na_cho_cheez

I have a different problem here, but in the same theme.

My oldest kid, my daughter, is just turning 3 and starting to really get into the holiday spirit this year. She is starting to understand the stories we tell about traditions, customs, etc. behind thanksgiving, halloween, etc.

So halloween was easy, most people dont tell their children that ghosts and ghouls are real.

But this pretend Santa Guy ! I'm supposed to lie to my kid on this one.

So I have been extremely quiet and I caught myself totally avoiding it by saying absolutely nothing any time Santa came up this month....... I am not too keen on telling her about Santa because obviously its a complete bunch of BS, and I get totally uncomfortable about lying to her, even when its a story EVERYONE else is following along with.

Do you have any evidence that shows if there are any problems if you outright tell a 3 year old that "Many people get excited about this pretend guy we call Santa, here is the story, and he is not real but some children think he is..."

I am concerned to cause problems when she is in school where she tells all the kids her mommy and daddy say that Santa is fake, but I figure shes already going to get some of this anyway due to meeting kids who believe in God. She will most definitely get the agnostic point of view while getting her religious education. (I will probably explain 'Pascals Wager' to her in case she feels the need to search for comfort and wants to explore any forms of theism as she grows up.)

Looking for a little perspective on this, as I know its not a big deal at all.

After all, I was told Santa was real, and then found out like every other kid, and turned out fine... I just have trouble telling lies to anybody, including my children.

Thanks, I really like the approach to explain it as a game, especially to validate how it may have a different meaning to different children and parents.