The ongoing debate on whether parents should tell their children that Santa is real or not is increasingly brought up during the holiday season each year. Through this debate, some feel as though leading children to believe Santa is real can be considered lying and may eventually put a wrench in their behavioral patterns. On the other hand, others feel that not carrying on the tradition of Santa takes away the joys of Christmas. Parents will make this decision for their children, potentially putting a bigger responsibility on themselves to carry this tradition.

The parents who choose to tell their children that Santa is not real say that it actually takes away the giving of the season, but the better option shows children the joys and imagination that Christmas creates. Considering most children grow up believing in Santa, it becomes a main source of imagination in one’s childhood. 

Kaan Ekincigil, a sophomore shares, “As a child, I believed in Santa which made me interested in other fictional fantasies that improved my childhood.”

Behavioral patterns can also fluctuate during the holidays as children are trying to be good so that they are put on the nice list. Good behavior benefits the whole family and those around them.

Ella Zettergren, also a sophomore, adds, “During the holidays, I was always on my best behavior because I was scared of being put on the naughty list. My parents appreciated the good behavior, which was because of my belief in Santa, so they found it beneficial telling me he was real.”

According to a psychologist’s case on Fatherly.com, many think that the child’s thoughts after they find out Santa isn’t real is damaging and feel that it ruins the trustworthy relationship between the parents and child. Most children will be upset when they find out that he is not real but only for a short period of time and then get over it as time goes on. Some children also find out as they grow older and mature which shows how it isn’t as damaging as some would argue. Although this varies, most will agree that the idea of Santa not being real does not continue to keep them up at night.

The Fatherly website also states, ”Research shows that kids who are lied to by their parents are more likely to lie themselves so it is always a good idea to tell the truth if possible” (When mentioning their views on lying about Santa).

Others believe that letting your children ask questions and wonder about the possibilities of Santa is beneficial, giving them a sense of reason and critical thinking. 

Whether you choose to tell the truth about Santa is ultimately your choice, but keeping all thoughts into consideration, the Christmas tradition will live on.