The Teaching Is in the Trickery

Parents want to be honest with their kids. They want their children to be able to trust them and set an example, teaching them

to never tell a lie. Too bad. I think you should lie to your children, and by that I mean tell your kids Santa is real. It’s just one of many myths told to children: they’re told the story of the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and leprechauns. Why single out Santa? Even if you must eventually crush their trust in you, it’s part of childhood. Lying to your kids about Santa is a national tradition. Watching for his sleigh, baking him cookies, and opening his presents are part of this delightfully deceitful tradition. It’s adorable to see kids so excited about meeting a guy in a red suit at the mall, even if they don’t know it’s just some paid-off old man that loves making kids happy. Believing in Santa makes Christmas special for kids; it adds to the magic of the holiday for both children and parents.

Christmas is a magical time for everyone, but it’s a totally different feeling when the magic of the holiday is more than just the thrill of receiving gifts and the appreciation for the people around you. When you’re a kid, the most magical part of the holidays is really the mystical elves making toys and Rudolf’s nose glowing inexplicably. And of course, there’s the magic behind Santa. I think you should keepthat imagination in kids minds for as many Christmases as possible.

Besides, believing in Santa improves kids’ behavior. They’ll do anything get on his good side and stay off the naughty list (even if they forget all about staying off the naughty list once the holiday passes, at least they’re less of a hassle during the holiday). It also makes them go to bed when they’re high on adrenaline on Christmas Eve, because ‘Santa comes when you’re sleeping.’ Although it can be a tough moment when kids find out he isn’t real, learning that the jolly, bearded man is a lying fake is a rite of passage as children mature. It’s a story, just like the fairy tales that are told to children before they go to bed. The feeling of betrayal and mistrust is heartbreaking for kids, but momentary. Once they get over the shock, they’ll love their parents just as much as before. And once they mature a little, they’ll be grateful for all the Christmas wishes their parents made come true when they were younger.