TTIEimS’A S;k!YA CLAUS
j
Dear Mothers and Fathers Everywherer .. . - -
Does modern child psychology say that our children should not be told about
Santa Claus? Must this beautiful old custom be abandoned for the sake of the
child’s emotional adjustment/later oh? The answer to both of these questions
is an emphatic no!
When the experts in personality growth furnish us with instances of distorted
development that have resulted, at least in part, from childhood teachings about
Santa Claus,.they do not intend to indict the saintly character who represents
the spirit of Christmas* They know as.well as we that as a bringer of happiness
to millions of children there is no.sgbsitute for Santa Claus#
The clinical evidence is not against Santa Claus. It is against the way he •'
sometimes is used by unthinking adults# Where parents intentionally deceive their
child into complete conviction that there is a wonqlerous human-magician who'can
be everywhere at once, there may be danger# When-a child’s best source of auth
ority answers questions with evasions or lies to keep the child believing that
Santa Claus is a real person, there can be harm#
It is just as wrong to threaten, a child with the possibility that Santa Claus
may not visit him because he misbehaves as it is. to use withdrawal of parental
love to punish him for the same cause# Taking love, and security from a child is
dangerous to his social and emotional growth#
Some mothers and fathers already are solving the Santa Claus problem in a way
that meets the growth needs of their children, and they are doing this without
sacrificing Christmas fun# These parents cut undesirable fears,' by starting from
the beginning with. Santa Claus as a "pretend person."
These modern motners and fathers know how to*share the Christmas spirit with
their children* They have discovered that Christmas morning happiness, born of
release from tensions due to uncertainty, is inferior to joy promoted by knowl
edge of who Santa Claus is and how-he works# They'believe, too, that this knowl
edge gives.their children a larger share in Christmas than they had as children#
A child's emotional growth needs are better satisfied by expected presents and
unexpected.surprises from people ha knows best and loves most# Children like to
make believe# Their enjoyment of present's and surprises is increased by grown
ups who call themselves Santa Claus in celevration of Christmas#
Children like people who sneak presents under the tree or into Christmas stock
ings after they have gone to .bed because this is the wdy to pretend that Santa
Claus came during the night# . They enjoy the presents■they get in this way bet
ter than they do those left by a miracle man with whom they cannot share their
happiness because they never can see or know him#
Under this nov; system there can be r\o later disappointments, no resentment over
being led to believe in the impossible, an„d no loss of faith in Christmas#
Parents who know how to teach that Santa Claus is a pretend person do this in the
same way that they help a child enjoy his story books# They do not constantly re
mind their little girls and boys that 'Santa Claus is not a real person any more
than they insist before each reading that Peter Rabbit is a "pretend" rabbit# But
they are ready to explain the whole situation in a casual and matter of fact way
with.the added statement that "it is fun to pretend," when explanations are need
ed or whenever direct questions are asked#
These grown up people do not insist that Santa Claus is a real person any more
than they try^to make a child believe that Goldie Locks did visit the Three Bears#
Such fathers and mothers know that as long as there is Christmas there should be a
Santa Claus for children. They see to it that their chieldren have the best Santa
Claus there is; the one that will be the most fun to remember#
We share this with you and hope it may be of value.
Chaplain Perry