Why My Kids Won't Believe in Santa

Usually an author saves his caveats for the end of an argument, but I thought I would go ahead and make a few now. After all, a Christian blogger just said something about Santa Claus (apparently attacking him?), and it might be hard for everyone itching to comment to get through the whole argument up front at this rate!

So, caveats ...

FIRST, I heartily agree that there is potentially a lot of good in the Santa traditions. Generosity, charity, morality -- who wouldn't want little kids learning these things? So, this post is not about Santa being some evil influence destroying future generations.

I'm here for your So So Sooouuullll

SECOND, I am well aware that some portions of the current Santa Claus traditions find their origins loosely in the life of a Christian saint. I am also aware that the original St. Nick did not have flying reindeer or live at the North Pole.  In other words, teaching your child to believe in Santa is not de facto teaching them to be like St. Nick.  You can't scream "Origins! Origins!" as a justification when a tradition has clearly unmoored itself from said origins in significant ways.



THIRD, I am not saying it is evil for children to play make-believe, or for parents to have make-believe games they play with their children. When I was growing up, I never believed in Santa Claus, but all my Christmas presents still said from "Santa," and every year it was a big deal who got to play "Santa," the person who handed out the gifts. This is not about avoiding Santa Claus like the plague.

He who must not be named!

So why will my kids not believe in Santa Claus? I don't think it's bad tradition, persay, but as a Christian, I think there is something far better available to me.  I will teach my kids from an early age that every good thing we have -- including Christmas presents -- comes from God. Each Christmas, my children will celebrate God as the good Provider -- ultimately proving this through the giving of His Son.

So again, not bashing the Santa tradition. But for those readers who are Christian parents or may be someday, I would urge you not to miss the golden opportunity that the Santa tradition can replace. For parents raising their children in the Christian worldview there is simply no value in teaching children to believe in Santa.  Use it as a fun make-believe game, sure! Watch the Christmas claymation specials, sure! Don't have a special Jesus bar of soap ready if your kid accidentally says "elf." Don't fly in panic to the CD player if "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" happens to come on.  But why teach your kiddos to truly believe that a a fat, jolly man brings them gifts every year based on how good they've been? Instead, focus them on belief in the God who gives freely out of grace, giving us every good thing we have -- ultimately His Son.

There are good moral lessons to be found in the Santa tradition, but each of these is far better taught through the gospel.  If I'm going to intentionally teach my children something wrong about the way the world works -- even if it's a fun lie like Santa Claus -- I need a reason.  Given the meaning that Christmas has in my worldview already, I just don't have one.  Santa is useless to me.

Besides, my children won't miss out on being around a chubby, bearded man with an awkward laugh during the holiday season, anyway ...

Portrait of the author as a young child

UPDATE: As editor of this simple blog, I encourage my writers to feel free to disagree about certain topics.  In this case, I'm going to agree to disagree with Mr. Ladd (and his well-written post) and encourage you to read our previous article - 'Christianity vs. Santa Claus' - in which I take the opposing point of view.  As I recall, plenty of people disagreed with me.  Santa Claus is a pretty harmless concept, so I'm sure a multitude of opinions won't bother anyone.  -Adam D. Jones