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By Karen Springen
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Have you been naughty or nice? At Christmastime, parents of small children face tough questions about Jolly Old Saint Nick. Tip Sheet's Karen Springen helps you answer four of the biggest:
Is Santa real? Ask, "What do you think?" says University of Chicago child psychiatrist Bennett Leventhal. Some kids are mini-lawyers, and they'll be proud to uncover the ruse on their own. Don't rush the disillusionment. "Most kids over 5 know the truth. They just like playing the game anyway," he says.
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Why are there different Santas in every mall? Again, follow the child's lead. If your kid thinks they're fake, admit that's true, says child psychiatrist Elizabeth Berger. But if she seems sad about the discovery, say "Santa's at lunch. This is a helper filling in for Santa."
Will you tell him I'm bad? Avoid the old "I'll call Santa" device, Leventhal says. For kids, Santa's magical and kind--it upsets the myth when he's turned into a disciplinarian.
We're not Christian. Will he still bring us toys? Santa is practically a secular symbol, but that doesn't mean all families need to embrace him. If you do welcome Santa down your chimney, explain that he's a symbol of kindness and generosity.
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