The Dawn Treader

I think belief in Santa, as a child see's Santa is fine, until about 8 to 10. I say as a child sees because when we look at Santa we do not look at what he represents as much as what he means. We see it as long waits at the mall, visiting relatives we can barely stand and another year of the AFA decrying the loss of morals in America because we do not say Merry Christmas.

Now, truly clothe yourself with the humility and searching eyes of a child. At age 3 to 5 their self awareness is growing, and so is their understanding that the world is not always a piece of pie. They see evil, even if they can not put in words what they are seeing and/or sensing.

Now, along comes this guy once a year who has all kinds of magic, who brings peace and tranquility and who makes even adults feel like children again. Sound familar?

I believe that Children should believe in Santa because it can, when properly done, be a great precursor to teaching them about Jesus.

When the child gets to be 8 years old and really asks "Daddy, is there a Santa Clause?" you can explain that while Santa is not real, their is a REAL GOD who embodies all our hopes, all our fears, and who is available 24/7 and 365.

For the record I have a 5 year old. Due to a "overly zealous relative" who is not invited to dinner this year the words have been spoken into his crushed little heart that Santa does not exist. Way to early, and not the way that I would have done it. For the record though he accepted Christ (YES!!) this year and I think it is a minimal issue. He is getting a gift from Santa, but he understands, more than most 5 year old children, that Santa represents the good in man, that good that sometimes takes some time to find and to cultivate.

MERRY CHRISTMAS JEFF AND FAMILY!!

I think that there are good and bad sides to Santa. My parents told my brother and me that Santa was a game that some kids played, and told us not to spoil the surprise for them. Now my brother and I agree that we are glad that our parents didn't tell us that Santa was real.
I guess it just depends on the child, too. If a child is more receptive to the idea, then it might be good for them. Personally, I don't think I will tell my children that Santa Claus is real, but I have nothing against those who do.
Besides, don't you find a fat guy in a red suit coming down your chimney in the middle of the night a bit unnerving? :)

I was always frightened of the department store Santas as a little child. I was a shy kid, though. If they were just a little more grandfatherly, like the Miracle on 34th St. Santa, and a little less clownish...

We *did* Santa when I was growing up, but even as a child I somehow intuited that it was a game that I played with my parents. I played at believing and it was fun, like "believing" in fairies.

That said, we don't really focus on Santa in our family now. I've told my kids about St. Nicholas, and that he loved Jesus, and I don't exactly ban Santa, but none of our presents are from him. We celebrate Advent instead. I've always been a little conflicted about it, too. After all, we've pretended about the tooth fairy. :)