No, we explained that santa claus (ho, ho, ho) in the west was only there to take his mama /baba's money, that was a few decades ago, I had never seen a "santa" in asia until ?? alibaba, amazon, tencent, facebook, years, commercialism. how to you explain that to a young child and his/her's kinder classmates, when the kinder leaders are attempting to bond the kids to have a present Xmas.
Santa, Allah, Yahweh, Amaterasu...they've been told these are all myths, but that myths are the lie that tell the truth. The truth being what it means to be human, what we value and why.
There's a brilliant film called Rise of the Guardians that very cleverly explains why it's actually good and beneficial for kids to believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny etc. Nothing wrong with letting the little ones indulge in whim and fancy and believe in magic and fairy dust.
I'm not sure "encourage" is a helpful word here. I "told" my kids Santa would be coming, just like my parents told me. I think kids generally believe their parents for a few years until they realize we tell lies.
Though I could be described as an agnostic on the tooth fairies.
Threepence under the pillow will extend false beliefs. :-)
As purple... mentioned - nothing wrong with children believing in and acting out their fantasies.
It's called creative play and fosters healthy growth and stimulates imaginative experiences.
Whether it's belief in Father Xmas, the Easter Bunny or wanting to be Tinkerbell or Spiderman or whatever benign creation it's all good.
A gradual awareness of the reality of it all usually comes naturally to most children, and I'm sure most people look fondly back on those times for themselves and family.
It only harbors negativities when the adults in control espouse negativities - funnily enough while many live in their own "grown up" fantasies.
Since this is a Japanese site, the question here can easily mean "do want your children to believe in what Japanese perceive to be Santa Claus?". This is not necessarily the Santa Claus you grew up with yourself. I'm from the UK and my parents never made me write a letter to Santa or put out a plate of milk and cookies. That version of Santa is as alien to me as a Bar Mitzvah.
I left the UK before eating "pigs in blankets" became a thing, so have seen first hand how perceptions of Christmas change. It is weird to see people now highly committed to eating something I had to look up on the Internet.
Yes. Ia good for children to believe in those childhood fantasies. I thought about Santa Nicolas, Santa Claus, the Eastern Bunny, etc. It gives them a very good motivation to be and act good, encourage them to be more responsabile, but most important, is their happiness in their eyes when their receive the long awaited presents.
The child innocence and happiness cannot be replaced with anything.
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iron man
No, we explained that santa claus (ho, ho, ho) in the west was only there to take his mama /baba's money, that was a few decades ago, I had never seen a "santa" in asia until ?? alibaba, amazon, tencent, facebook, years, commercialism. how to you explain that to a young child and his/her's kinder classmates, when the kinder leaders are attempting to bond the kids to have a present Xmas.
Mr Kipling
Yes, I believed in Santa, tooth fairies, monsters under the bed and God as a small child.
As an adult I can see that they were all to encourage good behaviour. Though I could be described as an agnostic on the tooth fairies.
enmaai
My son is laughing all the way when you say the word santa.
Geeter Mckluskie
Santa, Allah, Yahweh, Amaterasu...they've been told these are all myths, but that myths are the lie that tell the truth. The truth being what it means to be human, what we value and why.
purple_depressed_bacon
There's a brilliant film called Rise of the Guardians that very cleverly explains why it's actually good and beneficial for kids to believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny etc. Nothing wrong with letting the little ones indulge in whim and fancy and believe in magic and fairy dust.
Pukey2
My parents never encouraged me to believe in santa or god because they knew I'd never fall for it.
albaleo
I'm not sure "encourage" is a helpful word here. I "told" my kids Santa would be coming, just like my parents told me. I think kids generally believe their parents for a few years until they realize we tell lies.
Threepence under the pillow will extend false beliefs. :-)
browny1
As purple... mentioned - nothing wrong with children believing in and acting out their fantasies.
It's called creative play and fosters healthy growth and stimulates imaginative experiences.
Whether it's belief in Father Xmas, the Easter Bunny or wanting to be Tinkerbell or Spiderman or whatever benign creation it's all good.
A gradual awareness of the reality of it all usually comes naturally to most children, and I'm sure most people look fondly back on those times for themselves and family.
It only harbors negativities when the adults in control espouse negativities - funnily enough while many live in their own "grown up" fantasies.
dobre vam zajebava
no.
Santa as figure is pure commercial guy.
giving presents so he is actually salesman.
nothing related to religion or real meaning of Christmas.
kohakuebisu
Since this is a Japanese site, the question here can easily mean "do want your children to believe in what Japanese perceive to be Santa Claus?". This is not necessarily the Santa Claus you grew up with yourself. I'm from the UK and my parents never made me write a letter to Santa or put out a plate of milk and cookies. That version of Santa is as alien to me as a Bar Mitzvah.
I left the UK before eating "pigs in blankets" became a thing, so have seen first hand how perceptions of Christmas change. It is weird to see people now highly committed to eating something I had to look up on the Internet.
DanteKH
Yes. Ia good for children to believe in those childhood fantasies. I thought about Santa Nicolas, Santa Claus, the Eastern Bunny, etc. It gives them a very good motivation to be and act good, encourage them to be more responsabile, but most important, is their happiness in their eyes when their receive the long awaited presents.
The child innocence and happiness cannot be replaced with anything.