no ONE MOMENT where you'll have to sit your kid down and say that Santa isn't real.

kids can be smarmy and if one knows that santa isn't real or suspects it, you can bet talk will circulate around the playground. hell, there gets to be a point where belief in Santa is viewed as uncool so a lot of kids will probably profess disbelief rather than feel they're going to be called babyish or something like that.

but ultimately i think its nice to eventually sit them down and let them know about St. Nicholas and how Santa Claus basically is the way to commemorate his actions and promote the idea of bringing joy, happiness, and celebrating Christmas...

 

I don't have kids. Probably wont have one either. Going to be an uncle soon though.

I think kids don't really believe in santa or sinterklaas. When they are told he doesn't exists yeah they may cry a bit, but they may have allready known deep down.

Also, it's not the end of the world if you lie to your kids about an old generous guy who gives presents. There are far worse things you can lie about

 

Tell the kids santa got stuck in the chimney and they need to crawl up there and push him out. Free chimney sweeping.

 

I think you won the thread with these. I didn't expect them to come up until a few pages in, let alone from the same person lol

 

Daughter is 10 and knows the truth, but she's cool plays along with my 3 year old believing.

 

Truth. From the article:

 

My kid is 5. She is going to enjoy Santa her presents and her childhood.

Let kids be kids, god haters.

 

This. Fuck that gordo

 

Merry Christmas from me. My Christmas card this year.

 

So I googled sinterklaas and there are many pictures like this:




Hilarious. Mind giving a brief description about how he differs from American Santa?

Racist Pope Santa ftw lmao

 

I think santa is a more commercial or sellable sinterklaas. Designed by coca cola, derived from sinterklaas.

The black guys are called black petes. We bypass the racial issues by saying they are black from the soot in the chimneys they climb to deliver the presents

 

That is fucking hilarious oh man.