QOTW: Santa & other "magical characters"

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
QOTW: Santa & other "magical characters"
10
Mon, 12-17-2007 - 8:35am

santieclaus.jpg santa claus image by yoolivia22toothfairyed.jpg tooth fairy image by nyarinquentasEaster_Bunny.jpg Easter_Bunny image by jesscroy


QOTW:
Our question of the week for this week is regarding the using of "magical" characters.


Do you encourage your children to believe in magical characters such as Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Easter bunny?


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003

I'm not sure we "encouraged" the belief but we did play the game and still do in a sense. Santa brings gifts (to Mom and Dad too), the Easter Bunny brings chocolate and the Tooth Fairy brought money when she lost a tooth. I was not devestated when she figured it out. She was about 7.5 when she figured out the Santa thing. Probably didn't help that a girl in her Kindie class decided to enlighten everyone to the truth. LOL I'm not one of those adults who claim to still "believe" in Santa. Its a fun game and tradition, that's all. And of course once she figured out that Santa wasn't real she put two and two together about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy.


When kids are older I find it hard to believe that they "really" believe. Most kids by age 10 are not shy about sharing the reality of things with their peers. And at that age MOST know the truth so you'd think they'd be enlightening any peers who say they still believe. It must be talked about at school to some degree. If someone commented "I asked Santa for a Gameboy" I can't believe no other kid would say "Yeah right, your parents you mean." So either they suspect the truth but just refuse to admit it or they must have learned to keep quiet about their beliefs in the classroom. But maybe not, maybe I'm a cynic. LOL Because at that age I think most kids should have enough logic to suspect something is up with the whole Santa thing, I wouldn't necessarily say anything to them. They'll figure it out. Now if it was causing a bullying situation or making their life miserable by insisting they believe I might step in and say something but if its not causing any problems then I wouldn't worry about it. Kids can be cruel though if they think someone is believing something "babyish".

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2007
We did them all in our house and they can believe as long as they want to. Life is short and childhood is even shorter, they may as well be innocent and sweet as long as they can. The world wants them to grow up too fast.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003

Absolutely!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003

I think that it is wonderful and so innocent for kids to have this "magical" belief. They are made to grow up so fast these days and the things they are subjected to are so severe that I think it is great to have that little bit of magic and imagination left in them!


So yes we do all the "magical" characters and I let them believe as long as they want!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2001

We celebrate Santa and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003

Wow.. well.. We don't encourage the Magical Character thing here. I know that some people are into it and I'm sure there's no harm done but I always feel as if I am lying to my child.


We started when Kristen was small speaking of Santa but later on I was SO glad that she asked me if he was real because I hated lying to her all that time. Now with Sarah who's 3.. we don't even bring Santa up. (Or tooth fairies, Easter Bunny, etc)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2007

For me I think it is great for children and adults to "believe" in "something" magical. Otherwise

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2006

Do you encourage your children to believe in magical characters such as Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Easter bunny?

Brittany "MomtofiveDrews"

Kiana "Hooprincess" 13 yrs old

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2007

Yes in my house we believed in Santa,Easter Bunnie,and the tooth fairy. We also go trick-or-treating!


We also believe in St.Nickolas(he was a real Saint) who did deliver food to the needy and wooden toys.We believe that trick-or-treat is NOTa pagan holiday.


How sweet it use to be to see my kids sit on Santa'a lap or on Christmas morning see their faces light up because Santa visited their house.I use to leave a note from Santa and Rudolph(using the dogs paw in mud and transfer it to paper to leave Rudolph's signature). I would also get oatmeal mixed with glitter and spread it on the lawn so the reindeer would see the glitter and they would have something to eat,after all Santa got cookies.


They also knew about Jesus and the REASON of Christmas. Same with Easter!


I never felt like I was lying to them. I use to tell them the story of Robin Hood who is suppose to be based on a true story! They have never said they felt afraid or traumatized. They never even brought up the whole lying thing.It is a little sad that I have




iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2006

I agree with ya Laura. Be a kid as long as possible. :)