https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:16:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2661700 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 17:18:23 +0000 daniellemybelle 2661700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: This was kind of the approach I was thinking we'd take. Like, I never sat LO down and said, "Sofia the First is not real. It's pretend." She kind of knows and if she doesn't really know, that's because she's 3, not because we "lied to her." Santa and all the other stuff is just another character that happens to be extra fun :) </p> <p>Buuuut... I have gotten super into it with Elf On The Shelf and so forth so I think I am now in the camp of actually convincing LO that Santa is real, ha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660801 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:45:19 +0000 mamainthesun 2660801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: where are you?!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660767 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 14:31:19 +0000 Mrsbells 2660767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the responses, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one struggling with this issue </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660649 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:18:37 +0000 FaithFertility 2660649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: That is kinda the approach my parents had I can't really remember if I really thought he was real or just Christmas fun </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660648 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:18:36 +0000 CakeLady 2660648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I think my main objective is for him not to think of his grandpa as the same as santa. I think I'd prefer for him to think of santa as a character, though I do love the tradition of leaving cookies and milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660643 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:10:07 +0000 runnerd 2660643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never ever was led to believe Santa was real, so it's foreign for me to think some kids really believe it or that it's my responsibility to worry about the other kids. I will not be presenting Santa as real, but I'm not going to make a point to have big talks about how fake he is either. If he asks questions because of things he hears, I'll tell him it's for fun to pretend, but some people believe he is real. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660639 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:08:29 +0000 BKCaribBaby 2660639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't really emphasized Santa at least not yet. Santa was not big in my family growing up (non-Americans), so we'll see how it plays out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660635 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:07:04 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2660635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: Hahah wow! I guess I would ask what do you want him to believe about santa? Will he get gifts from santa or from you and FIL? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660634 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:05:09 +0000 CakeLady 2660634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a SUPER tricky issue for us. I am Jewish and DS goes to a Jewish preschool so he doesn't hear about it there. DH is not religious, but he and his family are really, really into Christmas so we have a tree in our house annnndddd... FIL is a professional santa! :shocked: DS thinks all pictures/statues of Santa are of his grandpa. Neither of us have any idea about what to tell DS... Any suggestions welcome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660629 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:00:11 +0000 FaithFertility 2660629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do Santa but I don't do the naughty or nice thing<br /> We focused on Jesus's birthday and Santa was magical and did bring us gifts but he wasn't a huge deal<br /> I kind of feel I will do the same with my kids </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660558 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 09:15:09 +0000 looch 2660558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't make the decision, so to speak, I let my son take the lead on it. He learned about Santa when he began daycare and we just kind of went with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660501 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 06:43:45 +0000 FannyMae 2660501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do Santa in our home, so no fat man decorations on the tree or books etc. My 4 year old knows about him through tv shows, kinder etc, and will tell me about "santa closss"<br /> @Mrs. Sunshine: I do something similar, let her talk about whatever idea she has in her head about Santa and say hmmm really? I only correct her when she says he brings our presents, and say no, I buy our presents in our house. I feel its fine if she has a knowledge of the Santa story, but not as a definitive gospel truth that cannot be denied for fear of mental anguish. She goes to kinder with kids of different faiths and the vast majority don't celebrate Christmas so there is already some "Santa's not real" talk going on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660489 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 03:36:37 +0000 lamariniere 2660489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do Santa and we aren't religious. My older LO is almost 6. I've always told him that Santa is like a cartoon character and people really like him and want to dress up like him and he's a festive part of the holiday season. I've explicitly told my older LO that he cannot tell other kids that Santa isn't real and "ruin" it for them. @808love: We also let our kids "play" Santa and watch Christmas cartoons. We are even doing an advent calendar that has a Santa, but it's more of a fun countdown than anything else. Santa doesn't bring our kids gifts but they get gifts from us and our families. </p> <p>@mamainthesun: where we live, they do St. Nicholas (Nikolaus) at daycare and they even have a guy dressed up as Nikolaus that brings them gifts. I've told them that Nikolaus only goes to daycare. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660406 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 21:34:57 +0000 caterw 2660406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do Santa presents or make a big deal about him (also for religious reasons). If DD talks about Christmas, we always make sure to emphasize that the reason that we celebrate is that it's Jesus's birthday. We have an Advent calendar for her and do nightly Bible verses, read lots of Jesus-focused Christmas books, and have a couple nativity sets that she can play with. She knows who Santa is, but she doesn't think that presents come from him. Since she doesn't go to school, I am not terribly worried about her ruining the magic for other kids... but I should probably prepare a statement just in case the topic comes up in her playgroup or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660394 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 21:13:54 +0000 808love 2660394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do Santa as a real person alive and well today but we allowed her to play Santa leaving out cookies and all. She somehow forgot (too much Portable North Pole last year) and she burst into tears the other day after she was misbehaving and I blurted out, I am going to tell Santa!<br /> So yah, Santa isn't real but she believes it anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660387 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 21:00:29 +0000 littleblessings 2660387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't going to do Santa but the kids Nana decided to tell the kids all about Santa and what Santa "does" etc. She even bought the kids Christmas movies. I feel like I have to go along with it now as to not disappoint the children. I don't bring up Santa during the holidays unless it's picture day with Nana and their Aunts. Other than that I don't speak of him as to not actually lie to them. SO does the Santa presents. Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660316 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 18:28:21 +0000 youboots 2660316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We won't introduce it to her or get her presents from Santa. I'll just follow her lead.</p> <p>I never thought Santa was real because it's not a thing in Germany. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660298 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 17:21:34 +0000 daniellemybelle 2660298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: Silly guys is so cute!</p> <p>We really do Santa (and Elf On The Shelf!). Before LO was old enough, I thought we'd let on that it is "make-believe" more than we really have ended up doing, though, ha! I agree that it is EVERYWHERE and now that she's at preschool, it is a constant topic of conversation (second only to Frozen). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660287 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 17:09:21 +0000 catomd00 2660287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 2.5 and knows about Santa but hasn't asked any real questions yet. We will just follow her lead, but don't plan on introducing it or trying to get her to believe or not. She asked us who got her a present we got her for Xmas last year the other day and we just said mommy and daddy. We haven't even attempted a photo with Santa since so far everytimr she sees him She freaks out. No need to try and scare her that he's going to break into our house and bring presents. Mama doesn't get enough sleep as it is! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660286 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 17:08:20 +0000 jhd 2660286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never talked to LO (2.5) about Santa, but when he saw Christmas decorations going up in the stores this year he knew who he was. He stays home with me so I'm thinking it was Peppa Pig who taught him! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660260 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 16:01:39 +0000 mamainthesun 2660260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't grow up with Santa because in my country it's St Nikolas (6th).<br /> But where I live now Santa is really done...so for the moment lo is only 2 so doesn't realise all the xmas fuss or ask any questions.<br /> But it will be tricky in the future, his father doesn't want to do Santa so I'm fine with that but the whole in-law family does..so we'll have to be careful for when he's around his cousins.<br /> I'm not sure yet if I want to do St Nikolas...I'll have to decide soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660253 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:51:36 +0000 hummusgirl 2660253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're Jewish so no Santa. I just answer questions truthfully and say that different families celebrate different holidays (and even within the same holiday, may celebrate differently). We talk about his friends who celebrate Christmas and other Jewish friends who do Hanukah. We talk about how we don't celebrate Easter but how it's nice that his daycare has an egg hunt and he participates in that. He seems cool with it so far (at 4). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660250 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:49:25 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2660250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everything my kids know about Santa they learned from friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660247 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:48:16 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2660247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are about the same. She's 5 this year and starting to ask more questions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660245 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:44:22 +0000 MrsBrewer 2660245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no idea what we are going to do truthfully. I remember believing in Santa when we were younger, but I'm not sure if we will do Santa with our DD or not. I just haven't decided yet... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660235 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:35:53 +0000 brownepiano 2660235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do Santa. DH is very anti Santa actually so I go out of my way to not bring it into our home. But DS is only 2.5 and is home all day with me so it's easy at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660222 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:23:05 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2660222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do Santa. But my LO talks about him and while we have never told her that he is bringing gifts, she sometimes says that he is but I just say "oh, you think so?". I basically just let her say and think what she wants and don't correct nor encourage her. I thought this article about it was spot on <a href="http://www.thehappiesthome.com/4-ways-we-keep-the-santa-magic-alive-without-totally-lying-to-our-kids/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thehappiesthome.com/4-ways-we-keep-the-santa-magic-alive-without-totally-lying-to-our-kids/</a></p> <p>ETA: my kid doesn't even go to day care or preschool and she still has all these ideas about Santa. It just happens. I didn't grow up doing Santa so I have no intention on doing it with my kids but I'm not ready yet to flat out say he isn't real. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660221 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:22:49 +0000 honeybear 2660221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't/don't "do" Santa. I am fine with reading books that include Santa Claus--The Night Before Christmas and that sort of thing--and I seem to have accumulated a lot of Santa ornaments for the tree, so he's definitely not banished here, but we never told LO that Santa will bring him gifts on Christmas. We do hang up stockings and fill them for each other with chocolates. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660219 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:18:03 +0000 Ms. RV 2660219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am following DD's lead. We aren't telling her about Santa but I am sure she'll pick it up at daycare. I really hope she doesn't though :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-tell-their-kids-about-santa#post-2660214 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:09:51 +0000 erinbaderin 2660214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do Santa in my house but I think you could walk that line by saying that every family has different traditions for their holidays, and lots of families have Santa as a tradition. Not to equate Santa and religion but just along similar lines that you would teach respect for other people's religions. </p>