Do you believe that telling a child about Santa is lying to the child?

I do not believe it is considered lying to a child, simply because it's just a way to put a little magic and fun in a child's life. With all the seriousness and tragedy in today's society, it's a great way to give little kids something to believe in just like the tooth fairy and its always fun to see something so simple bring a smile to the kids' face for as long as they believe. What I have told my oldest son who is 8, when he questioned Santa is simply, If you believe then he exists.

And just because you don't always see the actual person does not mean they are not real. And if you REALLY want to get technical about it.. we the parents do exist and we are Santa.

I do not believe it is considered lying to a child, simply because it's just a way to put a little magic and fun in a child's life. With all the seriousness and tragedy in today's society, it's a great way to give little kids something to believe in just like the tooth fairy and its always fun to see something so simple bring a smile to the kids' face for as long as they believe. What I have told my oldest son who is 8, when he questioned Santa is simply, If you believe then he exists.

And just because you don't always see the actual person does not mean they are not real. And if you REALLY want to get technical about it.. we the parents do exist and we are Santa..

Of course it's lying, because you are knowingly telling the child something that isn't true. The conundrum doesn't rest in whether or not it's lying; it lies in whether or not it is immoral. Personally, I don't think it is.It gives the child a great amount of pleasure to believe in Santa.

Also, when the time comes to tell the child that it is not true, it gives the child a sort of life lesson: "Santa" isn't the good thing in life that ended up letting us down in the end. It teaches kids to let go.

Yes, it's lying, but I'm going to let my son believe in Santa as long as he wants to. We tell him that if you believe then he is real to you. It's a big part of childhood to believe in Santa then find out the truth and I wouldn't deprive my child of that.

Many or most of us grew up believing in Santa. How many were harmed by it? Probably few.

I think the people who say they are not going to lie to their children about santa don't have kids yet. I said the same thing. I thought it was foolish.

Now I have a toddler and Santa will be alive and well in our house until she is old enough to find out the truth. It's just more fun that way. The nice thing about the story of Santa is that kids don't go searching for the gifts.

Once you know Santa is really Mom and Dad, then you have to hide the presents better. The Santa stories have been around for centuries, as one other poster mentioned. If it were something harmful (like child labor) then it would have ceased by now.

But we continue because at some point we have all been awed by Santa and then we get to BE Santa for our family, friends, and hopefully for those struggling through the holidays. So Santa is really only as alive as we make him out to be.

Kids love Santa! Although I haven't seen the real Santa, his spirit lives on because we have lots of fellowmen who possesses generous hearts. Learn about Santa here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus.

We do it for the kids. As long as I know Santa it's not true but, still I remember ,how my parents we're lying about it ,and,.... one they we saw them putting toys and ... we're realized it, but then we loved them all for it. We have more good feelings for our parents,actually they are the Santa...very ,very funny I still feel to lough..hahah.

Very simple...Telling a child about Santa is not a lie because Santa DOES exist.

Yes. However, when my daughter learned the "truth" of Santa Claus, I asked her if we should perpetuate the "lie. " (Is it really a lie?

Or do loved ones act as Santa by proxy? ) Her answer - despite the fact that the tears on her cheeks weren't yet dry - was a resounding "YES! " She could not imagine depriving him of the fun.

And for years, she delighted in arranging half-eaten cookies and a half-drunk glass of milk, and writing thank-you notes in Santa's name. We all tell little white lies, and I think we can be forgiven for them when there's no malice - or better yet, when they're told to give a child joy or to spare an adult's feelings (e.g. , who really wants to hear "Yes, as a matter of fact, that dress does make you look like a milk cow?") I think that it's important for a child to understand that the love and the gifts given by "Santa" are really given by family and friends who will never stop caring and loving the child. In a very real sense, the Santa story is the story of St. Nicholas, and honors the spirit of anonymous gift giving - or giving without expectation of anything in return.

To teach a child the value of that is not a lie.

I do not think that it is lying to a child. I know that others may feel different, but I think that it is something to give your child to belive in just like the Easter bunny or God. I know saying God might be something that might rise the fur on peoples necks, but it the truth we have never seen God, but their are some that belive.Do you call those people liars when we tell our children to belive in him.

I think that telling children about Santa gives them a great little story to hold on to. I am sure for a small child the thought of Santa riding on his sleigh to come done the chimney to give presents to good little boys and girls is a fun thought. Now when they get older they may not belive, but that is letting them make their own opinions that will form in time, but they will always remember the fun moments like waiting for Santa to come and deliver the presents or making cookies for Santa to eat.

I think that you should in time tell them the reality of it all when children can become cruel and tell them that their is no such thing as Santa, but I think that while they are young and are not is school there is nothing wrong with giving them a little story to go along with their Christmas experience.

The spirit of Santa is always alive! Using the words Spirit of Santa will allow the holiday to be real and not a lie. Unless you do not believe in the Spirit of Santa and your religious views are contradictory to the Spirit of Santa in which case it would be a lie.It all depends on you and your belief systems.

I was raised that Santa was not real. I now believe firmly in the spirit of santa and love the legend of St.Nick.

Telling your child about the magic of Santa Claus is of course, not the whole truth. Sure, the mythical figure does not truly slide down chimney’s all over the world on Christmas Eve and fill children’s living rooms with colorful presents bulging with toys and other goodies. However, the spirit of Santa and what he is supposed to embody and portray is so much more important than the idea that he only brings the gifts.

Although today’s Santa is no longer real, the legend surrounding the former Saint who lived in the 3rd century and helped young, poor children is still very much alive, and it is this legend that should be introduced to and kept alive through our own children. So are you telling your children a lie when talking about Santa and his good deeds and how he strives to make children happy on Christmas day by delivering presents? Yes and No.

Yes, it’s a small fib, since you are stretching the truth, and no, since Santa’s history and spirit is precisely what should enliven your household to help your children learn the true meaning of Christmas. Not only the importance of giving to others in need (which oftentimes no longer exists among children who have it all only to receive more toys, electronics, and other modern goods at Christmas), but also the joy derived from making a difference, doing a good deed, and making others happy by showing them you care.

It depends upon what you tell them. If you tell them the story as if it is true then that's lying. But kids already understand storybook stories and comics so telling them that Santa is like Donald Duck but nicer is ok.

Yes it is a lie, no I would not perpetuate the lie with my child. I would want to instill the values of truth and honesty in my child so I would let them know that Santa is a nice story like Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.