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Is it wrong to lie to children about the existence of entities like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny?
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I don't think it is wrong. I grew up believing and I still feel a sense of magic in the air now that I'm a parent. My five-year-old believes in Santa and I see no harm in it. Children like make believe, they read fictionalized stories, they watch programs with big purple dinosaurs, they talk for their little action figures and develop imaginary friends sometimes. Nurturing their creative development, allowing them to dream and hope and wish; I mean how can you go wrong with that? Of course it's up to the parents to decide ultimately what they will teach their children, but I'm one parent who would like to keep the magic and fantasy alive. =o)
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There is actually some considerable debate in the psychological community concerning whether teaching kids about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny does them mental harm. According to an article originally published on WebMD, nearly all children knew by the age of 7 that these characters did not exist, and studies have shown that a significant portion of them felt good about understanding the truth.
Professor of Psychology Robert Feldman suggests that the "lie" of Santa Claus is equatable in terms of deception to telling someone that they look great even when they don't or assuring a pregnant wife that she hasn't gained any weight and looks beautiful, etc. These are lies we all tell in one form or another and they're not long-lasting, emotionally draining ones.
Both the WebMD article and a CNN article suggest that kids are pretty good at coming to their own conclusions and eventually figuring out that there is no Santa Claus. CNN says to follow their lead, and not to continually try to convince a child that there is a Santa Claus if he/she clearly is done with the fantasy.
Professor of Psychology Robert Feldman suggests that the "lie" of Santa Claus is equatable in terms of deception to telling someone that they look great even when they don't or assuring a pregnant wife that she hasn't gained any weight and looks beautiful, etc. These are lies we all tell in one form or another and they're not long-lasting, emotionally draining ones.
Both the WebMD article and a CNN article suggest that kids are pretty good at coming to their own conclusions and eventually figuring out that there is no Santa Claus. CNN says to follow their lead, and not to continually try to convince a child that there is a Santa Claus if he/she clearly is done with the fantasy.
source(s):
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50429
http://archives.cnn.com/1999/HEALTH/children/12/14/santa.myth.wmd/index.htm...
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50429
http://archives.cnn.com/1999/HEALTH/children/12/14/santa.myth.wmd/index.htm...
Wait... Santa and the Easter Bunny are lies?
Personally I would advise being inscrutable on the subject. When they ask, smile and say "what do you think?" Claiming that something is true when it is not sets a bad example, but playing with the possibility that something could be true is fun. So I would leave it in the realm of possibility and be playful about it, rather than trying to force the point in either direction.
I personally think that the myths of Santa and such lay the groundwork for atheism, later on. If a person realizes, after childhood, that they were made to believe something whole heartily that all of their friends also believed, only to later discover it was completely fabricated, why should they retain faith in the other religious characters they were told about as kids?
Whether this is positive or negative is another question.
As a response to a previous post, I think magic and fantasy are all well and good, but eventually they are done away with - to varying degrees in each of us - and this might leave an emptiness in a person later on if they grew up surrounded by fantasy.
Whether this is positive or negative is another question.
As a response to a previous post, I think magic and fantasy are all well and good, but eventually they are done away with - to varying degrees in each of us - and this might leave an emptiness in a person later on if they grew up surrounded by fantasy.
I believe we should lie to our kids about Santa and the tooth fairy. It is the only time when they actually believe in fantasy, why take it from them?
I think this subject will be debated until the end of time.
Go with your gut and your beliefs.
Go with your gut and your beliefs.
source(s):
My Experience
My Experience
I don't know about right or wrong but I know I couldn't do it. When asked a directly, I just couldn't lie to her. Perhaps it's too simplistic but I feel that if I want her to be honest with me no matter what then I have to treat her the same.
Interestingly, she took it really well and then went on talking about Santa like she believed it was true. Willful belief in the untrue is sort of her style though.
Interestingly, she took it really well and then went on talking about Santa like she believed it was true. Willful belief in the untrue is sort of her style though.
It is not necessary to lie as both Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are real. You may write to Santa to confirm this at:
Santa Claus
North Pole
Canada, H0H 0H0
In addition, you may watch his sleigh tracked by NORAD radar at: http://www.noradsanta.com
The Easter Bunny is more reclusive and has no regular mailing address. His hops are too low altitude and escape radar systems. However, he is thought to dwell somewhere near Stonehenge in Britain. He is certainly just as real as Santa, and much older.
Santa Claus
North Pole
Canada, H0H 0H0
In addition, you may watch his sleigh tracked by NORAD radar at: http://www.noradsanta.com
The Easter Bunny is more reclusive and has no regular mailing address. His hops are too low altitude and escape radar systems. However, he is thought to dwell somewhere near Stonehenge in Britain. He is certainly just as real as Santa, and much older.
I think it's wrong personally. They wouldn't even notice if you didn't tell them that they are real and they can get quite upset when they find out that Santa actually isn't real.
source(s):
opinion
opinion
Man, I could go into a big tirade about religion, sex education, things like that...
Basically, as long as you don't specifically tell your kid that Santa is real, it's fine. I think that I'm going to let my kids believe in the ideas and tradition of Santa - that Christmas is the time for giving - but stop short of telling them that it's real.
Basically, as long as you don't specifically tell your kid that Santa is real, it's fine. I think that I'm going to let my kids believe in the ideas and tradition of Santa - that Christmas is the time for giving - but stop short of telling them that it's real.
It's wrong to lie to children about the existence of entities like Jesus Christ and God. Don't get me wrong, my family celebrates Christmas, but just for the pure aspect of commercialism. Telling kids about Santa and the Easter Bunny can be pretty cruel, but it's fun for some kids. Just don't lie to them about theology.
source(s):
personal opinion and distaste.
personal opinion and distaste.
What do you mean there's no Santa and Easter Bunny?
It is not for me a moral question. Santa Clause is a symbol or an icon of sharing and giving.Santa Clause is being personified by parents who have given themselves as a priceless gift to their own children. They have given not only material gifts but most of all their ever sacrificing, undying and unconditional love to their children. This is the kind of Santa Clause I would like to share to my kids. I would tell them about this Santa Clause who is in a real sense, real, because it is being actualized by myself.
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