When my kids were young it was fun for them to see Santa Clause and the Easter bunny and know that those characters brought them gifts. Usually most parents will go along with it until their children ask them if they are real.
We chose to tell our kids at a very young age the truth and that if they wanted to play the game then it was fine, but they needed to know the truth. They were five, six and seven when we told them, so now my kids don’t believe and we are fine with that.
There are multiple reasons we made this decision. First we didn’t want to lie, we want our children to know that honesty is the best policy. Telling the truth is always the right thing. We also felt that we were in way brainwashing our children into believing things that are mythical. If you believe in Santa why not believe in Fairies, genies and the Loch Ness Monster. As my kids got older they started to ask for things we couldn’t afford and I hate to see them disappointed on Christmas or Easter.
After the truth came out, my kids were fine no upsets. They still go get their picture taken with santa and the Easter Bunny just for fun. They play along with their friends at school to not spoil it for them.
The downside to them knowing would be that I am a softee and the know if they are not good, they will still get presents. They are still to young to anything that bad tough, so we will see. But I mean come on has anyone ever really given their kids coal.
At what age did you tell your kids?
I know some people that work at a plant with coal, and some people ask is it okay to grab a few coal pieces around Christmas time. They do it as gag gifts. I think it is smart you guys made that decision, most of the time kids find out in school anyways and they find out around that age group so they didn’t miss much.
I remember when I found out and it was at school. I was maybe 9 or 10 back then, we didnt have the exposure kids do nowdays. Anyway, I caught my Mom doing the stockings that Santa was supposed to do. I have 3 younger brothers who she felt still believed… so she asked me if I could keep a secret and she would tell me about elves.
My Mom said since I didnt believe in Santa, that was fine, but what happens is after you dont believe your job is to help make others happy and to give smiles. That year, she and I went to Ben Franklin (it is a variety store) and got all kinds of fun stuff for stockings for my brothers (I didnt know she was making mine herself) and it was fun. I also got to help wrap. The funnest part was that year one of her coworkers wanted a visit from “Santa” and my Mom who was round and short dressed up and I got dressed as her elf and we delivered toys to their house.
Since then, I have always remembered her words…. that although Santa isnt real, the joy of giving is.