Santa Claus and the truth...what to do?

In all actuality you are making this harder on yourself then it has to be. First you tell your daughter the true meaning of Christmas. The Birth of our lord and how the three wise men brought him presents. Then you explain that people saw the love that was given to our lord and that they themselves wanted to continue the practice with each other. Then one day a man who was called St Nicholas who lived in Holland started giving gifts to the children of his town. Then after this a man came up with the idea of Santa Clause and we use this idea to continue showing love for one another and to celebrate the birth of our lord by giving and receiving presents. And that is how Santa Clause came to be.

I told them that Christmas celebrates Christ's birth, but I really don't remember ever explaining Santa Claus. I really don't think you have to turn it into something complicated.

Santa's fun, and he does represent the giving spirit of Christmas. Someday some kid will blurt out there really isn't a Santa, but by that time your child will have figured it out on her own.

My mom told me Santa wasnt real when I was in the fifth grade because she didnt want me to be made fun of. I cried for so long. I was super upset. I think I would tell your child about Santa but make it clear that he is a fictional character and since you are religious try to focus more on christmas being about family, etc.

Kids will be only kids for once, christmas is also for kids, so I suggest that you just let her believe what makes her happy.

I also believe on Santa, that he's the one who gives us gifts and chocolates on Christmas eve. But later on found out that they came from our parents, so I asked them why. They said that this belief benefits us in some ways, kids should behave good and do good things for them to receive presents and gifts when Christmas comes.

As an adult, I know she'll completely understand the real purpose of Christmas. Christmas is a part of childhood, it's about sharing, giving and being a good person.

I think if you explain to her about St. Nicholas, and the tradition of Santa that many families follow, and tell her that many children believe that Santa is real for a time and she shouldn't spoil it for them, she'll be fine.

Handle the tooth fairy and the easter bunny the same way.

What I did with my children was tell them why we celebrate Christmas. Then when they got older and heard things from others about Santa, I would tell them the story of the real Saint Nick, but remind them that we don't worship him, we worship Jesus.

Children are intelligent beings. Dont discredit their understanding of things. Whatever id very difficult for us to understand they break it down so simple that it makes you marvel at their wisdom at their tender age.

Tell her the true meaning of Christmas. Put Christ in the story and let her know the real meaning of Christmas. Dotn tell her the commercial story that will only get her confused.

I have taught my daughter the true meaning of Christmas and though we even watch and love the christmas stories and the Santas she knows that Santa is not real and when she watches these movies she laughs and says that the Santa Claus is always the Dad.

Tell her she will ask questions but be prepared to be honest with her and truthful. She will be just fine. God bless!

Curtis said it all...you don't have to say that the man in the red suit is a real live person to believe in the spirit in which he was created. I say Santa IS real as long as people continue to keep that spirit alive. Another way I explained it to my own was that Jesus loves children so much and since He is in Heaven he dosn't need any birthday presents He gace a man (St. Nicholas) the idea to give gifts to children on His birthday in His honor. After St. Niholas, people continued the tradition using Santa Clause

Each year my mom gets us (G)old, (F)rankincense, and (M)yrrh, or a (Garment), a (F)un gift, and something that is (M)entally challenging, with the theory that if three gifts was enough for the Christ child, it is enough for her children and grandchildren. For my husband and I, we want our child to know that we work hard and bought these gifts for our child because we love him. Tell your child the story of St. Nicholas (by the way, my son's name just happens to be Nicholas), and tell her that in the Spirit of the Gifts of St. Nicholas, the Gifts of the Wise Men, and the Gift of the Christ Child, people give one another gifts at Christmas, in the name of St. Nicholas.

We too are Christians, and refuse to lie to our son about santa clause. I never believed in santa, and Christmas was still the most majical time in my life. my sone is three, and i think this will be the year we will adress the whole santa clause thing.. we will simply tell him about st. nicolas, and the historty behind the myth, and then tell him that some people like to pretend that he's real, and some children honestly believe that he is, but just b/c someone believes something doesn't make it true, just as just b/c someone doesn't believe in christ doesn't make it untrue.. as far as him telling other children, I suppose we will have to find a way to discuss that with him too, that we don't want to ruin someone else's good time, b/c we know something that they don't.. if their parents wantt them to believe that it's not up to us to ruin it for them.. Good luck!