Why do we lie to our kids about santa, the easter bunny and etc?

1. 0

   Stevennix2001posted 11 years ago

   Why do we lie to our kids about santa, the easter bunny and etc?
   
   Why do we always lie to kids about the existence of santa clause, the easter bunny, the tooth fairy and etc?  What's the point of it?  Why not simply tell your kids the truth that santa isn't real?  Why the illusion?

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2. 60

   smcopywriteposted 11 years ago

   The illusion is part of being a good parent. There are lots of things in the world that are illusions to children because of their innocence. Let them be kids for as long as possible. There are terrible things in the world they have plenty of time to realize and "understand" on an adult level. Why not let them believe? What's the harm? Telling the truth is a great thing, when it is beneficial for all. What is the benefit to the child? Is this more beneficial to the adult in this case?

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3. 85

   tsmogposted 11 years ago

   Not to be controversial I do not think it is a lie. Only that its original meaning has been lost with time and change within societies. Santa originally was a spirit and its meaning of the meeting of the spirit of giving being met by the spirit of receiving. It was given a characterization for the minds of children to be able to envision the intent of the meaning (from the research I have done and in my humble view and have written of this)
   
   Hopefully even though the mind of a child does grow beyond into the steps of reaching adult hood that spirit within the spirit of giving met with the spirit of receiving does not become impure or loose its meaning. An example is for instance an eight year old telling the five year there is no Santa and the gifts are from mom and dad. The tradition of Santa is lost and possibly the meaning of the spirit of giving being met with a spirit of receiving is never learned. Thus as the "lie" grows the truth fades too . . . values and worth just may become obscured as well with lessons for learning as children "becoming" adults . . . step by step.
   
   tim

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4. 0

   savvydatingposted 11 years ago

   Because there is no harm in it. I've yet to meet an adult who became psychologically imbalanced due to having believed in Santa when he was six. Children love and need fantasy. Nearly all children's play is based on fantasy. Little kids are not adults in small bodies. They've yet to develop critical thinking skills and frankly, a five year old shouldn't be required to act and believe like an adult. He will figure out what's what soon enough--they always do.
   The greater harm would be to kill these fantasies and opportunities to learn lessons about giving and good behavior. These characters you mention are succor to a child's heart. I would never want to destroy a child's capacity for using their imaginations, which is what happens when we remove fantasy from a child's life and force them to think logically. As Einstein so famously said, "Imagination is greater than knowledge." I say, let the child develop his imagination while he still can.

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5. 0

   cjaroszposted 11 years ago

   I don't see it as a lie. More like, encouraging imagination. They are kids, they find love in something that isn't real. They can. Imagine wonderful things in the world. There doesn't have to be logic to everything. Its the beauty of seeing kids enjoy something. To believe that some part of the world can be good
   
   Adults over anylize everything. Everything has to have a reason, and so on. I say no. The kids enjoy it. It doesn't cause any harm. Its believing in something greater. Just like those who believe in Jesus and god. Believing I. Something we can't see, doesnt have to make sense. Stop anylizing everything about the world.
   
   Just know that children enjoy it. You once enjoyed it. Let traditions be happy, stop trying to find a reason.

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6. 80

   starme77posted 11 years ago

   It's not a lie in my opinion, its fantasy, and children love fantasy. If you take a look at children's books such as Green eggs and Ham and many others you will find fantasy. Even we,as adults enjoy a good fantasy book or movie.

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7. 0

   Ben Blackwellposted 11 years ago

   That is a question I have often asked myself.  I have come to the conclusion that it is a sort of "make believe" that they can participate in.  It gives them something to look forward to when they aren't able to understand the real things to look forward to because they are still too young.

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