What do you tell older kids when they say " I dont think there is a santa"?

Question

7 yr old said "I dont think there is a santa" So I told him something but not sure if it was the exactly right thing.I told him that santa is kindof a feeling we get, like kindness, giving, love ect all wrapped into one. What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Saint Nicholas was a real person and his spirit is still very real today. If a child asks if I believe in Santa, I say yes, because I really do. I see a little Santa in every person who takes a card off an Angel tree to buy a child they don't know a gift, or in the bags of food in the donation bins at the front of the grocery store, or in the Salvation Army volunteers ringing their bells in shopping centers, or in the countless work groups/schools/churches/clubs who adopt families to make their holidays brighter. Yep, it don't get realer than Santa Claus for me!

Answer 2

Christmas has nothing to do with Santa. I'm still trying to figure out where he came into the picture and how. Neither of my children have been taught to believe in Santa. I tell him children the truth about Christmas and why we celebrate it. Yes, they see Santa all over the place and it's ok to watch, but my children know better. Besides that, I'm not giving credit for the best present to some fat dude in a red suit that does not exist.

Answer 3

Santa is fashioned after a bishop who gave to the poor. He was a earlier version of Mother Teresa (I guess). When my niece asked me if Santa was real, I told her he was a long time ago and that the tradition was continued in the spirit of giving (which relates to the giving of gifts at Christ's birth). But parents are the ones who carry on the tradition.



As for other "mysterious" gift givers... like Toothy Fairy and Easter Bunny. Though are out.

Answer 4

I remember feeling crushed when I found out that there wasn't a real Tooth fairy. I was little, but I felt lied to.



So, we told our son the truth from day 1. That Santa isn't real, but that he's a game that people play at Christmas time. Also, that some parents lie to their children and never to tell another child that he's not real.



My child loves Christmas. He waits for Santa to come just like all the other children. He puts out milk & cookies, but if you ask him if he's real? He will say no.



My child will never feel lied to by me or his dad, yet he still enjoys the magic of christmas. I'd say that's the best of both worlds. :)

Answer 5

That's kinda like what I told my son. I explained that santa was a symbol for Christmas....the spirit of giving. I also explained Christmas as the season of giving....we are also Christians but this seemed to rectify how santa fit into the picture.

Answer 6

Yep, I agree with your line of thinking. I told my daughter that if you believe in Santa, he will always be there. Every year without end.



Have you seen the Polar Express movie? It was made from a book. You could watch it with him and he will get the idea. It is a wonderful movie.



I'm about to tread on this path with my son now, but I think he's gonna take it a little harder than my daughter. Wish me luck.

Answer 7

I thought about that myself. And I've concluded that I would say that I don't know if there is a Santa Claus or not, because I never seen him. But there are a lot of things that exist that I've haven't seen. Just because you've haven't seen something doesn't mean that it doesn't it exist. And I would tell them That they would just have to believe what that feel in their heart is true.

Answer 8

I think sooner or later they need to find out. I think you told him correctly. Everyone puts it in their own words, but that s what Santa is. Just explain to him that he is older now, and when he was younger he would not have understood what it really was. That way he doesn't come up with the whole why did you lie to me mom like my nephew did.

Answer 9

Tell them the ture meaning of the man St Nicholas. And how his life influenced the practice of Santa.

Answer 10

Well..u did not do bad! Actually sit him down and tell him Saint Nick is the spirit of christmas, and thats where santa clause came about..and people give gifts in spirit of christmas.

Answer 11

Sounds like you did right to me, he already knows, so its not like youre scaring him for life by not coming right out with it and its true Santa is a feeling, the feeling of christmas and giving. :)

Answer 12

I really respected my mother for telling me that he wasn't real. I'm sure she didn't enjoy letting it out and I never told my younger sibs. But I felt respected for being told something that I actually struggled with for a couple of years, and I felt a little more grown up for an 8 year old.

Answer 13

Saint Nicholas was real, but ya mostly its the spirit of giving. But I definitely do believe there should be much more focus on Jesus around the Christmas season because he was even more of a giver, he gave us his life so that we could have eternal life.

Answer 14

I'd say, "Whew...I'm glad you finally figured it out. You're what; 7 now? I was beginning to think you were retarded."

Answer 15

i always ask why do you think that and when they give me their reason i say do u believe that and if they do then i say i guess you could be right

Answer 16

your right, now you arent getting any presents!

Answer 17

tell him the truth

Answer 18

tELL THIER MOM AND GET OVER IT