Santa

[krysalyss]

Coming up to our first Xmas DH and I have the same issue. We decided we wouldnt do santa and were happy with that until my mum was so upset and aghast that we felt that we had to reassess (after all I love XMAS and loved the whole santa thing even way after I knew he was real). I think it really is a personal choice. After all there all a lot of people in Australia who don't celebrate xmas and therefore dont teach their kids about santa.
We have decided in the end that we will do the santa but will minimise the focus on presents and my husband can do a story about the christmas spirit (as we see it - family, helping others who are less well off etc). And we are going to start a tradition of buying a present for a child who may not get a pressie otherwise (eg. like Big W do each year).

[kungfubecca]

HI,

A Lot of people have spoken about the "magic" and I completely support this idea.

I think maybe look at the whole santa perspective from another angle. You can read a child a story and their mind can fill with all sorts of images and they are taken on a wonderful adventure as they live the story. Santa is very similar. By encouraging a child to not 'discover' their imagination who knows if it could be a good or bad thing.

As others have said it is your choice in the long run, I just know that I would like my children to experience the wonderment and excitement of believing.