Is Santa Real? How to Respond When Your Kid Asks
Don’t know how to respond when your child asks, “Is Santa Real?” Depending on what is right for you and your kids, try the honest and heartfelt responses below.
Scroll down for honest, heartfelt responses!
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The Best Ways to Answer Your Child’s Questions About Santa
Handling questions about Santa Claus from children can be a delicate task. Parents and caregivers often use different approaches based on their personal beliefs and family traditions. Here are a few common ways people handle this situation. Whether you still want your child to fully believe or you believe they are old enough to understand that Santa may not be a literal, physical being but you still want to maintain the magic of the holiday season, you can approach the conversation with care and creativity.
Two Things to Keep in Mind
1. Let the Child Lead:
Pay attention to your child's cues. If they seem ready to explore the idea that Santa might be a fictional character, be open to discussions. Children develop at different rates, and their readiness to understand these concepts varies.
2. Respect Others' Beliefs:
Keep in mind that different families have different traditions and beliefs. Encourage your child to respect their friends' and classmates' beliefs, even if they differ from your own.
If You are NOT Ready to Break the News
1. Introduce Abstract Concepts
“The most real things in the world are those that no child or adult can see.”
“You cannot see hope, wonder or joy but you know they are real because of the beauty and joy they create.”
“Santa exists as certainly a love, generosity and devotion exist.”
“What are some other things you can’t see or fully understand even though they are real? Space? Glow-in-the-dark animals, the internet, airplanes, dinosaurs, etc.”
2. Read a Book
“Like a lot of big questions, it’s a tricky question to answer but there is a book that explains it perfectly..
Watch the read along video: Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Buy the book: Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
If You ARE Ready to Break the News
Use the ideas above plus keep the magic of Santa alive with the following idea.
1. Share the Symbolic Meaning
Explain that Santa can be seen as a symbol of the goodness in people's hearts and the joy of making others happy:
"Santa represents the love and generosity that we feel during the holidays.”
“Santa is a reminder to be kind, generous and caring to one another.”
2. Involve Them in the Magic
Instead of stealing the magic from Christmas, increase it! Like Harry Potter receiving his invitation letter to Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry, let your kid in on the magical secret that they can now be part of the exclusive, secret world of creating magic, joy and miracles for others.
While they were once aware or wondered at the existence of magic, they can now be part of creating it as they become one of the many Santas responsible for creating small miracles of love and joy this holiday season.
Talking Points:
You probably know that the Santas at the mall are not real but are regular people dressed up like Santa.
Some of your classmates may have been told there is no Santa, but that is because they don’t fully understand who or what Santa really is. But I think you can understand.
Like watching a magic show versus performing as the magician, when kids are little they get to watch the magic of Santa unfold every season, but when they get older and are ready, they get to create the magic of Santa.
I think you are ready to become a Santa, too.
We’ve always known Santa is magic, but now you get to be part of creating that magic.
Santa isn’t one man who lives in the North Pole. He is the collective effort of generations of adults who have decided to work together across the globe to keep the secret magic of Santa real.
Santa is the word for the spirit of giving, generosity, gratitude, love, community and kindness.
Santa is a symbol of the holiday spirit and the joy of giving.
We all can be like Santa by spreading joy, love and mini-miracles.
Santa represents the love and generosity that we feel during the holidays. It's a way of reminding us to be kind and caring to one another.
Encourage your child to be a part of the magic by helping with holiday traditions, such as decorating the tree, wrapping presents, or even playing the role of Santa for younger siblings. This way, they can contribute to the enchantment of the season.
3. Maintain Fun with a Focus on Character Development
Continue to engage in the fun aspects of the Santa tradition like decorating the Christmas tree and hanging outdoor lights and filling stockings to keep the magic alive for younger siblings and the whole family.
Write letters to Santa and explain how this relates to keeping a gratitude, goals or manifestation journal.
Make an inspiration board, gratitude journal or goals/manifestation list of things you want to manifest in the upcoming year.
Focus on non-material things like health, family, love, joy, abundance, gratitude, jubilation, etc.
Explain how setting out cookies and milk for Santa and water, carrots, celery or apples for the Reindeer can be a practice in generosity, consideration and abundance.
Instead of making baked goods or packaged treats to yourself, deliver them to teachers, classmates, neighbors or families in need.
Look up Toys for Tots and other local food, toy and clothes drives to focus on giving back.
Give a toy to get a toy: Choose and count clothes and toys to donate to a local charitable drop box or to schedule a Veterans donation doorstop pick up with clothingdonations.org to challenge yourself to give as much as you get.
4. Act as Santa in Your Community
Every year, pick one person or group of people that you want to give an anonymous secret Santa gift.
Make a mini-miracle happen by dropping an unexpected gift at an elderly neighbor’s doorstep who lives alone or leaving a secret gift for a community helper like a bus driver, teacher, mailman or non-terahcing staff at school like the librarian, custodian or front desk receptionist.
5. Act as Santa Around the Globe
Explain that not everyone gets gifts or meals on Christmas but you can act as Santa to help them
Pick a charitable cause that has tangible giving opportunities for toys or other charitable needs
Toys for Tots: Donate toys to families who do not have the money to buy Christmas gifts.
Heifer International: Donate a cow, chickens, goat, honeybees or clean water.
World Vision: Similar to Heifer, donate livestock, school supplies, healthcare and other necesseties.
Donor’s Choose: Browse teacher requests for specific items to be donated to underfunded schools from arts supplies to books to technology, choose by location, grade level and subject to support a project you love.
First Book: Donate books to children who cannot afford them.
Veterans of America: Simply enter your postal code to schedule a free pickup. Then gather your household goods, clothes and toys, leave your labeled stuff outside your door, and someone from the organization will pick up your things. Despite the name, VVA resells household goods to generate funding for homeless and disabled vets.
Second Chance Toys: Find a drop-off location to donate new and gently used toys.
Local Day Cares, Head Starts, Family and Women’s Shelters: Find local organizations that serve kids and families in need. Call to inquire if they need food donations or new or used books, toys or clothes.
Ultimately, the approach you choose depends on your personal values, cultural background, and family traditions. It's essential to approach the topic with sensitivity and gauge your child's reactions to determine the best way to handle their questions. I hope these ideas help you provide an honest and heartfelt answer to your child’s questions about Santa while keeping the Spirit of Christmas alive.