A couple of weeks back we talked about “As Christian parents how do I deal with Halloween?” As we get into the Christmas Season we may want to look at another real sticky topic for so many parents, “As Christians what should I teach my kids about Santa Claus?” Let me say this out of the gate, Santa was the real deal for me when I was little. But it was when I was about 6 I noticed Santa wearing a pair of shoes that looked a lot like the ones my dad had. He even smelled like the smokeless tobacco that my dad used, and even his “Ho-ho” sounded a lot like dad with a cold. So I sort of knew Santa wasn’t real, but not wanting to blow a sweet thing, I played the part of the believer for the next couple of years, just in case the gifts would stop coming when mom and dad knew I stopped believing.
So with that in mind what I am getting ready to share with you has not always been my philosophy, mostly because I was not raised in a Christian home and did not become a follower of Christ until my mid twenties. And just so you know that there is not even perfect harmony in my house hold, my kids don’t see eye to eye with me on this…YET!
Now part of the reason I have changed my thinking on the whole Santa thing has to do with my daughter, Jessica. At the age of 7, when she found out there was no Santa, she was completely devastated.
So, here’s something to think about. When we tell our kids that Santa brings presents, the Easter bunny brings the eggs, and the tooth fairy leaves money, and be sure you believe in Jesus, they take it all as truth. But then one day we tell them “Santa’s not real. The tooth fairy’s not real, and neither is the Easter bunny, but you should believe in Jesus, even though a lot of people will tell you He’s not really the risen Son of God.”
Don’t get me wrong, I am not being a Bible thumping scrooge, and I am not saying burn the Christmas tree (The fact is we will have at least 6 trees at our house in a few weeks). But how about this, tell the kids the truth about who Saint Nicholas was historically, that he was a Christian man who loved Jesus, and he was very generous to the needy, and that we chose to carry on that tradition and his memory. He’s in Heaven, and now, all the Santa’s that they see around town are pretend Santa’s in his memory.
And for some, even a little pretending to believe in Saint Nick might be OK. Buy the fact is our kids would know the truth and I believe they can still have fun with the tradition and the memory of the real Saint Nick
When we say, “Believe in Santa. Believe in the tooth fairy. Believe in the Easter bunny. Believe in Jesus,” and then one day, tell them, “I lied to you about three out of four things”? It weakens our credibility as parents, and I think that’s a dangerous place to be with our kids.
“As For Me” let’s teach the truth about Santa, and then our kids will have no reason to doubt Jesus
Pastor P
Larry-
I too have struggled with this for some time. I for one have just tried to toss Halloween out the window all together. I don’t celebrate it or work with it. If the kids want to trick or treat I let that be a time with their mom since they have a younger brother still. Zach knows the truth about Santa, and a lot of it is I described Saint Nicholas as you did. Buit that our country has tried to make money off it instead of enjoying it for what it is, Jesus’ birth. He and I even spoke on the Easter Bunny. So that just leaves Dalton, and with Zach’s help we will carry on Saint Nich’s tradition. I have tried to be honest with my kids and have wondered several times if I should say something. Fact is part of me wanted to keep their illusion alive as for kids they have so much imagination, that is what makes things so good some times is to hear their stories. I didn’t want to squash that part of their development and experience. And even now I have been working to ween Dalton off the notion that Santa is everywhere. He is not God and it just isn’t right. So anybody he sees is a Santa helper. So that is how I have dealt with it so far, and it has worked pretty well. It hasn’t hurt Zach’s thoughts about God or the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Thanks for the thought for the day.
My parents did the Santa thing with us, which kind of surprises me today since my Dad was like Brian and believed that the KJV was the ONLY one for Christians. What I think is more important than what parents teach about Santa is what and how they teach about Jesus birth. If Santa or anything else (presents, parties, friends, activity) is more prominent than Jesus at Christmas, we have missed everything. Dean was right to call it Christ mus. Jesus is the reason for the season.
Our little girls did not need us to tell them anything about santa, the whole world did it, without our permission i might add.
Larry,
We have always let our kids believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny. However, we have always told them that God comes first, we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and pray before we get into our secular celebration. They have been a little weary of the whole Santa, Easter Bunny thing for several years. When we found that our funds for Christmas gifts were getting short and they were wanting “Santa” to bring bigger and better gifts and they were wanting to give more gifts to those in need, James and I decided it best to tell them about Santa. Katie of course said “I knew it” and she completely understood. Brittany, on the other hand, started crying and said “You lied!” I found that heart breaking yet amusing. She wasn’t upset because Santa and the Easter Bunny wasn’t real, but simply because she felt like we had lied to her.
At that point we explained that Saint Nick was a real man who lived many many years ago and that is where the tradition of Santa came from, but that Jesus gave us the ultimate gift and we give gifts because of the gifts the wise men brought to him. We explained that we all are Santa in one way or another because we give to the people in need, like the shoe boxes that Jeane collects for Project Christmas Child, like the Christmas eve celebration we have at the church for the children, when we go to Arizona to reach out to the Navajo people. All in all last year was the best Christmas that my children had. They enjoyed playing “Santa” and helping fill the stockings for mommy, daddy, and granny.
Awesome, Larry! Actually, we have always told our girls that the many Santas around all just his helpers and we have explained the entire history of Saint Nick and how he helped the needy. So, I must say that I am right there with you on this one
My children are sorta like you were, they will say they believe in them just in case the presents might stop coming. But in reality, my children know the gifts come from me and Ray because we have been so blessed by Jesus. Thanks for sharing!!! Love you much! Tammy
Larry,
We have always let our kids believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny. However, we have always told them that God comes first, we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and pray before we get into our secular celebration. They have been a little weary of the whole Santa, Easter Bunny thing for several years. When we found that our funds for Christmas gifts were getting short and they were wanting “Santa” to bring bigger and better gifts and they were wanting to give more gifts to those in need, James and I decided it best to tell them about Santa. Katie of course said “I knew it” and she completely understood. Brittany, on the other hand, started crying and said “You lied!” I found that heart breaking yet amusing. She wasn’t upset because Santa and the Easter Bunny wasn’t real, but simply because she felt like we had lied to her.
At that point we explained that Saint Nick was a real man who lived many many years ago and that is where the tradition of Santa came from, but that Jesus gave us the ultimate gift and we give gifts because of the gifts the wise men brought to him. We explained that we all are Santa in one way or another because we give to the people in need, like the shoe boxes that Jeane collects for Project Christmas Child, like the Christmas eve celebration we have at the church for the children, when we go to Arizona to reach out to the Navajo people. All in all last year was the best Christmas that my children had. They enjoyed playing “Santa” and helping fill the stockings for mommy, daddy, and granny. Melinda
So many disagree on this subject.I can tell you after my kids have grown, they do not feel like they “missed out” because I wouldn’t tell them Santa was real. We played it like a game, they knew where everything was coming from and even though they are young adults I still put “from Santa” on alot of their gifts.They have always known the truth, but we just play around with it like its a game. I felt in my heart that I was doing the right thing & I never had to say to them “I’m sorry, I lied to you”.
Dad, I think you make some excellent points here. And just for the record I would like to say that yes….I was very upset when I found out the truth about Santa. However, at no point did I ever doubt the truth of Jesus. I think that’s probably because I had amazing parents that lived out their faith in front of me on a daily basis. I also wouldn’t change my childhood experience with the idea of Santa Clause. Mainly because I think that the magic of Santa Clause opened me up to believing in the true “magic” of Jesus Christ, our Savior. I also think that kids, in general, have the ability to understand things that are way beyond them, hence their unbelievable imaginations when it comes to pretend play. If a parent has lived a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, then it shouldn’t be difficult for the child of that parent to take them at their word when they explain the the difference between what is pretend and what is real. As we age we see that God’s “magic” is so much bigger than a man in a red suit coming down a chimney with a few presents. As much as it pains me to say it, it’s about time to explain that to my eldest son. Man, does time fly. Just my thoughts, Jess