Yeah, I always act like there is animosity between me and the elf. Kids love to tell me when he's messing with my things.
Kids and Santa
- Thread starter AgronAlum
- Start date
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
My parents always have me tons of presents from them on Christmas Eve and one from Santa on Christmas morning. I figured it out on my own but it was no big deal because I knew the presents were coming from my parents hard work.
I'm always blown away when parents let their kids think most or all the gifts are from Santa.
I'm always blown away when parents let their kids think most or all the gifts are from Santa.
We have also always done a single(ish) gift from the big guy. If its a couple things that gi together, fine, but generally one thing.
I don’t have a kid, so this is a genuine question, but what’s it hurt? Why would you sit down with your kid and tell them at a planned time, instead of just having the conversation with them after they figure it out?
Parents are like superheroes to their kids. I don’t know any parent that sits their kids down and say, well, people are generally bad and you will get screwed over by most of your friends at sometime so don’t trust anyone. Let them be kids and dream and imagine. How many kids have an imaginary friend when they are playing by themselves. It’s part of life IMO. Let them have reality later on.
I just made sure my kids rode the bus at least a few times 4th-5th grade. Pretty much got me out of both Santa and sex talks. Parenting is cake.
My son is 8 and my twin girls are 5. My kids are full on believers in Santa Clause. It takes a lot of work to make it more believable.
On Christmas Eve we open all gifts from mom, dad, grandparents etc. The kids go to bed with nothing under the tree.
We have canvas sacks with their names on them and put a bunch of smaller toys, games, inside these. They usually get 2-3 bigger gifts from Santa and a full stocking of candy and trinket type things (bouncy balls, hot wheels etc)
Also no name tags ( kids learn your hand writing), no packaging ( why is it packaged like it came from a store? Don’t elves make the toys). Everything is ready to play. Batteries are charged. Assembly is complete. My kids fully believe.
Mom and Dad get stockings full of our favorite snacks and mini bottles of alcohol
On Christmas Eve we open all gifts from mom, dad, grandparents etc. The kids go to bed with nothing under the tree.
We have canvas sacks with their names on them and put a bunch of smaller toys, games, inside these. They usually get 2-3 bigger gifts from Santa and a full stocking of candy and trinket type things (bouncy balls, hot wheels etc)
Also no name tags ( kids learn your hand writing), no packaging ( why is it packaged like it came from a store? Don’t elves make the toys). Everything is ready to play. Batteries are charged. Assembly is complete. My kids fully believe.
Mom and Dad get stockings full of our favorite snacks and mini bottles of alcohol
My mom just separated ours by wrapping paper, no need for name tags.
She also said Santa brought her the toy, she just had to wrap it.
Hell, I’m 35 and Santa is still real! I’ve never once made mention any other way with my parents!
my kids are 9/7 and still believe. Hope it continues for a while. Even if they do figure it out soon, I hope they continue to play the part.
my kids are 9/7 and still believe. Hope it continues for a while. Even if they do figure it out soon, I hope they continue to play the part.
Sex talk for me was from an older friend on the bus when I was in third grade because when the school did it in fourth grade the concept didnt shock me like others.
There are some psychologists that think elf can do some damage to kids.
Also, some talks on that parents should give the bigger gifts and not Santa because kids at school talk and wonder why Santa didnt get them something amazing like he did the other kid.
Have talks about gifts and budgets and try not to blow the bank.
I was in first grade when I learned what was up. It was super-upsetting to me, I felt really let down and like my parents were fine lying to me. So, when we had our oldest child, I wanted to not do Santa but it really meant a lot to Janny to do it. He was more passionate about it than me, so he won out - we generally parent such that, if one has a stronger opinion on something, they usually win by default.
Anyway - we started doing the Elf when our oldest was about 3. She LOVED it, and we had our son when she was 4. He has always been frigging terrified of that elf. So, last year when she was 9 and he was 5, he was basically saying that he didn't want anything to do with the elf this year, and our daughter was excited. I took her aside and gently explained we weren't going to keep making Christmas hard for the little one each morning. She tried getting really petulant and snotty at first, until I sort of gently broke to her that the elf was not real. That led to the conversation about Santa, so we had it in a really mature, kind, factual way. Now she loves being in on the secret - and we've let her know that Santa won't stop coming at our house no matter what she thinks, so she's cool w/helping me with her little brother.
Anyway - we started doing the Elf when our oldest was about 3. She LOVED it, and we had our son when she was 4. He has always been frigging terrified of that elf. So, last year when she was 9 and he was 5, he was basically saying that he didn't want anything to do with the elf this year, and our daughter was excited. I took her aside and gently explained we weren't going to keep making Christmas hard for the little one each morning. She tried getting really petulant and snotty at first, until I sort of gently broke to her that the elf was not real. That led to the conversation about Santa, so we had it in a really mature, kind, factual way. Now she loves being in on the secret - and we've let her know that Santa won't stop coming at our house no matter what she thinks, so she's cool w/helping me with her little brother.
******* Elf on the Shelf, I will burn that little bastard when the kids are older as a sacrifice for my personal sanity.
This is a hard line for us too. The kids each get one gift plus a stocking from Santa. Everything else comes from Mom and Dad. And the cool stuff always comes from us. Santa is not getting the credit for the fruits of my labor.
Think we need an “Do You Do Elf On The Shelf” poll thread.
Same. You should see how excited our 7yo is when she wakes up in the morning and is looking for that damn elf. The two minutes a day it takes to move it around are totally worth it. And if you’re running out of ideas of where to put it just look online.
My kids legitimately were terrified someone was coming into their house in the middle of the night so we told them at that point. It wasn’t worth the anxiety it gave them.
They still think he’s real for the other kids though. That’s mainly come from the confusion of having “Ames Santa” live relatively close and we pass his house all the time so it’s worked out fine.
They still think he’s real for the other kids though. That’s mainly come from the confusion of having “Ames Santa” live relatively close and we pass his house all the time so it’s worked out fine.
Another mechanism to scare your kids into behaving.
