Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

When to tell your kids the truth about Santa, according to a psychotherapist

When to tell your kids the truth about Santa, according to a psychotherapist

It's inevitable that your kids will ask questions or be curious. You can be honest while still preserving the Christmas magic, expert Amy Morin said.

Whether you're writing letters to Santa or reading books about reindeer, your child's excitement can make the holiday season feel magical when they still believe in Santa.

Of course, the magic doesn't last forever. At some point — and, for many parents, this point comes too soon — your child will begin to question Santa's existence.

You might find yourself at a loss for words about how to respond or you might find yourself in a rare situation: Your child never asks about Santa. Even after they've passed the age when most kids figure it out, they still seem to buy into the guy in the red suit.

You might start to worry if it's time to spill the beans. After all, you don't want your child to get made fun of for believing that Santa will come down the chimney when they're a teenager. So how soon should you tell your kids the truth about Santa? It's a question parents often ask me in my therapy office.

Whenever I've been asked that question, I always reassure parents that I've yet to have an adult enter my therapy office claiming that believing in Santa — or being told the truth — scarred them for life. Don't get caught up believing there's one specific age when you need to come clean — or that there's a single right way to handle the situation. Choose to address the Santa issue based on your values, beliefs, and the child's needs.


There isn't a right or wrong age to tell kids the truth


Take cues from them and their understanding of the world. Usually, somewhere between the ages of five and seven kids begin to think a little more critically. And it occurs to them that flying reindeer and a guy coming down the chimney might be a little far fetched.

So don't be surprised if your child starts asking questions. You might not get a direct question like, "Is Santa real?" But you may get questions like, "How do reindeer fly?" or "How does Santa make it all around the world in one night?"


If your child insists on getting an answer, it's best to be up front


When your child first starts asking questions, your instinct might be to reassure them that Santa is real and his magic powers help him defy logic. Even though you probably don't lie to your kids often, you might be tempted to stretch the truth in an effort to spare them pain. After all, you don't want to "ruin" Christmas for them. But, if they're asking questions, they want to know the truth. And you won't harm them by being honest.

This doesn't mean you have to jump in and tell them the whole story. Instead, you might ask a few questions back. Ask, "What makes you ask that?" or "What do you think about that?" It's okay to let kids form their own conclusions.

When confronted with, "Just tell me. Is there really a Santa?" be honest, and explain that you're behind the presents from Santa.


Your answers about Santa should depend on your values, your spiritual beliefs, and what you hope your child will learn from the experience


Some families talk about the spirit of Christmas still being alive or dive into the true meaning of Christmas. Other parents tell kids that Christmas is all about giving, and now that they know the truth about Santa, their job is to become Santa to someone else (this makes giving a part of their future tradition).

Just know that you don't have to crush your child's spirit and make all the magic disappear. Instead, you can make Christmas more about kindness and giving rather than reindeer and red suits. You may also want to emphasize that not everyone knows "the secret" yet. So discourage your child from making the announcement at school.


If you believe you can still make it a great holiday, there's a good chance your Christmas spirit will help your child enjoy the holiday season


Regardless of who believes in Santa, the true magic of Christmas has to do with your beliefs, and that includes your belief about your child's knowledge of Santa. If you believe Christmas won't be fun now that your child knows the truth, your Grinch-like spirit could drag your mood (and perhaps everyone else's) down.

Whether you start a new tradition that involves giving gifts to those in need or you allow your child to buy secret gifts for another family member, a different kind of holiday might be even more fun than you imagine.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
European Union Proposes Reforms to 1951 Refugee Convention
China's Humanoid Robots Poised to Transform Everyday Life and Spiritual Functions
Putin Resurrects Soviet-Era Intervision Song Contest with Fresh Allies
Ten Killed in Mass Shooting at Örebro Adult Education Center
China Retaliates with Tariffs and Investigations Following New U.S. Duties
Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, bolsters her international profile by meeting with Viktor Orban.
EU Leaders Convene to Address Defense Strategy in Light of Increasing U.S. Tensions
EU Leaders Convene Key Summit on Defense in Response to Increasing Tensions
Trump Directs Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, Considers TikTok Purchase
Britain Considers U.S. Gas Imports in Light of Potential Trump Tariffs
French Prime Minister Bayrou Confronts Several No-Confidence Votes Regarding the 2025 Budget
Trump Pursues Ukraine's Rare Earth Minerals in Exchange for U.S. Military Assistance
Trump Wins Again as Canada Agrees to Strengthen Border Security
Trump Seeks Rare Minerals from Ukraine in Exchange for U.S. Support
EU leaders concur on increasing defense expenditure in response to escalating security threats.
Nearly 96% of New Cars Registered in Norway in January Were Electric
Bart De Wever Appointed Belgium's New Prime Minister
Apple Abandons AR Glasses Project Amid Struggles with Technology and Market Demand
U.S. Clinical Trial Investigates Medication to Prolong Dogs' Lifespan
Berlin Protests Against Immigration Crackdown
Apple Surpasses Revenue and Earnings Expectations, But iPhone Sales Disappoint
Bill Gates Reflects on Past Mistakes and Acknowledges Yuval Noah Harari's Insight
TikTok Shapes the Future of Mobile Gaming with Viral Trends
Swedish Prime Minister Admits Loss of Control Over Surge in Violence and Explosions
Patriotism Misrepresented: Merz’s Migration Bill Defeat Exposes Ideological War Fueling Europe’s Instability
Trump Administration Advocates Ukrainian Elections to Promote the Democratic Process Needed to Oppose the War Zelenskiy Supports and Profits From
The Swift Impact: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's Relationship Boosts Football's Global Appeal
New Zealand Grants Legal Personhood to Mount Taranaki
Global Semiconductor Industry Faces Persistent Challenges Amid Efforts to Boost Production
Trump Interest in Buying Greenland 'Not a Joke,' Says Marco Rubio
Karoline Leavitt: The Youngest and Probably the Sharpest White House Press Secretary
Germany Passes Motion to Tighten Migration Rules Amid Concerns Over Public Safety and Losing Germany’s Cultural Identity
This is the most important clip you’ll see today.
The 'Chinese Pearl Harbor' on U.S. Tech: DeepSeek's Launch Triggers Market Collapse
Germany’s Democracy Under Strain: Political Labeling Sparks Free Speech Concerns
The Trump Era 2: A Time of Dramatic and Profound Change
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Suggests Bitcoin Could Reach $700,000 with Increased Institutional Investment
Leaked Documents Reveal Google's Collaboration with Israeli Defense Forces During Gaza Conflict
Trump to Announce $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Investment
Olaf Scholz vs. Elon Musk: A Dispute Over Common Sense, Which Scholz is Deemed to Lack
EU’s Overregulation Drives Innovation Collapse and Brain Drain
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán: Now it's our moment to shine! It's our opportunity to take over Brussels!
Trump Initiates U.S. Withdrawal from WHO, Citing Concerns Over Organizational Integrity
Trump Just Revoked Security Clearance for the 51 Intel Agents Who Lied About Hunter Biden's Laptop
Five Billionaires on Track to Break One Trillion Dollar Wealth Barrier
Bill Ackman Praises Social Media Platform X as 'The New Media'
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Proposes Rome as European Union Capital
France Urges EU to Act on Musk's Political Influence as Tensions Rise
Controversial Release Culminates in Severe Budapest Collision: The Freeing of a Convicted Human Trafficker
Rising Concerns: The Impact of Synthetic Chemicals on Global Child Health
×