https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:54:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862528 Mon, 17 Dec 2018 16:36:44 +0000 dolphin 2862528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kaohinani: substitute teacher, haha! good one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862224 Sat, 15 Dec 2018 12:13:45 +0000 808love 2862224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD kinda believes and kinda doesn't. I tell her once a year we are pretending Santa if she asks..but then go back to 'playing' so she is surely confused, in a good imaginative way. :-) The other day I said, Boy there are Santas everywhere. Let's go to the one at the library where he is free and doesn't cost money. (Dropped jaw so I knew I needed to self-correct) I mean Santa is busy and he goes to lots of places so we can just go visit another PLACE that Santa is going like the library. (Look of relief.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862221 Sat, 15 Dec 2018 11:26:38 +0000 Corduroy 2862221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dolphin: DD is in Kindergarten. She knows the other Santas she sees around town and in family members' Christmas cards aren't real because they don't have a belt buckle that says "SANTA" like the one she saw. I pointed out that Santa, like everyone, can change his belt but she's already figured out they aren't all real. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862195 Sat, 15 Dec 2018 05:21:09 +0000 Kaohinani 2862195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD used to ask. My response was that Santa selects very special people to represent him because while he is working in the North Pole, he can not be in 2 or more places at once. He does this because so many kids want to "see" Santa and take pictures with him but he can't be all over the world at once - remember, it takes 24-hours and magic to deliver presents - that those special Santas stand in for him. Although wary of them (and still is at nearly 11), DD was satisfied with that response and likened it to having a substitute teacher. 😉😁 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862189 Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:54:00 +0000 Phillybaby2013 2862189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ben is 5.5 and the other day just came out on his own and said that he knew that those guys weren't the real Santa. I was a little taken back but rolled with it and agreed that they were Santa's helpers and help spread Christmas magic since Santa has so much to do. He was just like yea ok and we left it at that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862188 Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:40:20 +0000 dolphin 2862188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I try not to comment on all the Santa’s we see around either but today DD commented AGAIN. We took Santa photos and afterwards she said “oh I forgot to ask him what is he doing here?? He should be at the North Pole!l I responded “that is a good question! Next time you can ask him!” Haha! I feel like I can only deflect it for so long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862184 Fri, 14 Dec 2018 23:07:14 +0000 ALV91711 2862184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven’t had this question yet from DS but I’m pretty sure he thinks there are 2 Santa’s. The regular Santa, who is in red at the mall and camo Santa who is at cabella’s. He said he prefers regular Santa and that is who he wants to come to our house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862183 Fri, 14 Dec 2018 22:48:15 +0000 PinkElephant 2862183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In that situation I'd have answered "I don't know - maybe he took a break, or maybe he sent one of his helpers." I've told my kids our Elf on the Shelf is one of Santa's newest elves (that's why he gets into mischief, because he's still learning, haha), so if pressed I'd tell the girls that only the most experienced elves or helpers get to dress up like Santa and be his helpers.</p> <p>But generally, my policy is to deflect by asking my kids "what do you think?" and to not introduce any new ideas re: Santa unless my kids bring them up - like for the mall Santa, I wouldn't comment at all unless they said something, even if, for example, we just had a home visit from Police Santa, then passed by a blatantly different Santa at the mall on the same day. So far, it's working :) :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-explain-mall-santas-to-your-kids#post-2862181 Fri, 14 Dec 2018 22:22:42 +0000 dolphin 2862181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How do you explain all the Santa’s you randomly see when you’re out at the mall or anywhere during the holiday season? Do you tell them that’s the real Santa? I didn’t really have to think about it before but now that DD is older she’s starting to ask. The other day she asked how did Santa have time to be at the party we were at? Isn’t he suppose to be at the North Pole? I was caught off guard and just said maybe he’s taking a break from making toys! know some people tell their kids the Santa’s you see before Christmas are actually Santa’s helpers and they report back to the real Santa at the North Pole. Just wondering what do you all tell your kids?? </p>