Unmask Santa Claus With Sensitivity, Expert Says
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LOS ANGELES — A psychologist advises parents to answer all questions about Santa Claus in a way that doesn’t insult their child’s age or intelligence.
If a child is 8 years old, he or she is ready and able to accept the premise that to believe in the existence of Santa isn’t logical.
“Children who still believe in Santa Claus after age 8 are at risk of being ostracized and teased by the majority of nonbelievers--their peers! Due to parental reluctance to discuss Santa and to gently break the news, they discover the truth from their friends and may feel betrayed by their parents,” according to Robert R. Butterworth, PhD.
According to Butterworth, who reviewed the past psychological research pertaining to children and Santa Claus: “Studies indicate that only 25% of 8-year-olds believe in Santa; with more than half, 55%, going through a transitional period in which they are undecided on whether he exists. The majority of children under 7 believe; 85% at age 4 are ‘solid’ believers.”
Most 8-year-olds, when they’re ready for a parental chat about Santa, will question: the ability of one man to deliver a virtually infinite number of presents in one night to children all over the world; how a fat man can fit down a chimney; the fact that reindeer can’t fly; how to justify the number of Santas that appear in malls; and how Santa knows if a child has been good within the past year.
Butterworth found that belief in Santa after the age of 8, when most don’t, can confuse a child and can be detrimental to a child’s social development.
“When unmasking Santa, it is important to explain to children that Santa Claus does not exist in a physical form, but represents the spirit of Christmas that is still alive in all of us,” Butterworth said.
Pretend behavior is an important part of socialization and cognitive growth. “I encourage childhood fantasies, the little wonders that make this world a better place for our youngsters, but when a child’s fantasies collide with the beliefs of his or her peers, these fantasies can lead to conflict, confusion and anger,” according to Butterworth.
