Do you tell your kids that imaginary characters exist?

1. 66

   Zaiden Jaceposted 11 years ago

   Do you tell your kids that imaginary characters exist?
   
   Example: Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny

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2. 68

   BuffaloGal1960posted 11 years ago

   I really didn't stress that much as a parent.  Yes, we celebrate the birth of Christ. Yes, we celebrate the resurrection. 
   
   After raising my first two children, my third child came along.  I really had less patience for the fictitious characters then and I told her it was a game others played with their children so not to tell her classmates.
   
   I don't know, on the one hand, a child should be a child, but here's the thing:  Now days, we have to tell our children important things at a young age and I want my kids to believe me.  Like self-defense role playing for example.  So if I tell them some "fun lies" how will they know when I'm telling them the truth on important issues.
   
   I know, I know - you all think I've stolen their childhood.  They grew up and became productive citizens, my youngest is 13 seems balanced. 
   
   No harm in hiding Easter eggs, I just don't do the bunny thing.  No harm in giving gifts, I just don't do the Santa thing.  I particularly don't like the Santa thing because Christmas is just too commercial. 
   
   I really don't like halloween but I see no reason we can't find something else to celebrate that day. 
   
   I think this is an interesting question but since it has certain elements, it may potent.  lol. 
   
   Good luck with your hub.

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   1. 67

      Wakerraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      AMEN to that!  Specially with Christmas being commercialized.  I honestly despise Christmas because of that.  (Though I love Halloween.  I can really take my creative side for a spin, and whats more fun than playing dress-up?)

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   johnsonrallenposted 11 years ago

   I was always worried about this side of parenting. We have never made an effort to point out the imaginary characters mentioned above but the kids still know about them. However- and this makes me happy- they both know they are not real!

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   1. 66

      Zaiden Jaceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's pretty much how my parents raised me. I never really believed in Santa for example because I didn't understand how a large man wearing a bright red suit wouldn't get caught breaking into people's houses.

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4. 67

   Wakerraposted 11 years ago

   I don't have kids, but I tried telling my younger brother that Santa Clause wasn't real when he was like, 4 or so.  He cried.  I think it's so ingrained in society now, that if a kid was raised knowing these figures weren't real was to tell all of their friends at school, it'd cause such a ruckus and a lot of heartbreak

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   1. 66

      Zaiden Jaceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My sister was getting on my neves when she was like five so I told her our Mom was the one putting money under her pillow, not the tooth fairy. She looked totally confused by this but then preceded to tell me it was okay because she had money lol.

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   2. 67

      Wakerraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ha, I remember I told my mom once something about wishing for a little more money for my teeth.  The next day I get like, a dollar or something I ran upstairs all excited, and my mom was all "Is that enough for you?"  That's when I figured it out

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5. 69

   brakel2posted 11 years ago

   My kids believed mostly in Santa Claus and Tooth Fairy. When they got older, they started to ask more questions. We told them the truth but explained that it was a kid thing and a fun thing for parents and children. They loved the characters. What would it be like not to have the fun of Santa Claus?

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   jennshealthstoreposted 11 years ago

   My child believed in them until she was 9. I do not think that there is anything wrong with it. I think it is good for kids to have an imagination and live a bit of a fantasy. That will quickly end as they start getting older. It is fun and exciting for them.

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   Toytastingposted 11 years ago

   Even if we don't tell kids about imaginary characters, they still get to know about them from somewhere or other. I personally don't tell them about any such character, but, once they know it , I don't feel there is any harm in it. Slowly and steadily they start realizing, no such character exists.

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