Is it a good idea to lie to our kids?

[Curval]

Santa Claus...the Easter bunny...the tooth fairy are all innocent little white lies we tell our kids.

Should we be doing this?  

We teach our kids that they should not lie...yet we lie to them every Christmas, Easter, and each time a tooth falls out, and only tell them the truth when they are "old enough".  Usually it isn't even the parents that inform them of the non-existance of these myths.

How does this affect the teaching of morality to our children, particularly in relation to religion?  We tell them lies about Santa et al...do they by chance lump God in the same category?  

Your thoughts?

[LePaul]

...what do you mean "no Santa Claus" ???

You mean I'm being good for nuthin!!    

Curval, did beleiving in Santa and the Easter bunny traumatize you at a later date?  No?  Well....enjoy    The "Santa's Watching" bit is great to shape kids up this time of year!

[midnight Target]

After buying a house last month, I told the kids Santa died.

[Curval]

Originally posted by LePaul
[BCurval, did beleiving in Santa and the Easter bunny traumatize you at a later date?  No?  Well....enjoy     [/B]

Dunno man...not saying I'm traumatised by it, but I am extremely sceptical about religion...is this the root of my scepticism?  I don't know..maybe.

My parents lied about Santa...when they told me about God I probably rolled my eyes and went.."rrrriiight..just like Santa."

[Ripsnort]

Its not lying.

They eventually find out that Mom and Dad are indeed Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, the Tooth Fairy (okay, so I'm NOT the tooth fairy...but I play one at night occasionally )

Oh, and I play God once in a while ..."Golly-geemit! Who left my tools out!  I'm going to send you to the moon!"

[Curval]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Its not lying.

They eventually find out that Mom and Dad are indeed Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, the Tooth Fairy (okay, so I'm NOT the tooth fairy...but I play one at night occasionally )

ahhhhh...good answer, except every year there is a funny guy in a red suit that claims to be Santa, so it is still a lie.  A little white lie admittedly..but a lie nonetheless.

[Ripsnort]

My kids know that the "guy in the red suit" is playing "halloween" a wee bit later than most.  The real McCoy comes down the chimney and you never get to meet him until you realize one day that Mom and Dad are your true "Santa's".

[capt. apathy]

don't forget to tell them about the elves.

the elves do recon for santa.  there is no way santa could cover all the houses if it wasn't for the elves.  they arive ahead of santa and prep the LZ.  make sure the dogs not in the living room, check for alternate entrys if they don't have a chimney, make sure the milks not soured, & most important of all to check for naughty little boys and girls who try to stay awake and see santa at work (absolutly forbiden).
 
 thats why the elves have their special pointed shoes.  these are used to kick the eyes out of bad children who try to stay awake and see santa.  (this also explains why sometimes these shoes are drawn with little balls on the toes).

for some reason getting the kids to go to bed on time was never an issue at our house. some christmas eves they where in bed by 7:30 all on their own

[miko2d]

When did the Santa myth originate? 300 years ago? What was the state of knowlege of an average family then?

 I bet everything a common man knew about the world in general (outside details of his craft which could be extensive but not sutable for children stories) could have been written on one dull page - and he had no idea there is something else to be known. So they resorted to fantasies and myths to keep children's curiosity and thirst for wonder satisfied.

 Now the life is so full or wonder and mystery and facination, that it just does not make sense to waste time with stupid myths - which would have long died like other ones if not kept alive by commercials.

 I'd say - do not "lie".
 Explain to kids who St Nicolas was and how we selebrate him by having actors dress in red suit. That makes quite a facinating story by itself.
 Children have no problem enjoying tales while realising those are not reality, so your children should still be able to enjoy the deers and other parafernalia and festivities associated with the Santa story.

 miko

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by miko2d
When did the Santa myth originate? 300 years ago? What was the state of knowlege of an average family then?

 I bet everything a common man knew could have been written on one dull page - and he had no idea there is something else to be known. So they resorted to fantasies and myths to keep children's curiosity and thirst for wonder satisfied.

 Now the life is so full or wonder and mystery and facination, that it just does not make sence to waste time with stupid myths - which would have long died like other ones if not kept alive by commercials.

 I'd say - do not "lie".
 Explain to kids who St Nicolas was and how we selebrate him by having actors dress in red suit. That makes quite a facinating story by itself.
 Children have no problem enjoying tales while realising those are not reality, so your children should still be able to enjoy the deers and other parafernalia and festivities associated with the Santa story.

 miko

Good post!  Good plan too!

[Ripsnort]

Incidently, this link is  a good one for small children, read it to them as Miko suggests:
http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/nick.html

[poopster]

yet we lie to them every Christmas

I have two grown children, a grandson and a grandchild on the way.

There is a Santa Claus.

If you really think there isn't, thats truely sad, I feel for you.

[midnight Target]

Check out the NORAD Santa tracker site.

http://www.noradsanta.org/

[Sox62]

You could always save money at Christmas by showing your kids this....

[whgates3]

we should lie to children if it in some way can assist us in taking their money