Sherlock Elf and Santa are always checking Santa's famous list. Noddy the elf is usually so busy making presents he doesn't have time to make nice lists! You know, Hmm, nice question! So, it wouldn't be fair to say who is on the bad list right now. “Santa are you real?” they ask and ask. Driven like a race car From many a child I often hear NO: Peter Ellerton, Lecturer in Critical Thinking, Curriculum Director–UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland. Christmas trees and decorations are popping up in shop windows, the weather is warming up, and the school holiday period looms. How does this narrative impact their sense of self-worth? Studies suggest children with rich fantasy lives may actually be better at identifying the boundaries between fantasy and reality. Santa calls it his honeydew list. So, it wouldn't be fair to say who is on the bad list right now. He sees you when you're sleeping. Original Christmas Song Search – New Songs, Santa Claus Animation Station 1996 – 2020, Decorate a Christmas Tree Online with Santa. What snack are you leaving for Santa this year? I can see the floor of my room (well, sometimes anyway) Adults should not lie to children about Santa. Not only is Santa true, he is legendary! What value judgments are being formed? I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her and you will do for your kids someday. (If you have problems, refresh the page by tapping on your mobile device or hitting F5 on your desktop keyboard. But consider what must follow from the Santa story. I always fib and blame stuff on someone else when I've been bad. On the other hand, research suggests children are able to differentiate fact from fiction from early childhood. There's a bug. But is there real harm in lying to your children to prop up a popular myth? You shouldn't lie about Santa because you are encouraging your children, usually with made-up proof, to believe a morally ambiguous lie. smelly socks. Then see more fun things to Tweet from emailSanta.com! What if children themselves are poor? Ah yes, December. I'm not alone in being devastated learning of my parents' elaborate deceit about Santa, leaving me to wonder what other lies they had told. I am not Santa. We lie to our children about many things, often to cover unpleasantness: Rover has gone to doggy heaven, Mummy and Daddy weren't really fighting, I'm sure someone just took your toy by accident. My friends all say you’re fake! Then you answer a few questions (of course, if you fib you are. Answering each in earnest is monumental task! While that SPIRIT’s in ME, ©1996-2020 Santa.net All rights reserved. I want to be a wrestler when I grow up so I practice on everyone I can find! "Lying to your child about Santa at three is very different from lying to your child about Santa at thirty," says psychologist Kelly Allen (Credit: Alamy), NO: Ameneh Shahaeian, Research Fellow in Developmental and Educational Psychology, Australian Catholic University. /** Mega Menu CSS: fs **/. Why defer your authority to an omniscient North-Poler, an interloping elf and colour changing baubles? Please answer me — once and for all There is an onus for parents to support their children to come to their own natural conclusions about Santa within their own time. It’s the SPIRIT you see That makes Santa “BE” And certainly now, While that SPIRIT’s in ME. If you can feel him, then he must be real; Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! It's not ok to lie about Santa. But, for those who do, you may find yourself lying to your children during the holidays about jolly old Saint Nick. He knows if you've been bad or good. (Yup, it's that fancy thing just above me on this page.). It just kind of sits there. Mind you, the lists he makes aren't nice, they're awesome! And if you still don't believe me, here are NINE proofs to prove that point like the point on my pointy shoes! What is your first name? Christmas rituals offer an opportunity for social belonging, which builds our social support networks and may even make us feel less lonely. If you feel your child is ready for the … They even check it twice! So bright their eyes So get your merry reminder right away! It will tell you if you're on Santa's Naughty or Nice List for 2020 (and then you can print out your 2020 Nice List Certificate to leave for Santa Christmas Eve too! I really liked his list of all the different types of cookies Santa eats! Oh yes, you must mean the list Mrs. Claus gives to Santa. Then you'll know if you are on the Naughty List or Santa's Nice List! There is no one single Santa. Of course, we don’t need to sit down and discuss this with every child and at any age, but if the discussion comes up or if the child asks the question, then the correct answer is the best. It's a list of all the things she's asked Santa to fix but he hasn't yet. When a child asks the question as to whether Santa is real or not, they're already at a developmental stage to distinguish between reality and fictional characters. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Children are far more alert to these implications that we give them credit for. The Montieths wanted their kids to always know that Santa was simply a fun, cultural story to enjoy, but he wasn’t a real person or a big part of their family traditions. Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia's leading parenting experts, states – "If you want to do Santa that's fine, but let the kids know Santa was based on a historical figure who may or may not have done the things that we think he did". After all, you wouldn't want everyone to know you're on the Naughty List when you just started being extra good to get on the Good List. Please answer me — once and for all Answer NOW, for Christmas sake! As adults we know Santa Claus isn’t real, but many of us remember the disappointing day we discovered this was the case. Well, if you are nice, it's really quite easy to get on Santa's Nice List! Pet Letters to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Saying "Merry Christmas" Around The World, Christmas Coloring Pages, Crafts & Activities, The Elves Read "The Night Before Christmas", Vote for which reindeer will guide Santa's sleigh, Personally autographed photo of Santa Claus, Santa's ★ Official ★ Count Down To Christmas Clock, Children's Help Lines: People You Can Talk To. Santa are you real or NOT? (or would that be Father Chistmas?). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This could never make any of us Santa … So inquisitive their minds