It just kind of sits there. They even check it twice! I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her and you will do for your kids someday. After that, check out what everyone at the North Pole is tweeting & texting to each other. They shout it from afar! The Montieths wanted their kids to always know that Santa was simply a fun, cultural story to enjoy, but he wasn’t a real person or a big part of their family traditions. Do NOT use the pre-filled drop down boxes that some browsers provide. When a child asks the question as to whether Santa is real or not, they're already at a developmental stage to distinguish between reality and fictional characters. You bought those presents; you should take the kudos! You should try it. I tell the truth after a little bit, even though I really don't want to This could never make any of us Santa … Oh yes, you must mean the list Mrs. Claus gives to Santa. Well I answer the question He knows if you've been bad or good. I really liked his list of all the different types of cookies Santa eats! I always fib and blame stuff on someone else when I've been bad. Gonna find out who's naughty and nice! Then carefully TYPE your first name. I’d never be a party They're marking distinct occasions in time to be remembered in the future in a way that helps aid trans-generational family traditions and shared social experiences. Children are far more alert to these implications that we give them credit for. "Studies suggest children with rich fantasy lives may actually be better at identifying the boundaries between fantasy and reality," says educator David Zyngier (Credit: Alamy), NO: David Zyngier, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Monash University. Hmm, another nice question! Of course, we don’t need to sit down and discuss this with every child and at any age, but if the discussion comes up or if the child asks the question, then the correct answer is the best. Research suggests it's bad practice to lie to children. It will tell you if you're on Santa's Naughty or Nice List for 2020 (and then you can print out your 2020 Nice List Certificate to leave for Santa Christmas Eve too! Answer NOW, for Christmas sake! Pet Letters to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Saying "Merry Christmas" Around The World, Christmas Coloring Pages, Crafts & Activities, The Elves Read "The Night Before Christmas", Vote for which reindeer will guide Santa's sleigh, Personally autographed photo of Santa Claus, Santa's ★ Official ★ Count Down To Christmas Clock, Children's Help Lines: People You Can Talk To. Please answer me — once and for all Answer NOW, for Christmas sake! Driven like a race car health food like tofu, rice cakes and granola bars google-site-verification=BjTunvmbsb9KcXQqpU9uRWY2SsHZTDJg_wBEZCPX-VQ It never does what it's Dad asks it to do, but, then again, it's just a list so it doesn't have a Dad! Well, believe it or not, the latest odd rumour is that Santa Claus isn't real. And if you still don't believe me, here are NINE proofs to prove that point like the point on my pointy shoes! YES: Kelly Allen, Educational and Developmental Psychologist, Lecturer, University of Melbourne. Dr Coulson concludes – "The Santa myth is a wonderful lie, but the more we tell lies, the more our kids are going to find out we are deceitful". I don't know if Santa's list is bad or good. My room is usually so clean it sparkles like tinsel on a Christmas tree! You just have to put your name into the the Incredible Elf-o-matic Naughty or Nice Determinator. So bright their eyes Small children and pets have gone missing in my room for weeks. Original Christmas Song Search – New Songs, Santa Claus Animation Station 1996 – 2020, Decorate a Christmas Tree Online with Santa. Just tap the Twitter icon below for a special message to tweet. Which Santa List are you on? It’s the SPIRIT you see That makes Santa “BE” And certainly now, While that SPIRIT’s in ME. Check whether you're on Santa's Good List or Bad List!Just answer a few quick questions below.Your ranking will go straight toSanta's Naughty or Nice List so no fibbing! “Santa are you real?” they ask and ask. Ok, if you don't eat all your supper (including those yucky green things that make me a grumpy elf), then that's being naughty. I'm not alone in being devastated learning of my parents' elaborate deceit about Santa, leaving me to wonder what other lies they had told. Other times to perpetuate cultural myths: boys don't cry, sportspeople are good role models, anyone can succeed if they work hard. Magic is actually real, Santa is not real but that doesn’t mean that magic is not real. Then see more fun things to Tweet from emailSanta.com! You know, Hmm, nice question! Why don't you check to see if you are on Santa's Good List by using The Incredible Elf-o-matic Naughty or Nice Determinator! You could ask Santa's List, but it's just a list of all the children who have been naughty or nice! That makes Santa “BE” My friends all say you’re fake! After all, you wouldn't want everyone to know you're on the Naughty List when you just started being extra good to get on the Good List. Santa mythology for children may be important for executive functions like attention skills which provides good evidence for parents not be discouraged from stimulating their children's imagination. You shouldn't lie about Santa because you are encouraging your children, usually with made-up proof, to believe a morally ambiguous lie. There's a bug.). Most people treat Santa as one of these pleasing myths. smelly socks. Christmas trees and decorations are popping up in shop windows, the weather is warming up, and the school holiday period looms. The short answer, in every way that matters, is YES, Santa Claus is real! I share and play nicely almost all the time! So, it wouldn't be fair to say who is on the bad list right now. Noddy the elf is usually so busy making presents he doesn't have time to make nice lists! We lie to our children about many things, often to cover unpleasantness: Rover has gone to doggy heaven, Mummy and Daddy weren't really fighting, I'm sure someone just took your toy by accident. (After all, you never know when an elf might be watching!). A question one would think I’d fear. Then you'll know if you are on the Naughty List or Santa's Nice List! Adults should not lie to children about Santa. Santa Gift Idea: Sick Leave for COVID 19 Victims. But consider what must follow from the Santa story. Persistent – oh they are – And certainly now, Every Christmas Eve the elves at emailSanta.com track Santa on his fun and famous flight. /** Mega Menu CSS: fs **/. But is there real harm in lying to your children to prop up a popular myth? After all, you wouldn't want everyone to know you're on the Naughty List when you just started being extra good to get on the Good List. So get your merry reminder right away! And remember, he's making a list... checking it twice! Answering each in earnest is monumental task! When children reach this developmental stage, it's not helpful if we lie to them about a fictional character such as Santa. Santa's Nice-O-meter is working overtime to see who is naughty or nice! Then who wrote this poem? There's a bug. There, did I pass the quiz? I am not Santa. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The existence of Santa got proven by the men who stated, “Roger, please be informed that there is a Santa Clause” while being on NASA’s Apollo 8 spaceflight mission. But if parents want to, by all means they're entitled to do so. I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. It's a list of all the things she's asked Santa to fix but he hasn't yet. Santa are you real or NOT? They whisper in my ear… I want to be a wrestler when I grow up so I practice on everyone I can find! Sherlock Elf and Santa are always checking Santa's famous list. "Lying to your child about Santa at three is very different from lying to your child about Santa at thirty," says psychologist Kelly Allen (Credit: Alamy), NO: Ameneh Shahaeian, Research Fellow in Developmental and Educational Psychology, Australian Catholic University. I didn't know Noddy had his own list! I may be a grumpy old elf, but I am always on Santa's good list -- well, almost always. Sophie Heizer is the commissioning editor for education at The Conversation Australia. (or would that be Father Chistmas?). Actually, you can see what Santa is doing and where he is every day of the year on his Santa webcam and tracker. There is an onus for parents to support their children to come to their own natural conclusions about Santa within their own time. Well I answer the question From my quiet home With another question that’s not even my own: If I’m not real… Then who wrote this poem? Mrs. Claus would be mad! Studies suggest children with rich fantasy lives may actually be better at identifying the boundaries between fantasy and reality. He sees you when you're sleeping. Not only is Santa true, he is legendary! We asked five experts from various fields if you should lie to your children about Santa. The elves will send you a safe, funny email closer to Christmas or on Christmas Eve. This may be exciting or distressing, depending on your relationship with your family. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. You choose! It doesn't clean up its room, but, then again, it doesn't have a room! I always try to tell the truth, even if I did something naughty If you help clean up after the reindeer do a boom-boom, then that's being nice. Christmas rituals offer an opportunity for social belonging, which builds our social support networks and may even make us feel less lonely. This mission got initiated on 21 st December 1968, and they made this above statement during their return towards earth on 24 th December 1968 on Christmas Eve. Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia's leading parenting experts, states – "If you want to do Santa that's fine, but let the kids know Santa was based on a historical figure who may or may not have done the things that we think he did". To comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Capital, please head over to our Facebook  page or message us on Twitter. On the other hand, research suggests children are able to differentiate fact from fiction from early childhood.