Answer to Cheatyface: I'm not saying we have to stop putting gifts under the tree, because giving as we all know is the point of Christmas. We all end up at a point in our lives where we realize some things aren't what we thought they where. I will have to agree with some people on here, we should probably not discuss this thread subject. There are a few people on here (even if they signed up on here and are not quite 13 years old) that probably believe in Santa Claus, and we shouldn't ruin that belief for them. Especially right after Christmas, this thread just didn't come at the right time.
Do you go to a school where there are many 13 year-olds who still believe in Santa? I always assumed the average age was 9-10.
I don't think it's a bad thing for kids to believe in the myth of someone who'd make people happy if they're behaving, imagination is a normal part of development, and helps develop creative minds.
It's a real story, it's a real value and it's something that inspires children, that's the spirit of Christmas, though today's consumer culture may have drifted from that spirit a bit.
I don't think we could necessarily say it's an outright
good thing, but I would certainly say it's not harmful.
But, of course, there would need to be a limit, no? Kids would also try to figure it out for themselves, when they start to notice that the story doesn't quite add up. For instance, they might stay up late trying to catch Santa delivering presents. Questioning what's real and what's not is a normal part of mental development and really shouldn't be hindered by
muh feelz.
