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How to talk to kids about Santa Claus

Is your child asking tricky questions about Santa? Blanca Cobb shares some advice to help get through those tough conversations.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — "Here comes Santa Claus. Here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane." 

Many children get excited about the holidays and Santa Claus. And as we know, many little ones have questions about Good Ole Santa Nick.

If your family visits relatives during the holidays, what's a common question children might have about Santa? 

Children know that Santa brings presents to their home on Christmas Eve. As the poem "'Twas the night before Christmas" states, "the children were nestled all snug in their beds." Some children won't want to go anywhere and want to stay home for Christmas because they want Santa to be able to find them. This is where parents can reassure children that Santa knows where they'll be and will bring them their gifts. In letters to Santa or visits to Santa, your children can tell Jolly Ole St. Nick where they'll be so your kids will be reassured.

Children also know that Santa has a naughty or nice list. Some children may believe that Santa wouldn't bring gifts if they weren't 100% perfect or weren't always nice. How do parents handle this?

I believe the best way to handle this is to let your child know that making mistakes, getting angry, or not getting straight A's or whatever their concern is doesn't mean Santa won't bring them gifts. Santa wants your child to be the best that they can be. Being your best also means that you make mistakes and learn from them. It's looking at the big picture and not the individual pieces.

A great way to temper children's enthusiasm for gifts while keeping their Christmas spirit high is to talk about your family's beliefs about Christmas. There's no denying that gifts and Santa are a big part of Christmas. 

Also, talk to your child about what Christmas means in your family, whether it's spending time with family, the religious meaning of Christmas, or volunteering to help those in need. Having a well-rounded view of Christmas helps children understand that gifts aren't the only defining factor of the holidays. For younger children, you can tell them that Santa has to bring toys to children all over the world, which means that they can't get everything they want. But they can get enough to have a fabulous Christmas.

Share your thoughts on my Facebook page: Blanca Cobb – Body Language Expert. Write a message on my timeline, and I'll get back to you. While you're on my page, I'd appreciate it if you give my page a "like."

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