When your child asks you, “Is Santa Claus real?” how should you respond?
It’s one of those heart-stopping questions most parents dread hearing, especially if they are not prepared to answer.
But it’s a question most kids will eventually ask. Parents should be armed with a strategy so they are not completely caught off guard.
Parents Prepare To Let Go
Santa Claus and his supporting characters and story lines are fun rituals for parents to get caught up in with their children, and crossing this reality milestone may be harder for the parents than it is for the kids. CNN Health cites a 2008 Psychology Reports study that analyzed the feelings of 600 children in line to meet Santa at a mall. Eighty percent of the kids looked indifferent, but 87 percent of the parents looked happy.
It can be hard for parents to let go, even if the child is sending cues that he is ready to know the truth. Watching the wonder and excitement in a young child’s eyes as he hears stories about Santa Claus and a sleigh full of toys can give parents priceless moments with their child, and bring back treasured memories of their own childhood.
Your Kids May Already Know the Truth About Santa
As children get older, their maturity and naturally developing intelligence about the world makes them question the logistics of it all. How can Santa deliver presents to everyone all around the world in one night? How do all those presents fit on that tiny sleigh? How can Santa and the over-sized packages fit through the narrow chimney?
By age 8 or 9, most kids have figured out that Santa is not real, according to CNN Health, which states it’s typically a gradual realization. Kids continue to play along in hopes of continued presents under the tree.
How To Answer the Tough Question: Is Santa Real?
When kids directly ask parents for the truth about Santa, they are usually looking for confirmation that their suspicions are correct. Parents must decide when and how much of the truth to tell their child based on his age, maturity level and emotional readiness.
Parents can respond with a question of their own, “What do you think?” This gives parents a chance to listen to their child’s response and follow his lead as to what he already knows or what he is and isn’t ready to hear.
Parents may worry about a child’s negative reaction upon learning the truth, but young children use their imagination in make-believe play. Santa Claus is just one of the many fantasy figures that exists in their world, states msnbc.com, adding that children are “remarkably resilient in response to hurt and disappointment.”
Keep the Traditions Going
Parents can explain that although the character Santa may be fictitious, the spirit behind what he stands for is not. The tradition that has been passed down for generations is fun for both parents and children, and represents giving to others and family time together.
Reassure your child that the meaning of Christmas and the family traditions of gift-giving and quality time they have always known will remain intact. Many families continue their Santa traditions just for fun, especially if there are other children in the family. Once the truth is out, older siblings now in the know can be a part of making the holiday special for the younger siblings.
Laurie Zinn - Laurie Zinn is a freelance writer and Topic Editor for the seniors/grandparents section at Suite 101. After earning her ...
