Yes

by Carol Gioia

Created on: July 09, 2008   Last Updated: February 18, 2011

Life lessons are learned in many different ways. An important abstract life lesson is learning to have a giving spirit by displaying generosity toward others. The spirit of Santa Claus is one way to expose children to this life lesson about generosity. For this reason alone, perpetuating the myth of Santa Claus is good for children.

By reading classic fairytales to young children you introduce them to the world of fantasy. It is magical to imagine that an adventuresome boy can fly, or a servant girl can turn into a princess, marry a prince charming and live happily ever after. You wouldn't want to deprive your children of listening to and enjoying these fanciful stories.

Nor would you want to deprive them of believing for the short duration of their innocent childhoods that they are so special and deserving, a fatherly figure might reward them with their heart's desires in the form of presents. Coinciding with the concept of Santa Claus you can also present to the child that Christmas is about giving and pleasing others.

When you take the child Christmas shopping for presents to wrap for his siblings and relatives, he quickly learns the pleasure in being the giver. Even the smallest child revels in keeping the secret of his wrapped offerings, and delights when the secret is revealed upon opening and the receipient displays pleasure. How rapidly the child learns the profound meaning of, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Eventually the child becomes aware that Santa Claus is right up there with Cinderella and Peter Pan as a fantasy "celebrity.' By the time the child is old enough to grasp this reality, the real magic of Christmas has been instilled and he retains the joy and fun surrounding the spirit of giving.

If you choose to incorporate Santa Claus into your child's belief system, here are some practical ground rules:

* Santa Claus should not be assigned a disciplinarian role.

Avoid admonishing children to "be good" or Santa won't come. To the parent this might be harmful teasing, but to the child, such an admonishment could instill anxiety during a season that should be all about fun and celebration.

* Direct lies are not acceptable.

If the child asks outright about the existence of Santa Claus he requires a suitable explanation. When my own children approached me wanting clarification of playground rumors, I said that I believed in the spirit of Christmas and therefore I believed in Santa, but they were free to disbelieve if they wished. The "Spirit of Christmas" and "Santa Claus" were interchangeable phrases in our family.

* When an older child persists in refuting the existence of Santa Claus

He is prevailed upon to not voice his disbelief in front of younger children. Enlisting the cooperation of older children to keep the fantasy intact for younger ones mitigates any potential for disappointment or disillusionment, as the older child eagerly transitions from believer to protective keeper of the fantasy. The lesson of generosity also transitions.

Christmas is a magical time in general and on many levels. It is a time for celebrating the birth of baby Jesus, gathering with family and friends, fostering a spirit of peace on earth and good will toward all. Santa Claus is only one facet of this joyous season. Children exposed to all aspects of Christmas will continue to enjoy the holiday long after they have relinquished the idea of Santa Claus.

In our home it was a yearly tradition to sort through excess toys and set aside the best for donation to Toys for Tots. We wrapped presents for the giving tree at church and volunteered our time at the community Santa's workshop for the underprivileged. Incorporating concern for others into the season's activities enables children to shift focus from the holiday being all about self-gratifying presents to a bigger picture of creating happiness for others.

By the time children are in middle school they have usually left the notion of Santa Claus behind without any discussion or ceremony, but relish the game of "Secret Santa" and enjoy gifting their teachers, friends, siblings and extended relatives.

The lesson of generosity has been ingrained and Santa Claus takes his rightful place alongside the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny in the pleasant and magical memories of a fulfilled childhood.

Perpetuating the myth of Santa Claus is good for children.

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