Has it ever happened to you? You tell your kid a white lie, and he sees through it immediately. However, when it comes to Christmas, your kid believes that Santa exists? Well, it is quite a common phenomenon, and the reason is quite simple.
Before we discuss why kids end up believing in the make-believe world of Santa Claus, let us take a look at the research of Prof Jacqueline D. Woolley. Prof Woolley is a Professor and Department of Psychology Chair, University of Texas at Austin, USA. Prof Woolley specializes in children’s understanding of reality. While it seems to be a simple enough topic, it is much deeper than you may imagine.
Children, according to Prof Woolley, are exposed to the world of fantasy very early in life. So it is fascinating to see how they end up understanding what is real and what is not. In order to research this, she set up an elaborate experiment with a popular subject: Santa.
Prof Woolley’s findings
The result of the experiment are not just phenomenal, they also challenge the earlier hypotheses that children believe in anything they are told. A few scholars like Richard Dawkins have published essays to this effect, adding that this provides the children an evolutionary advantage. To summarize him, the children who listen to their parents blindly get hurt less. However, this is not true.
According to Prof Woolley, children understand reality in the same manner as adults do – by making use of evidence. Just like adults, they do three things:
- They note the circumstances in which they get the information,
- Kids tally the new information with the things they already know,
- They judge the credibility of information based on the expertise of the endorser.
To set a context, if you are told that a new planet has been identified, an adult will believe it if he hears about it on a show on Discovery channel, with a footage captured from the International Space Station, shared by NASA. They would not believe it if a stranger gives this information in a barber shop.
Likewise, children are able to differentiate between possible, and impossible. For the remaining information that seems probable, they depend on an expert. So if it is a new planet, they would believe their Science teacher than their basketball coach, even though both are teachers at the same school.
So why do they end up believing in Santa Claus? Read on to find out.
Back to the myth of Santa Claus
So, if children are as smart as the study claims, why do they believe, at least to a certain age, that Santa is real? The answer is so simple that it will leave you speechless. They believe it because you, the parents, their most trusted source of information, go to lengths in keeping the myth alive!
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They come across the legend of Santa Claus and his elves early on. The child gets a gift only if they are well behaved. And as an evidence, they have a gift when they wakes up. Also, the milk and the cookies they kept for Santa are gone. There are more than one pictures they have taken with the Santa at your local mall. All these things add up to the evidence that Santa is real.
To sum it up, it is because of you that your smart kid believes in the myth of Santa Claus. So is it unwise to continue keeping the myth alive? Would the child lose faith in you when it finds out?
Well, the answer is NO. Keeping the faith alive will actually help your kid live the experience. The very fact that good behavior gets rewarded is valuable life lesson to begin with. But as your child grows up, their world view would broaden, and so would their experiences. They will then begin to question the facts in the story: how does a person visit each house in a night, or how does he visit your house when your house lacks a chimney.
They will outgrow the myth without feeling cheated, and would be ready to play a Santa for their children, when the time comes.
How to eventually tell your kid the truth about Santa
It can be hard to talk to your kids about Santa Claus. When kids discover the truth about the gifts under the tree, they could get astonished, upset, or depressed. By being frank, confirming their feelings, and introducing them to new holiday customs, parents can assist their children in processing and accepting this news.
According to Emily Guarnotta, PsyD in an article entitled “Is Santa Real? How to Tell Your Kids About Santa Claus” published in choosingtherapy.com, there are ways to tell your kid the truth about Santa, especially when they start asking questions about it.
Image by denamorado on Freepik
First, you should be honest.
In order to make your intentions clearer to them, you may additionally explain why you chose to withhold this information. By telling your child Santa Claus’s origin tale, you can keep part of the wonder your youngster may still identify with Santa Claus and defuse any awkwardness in the talk. Then, as they react to the news, recognize their emotions and show empathy for them.
In addition, hearing about Santa may cause children to experience feelings of loss and sadness. They could react by becoming depressed, irate, or bargaining. Youngsters require a safe area to discuss their emotions. You should allow them to process their emotions and encourage them to cope.
Furthermore, your child could feel that the holidays have lost significance now that they are aware of the reality about Santa. Tell them that attending to church, decorating the Christmas tree, and taking in the holiday lights are just a few of the numerous traditions that make the holidays enjoyable, and that Santa Claus is just one of them. Introduce them more Christmas traditions that can make the spirit of Christmas alive.
Updates by Jobelle Macayan
Also read: Is encouraging your kids to believe in Santa Claus good or bad for them?
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