Should I take a pic of my xmas tree and add a santa sticker to get my daughter to believe in santa longer?

[Browser]

Im very conflicted by this, she is 6 and still believes but adding that image would make her belief stronger, but I worry down the line when she figures it out she may feel betrayed by me, other kids picking on her if she is one of the last to figure out, etc.

Anyone with older kids, have you ever had those doubts? Also how was that transition of them figuring it out?

 

[super-famicom]

I have a 2 year old and my wife and I don't really care if he believes in Santa or not. The whole idea of naughty kids getting the shaft and good kids getting rewarded doesn't sit well with us. We're just pointing at the presents under the tree and saying "this one is from X, that one is from Y."

 

[PrivateWHudson]

What's a picture of the tree and a sticker have to do with anything?

 

[War Eagle]

I think 6 is still young enough where believing in Santa is still an innocent part of childhood. Now if she still believes 4 years from now, you may want to intervene.

Just my 2c. I have a 7 month old so I still have a bit until I get to cross this bridge.

 

[wenis]

I think you may be over thinking this.

 

[BringBackSonics]

Im very conflicted by this, she is 6 and still believes but adding that image would make her belief stronger, but I worry down the line when she figures it out she may feel betrayed by me, other kids picking on her if she is one of the last to figure out, etc.

Anyone with older kids, have you ever had those doubts? Also how was that transition of them figuring it out?

Click to shrink...

my son was very analytical, but also believed in Santa. The gig was up this Christmas at the age of 10, he basically asked us and we told him the truth, the magic of Santa/Christmas is just different now and he gets to help move the elf for his sister.

he does not hate us for lying to him

we also don't use Santa to make kids behave.

 

[EssBeeVee]

OP should post a picture of the tree and let era photoshop a Santa into it

 

[sangreal]

What's a picture of the tree and a sticker have to do with anything?

Click to shrink...

i think the idea is to make it look like a photo of Santa visiting their house

i say if you're doing it because it's fun for you and your kid go for it. If you're doctoring photos just to reinforce her belief or whatever that's weird. Likewise not doing it just to avoid reinforcing her beliefs

In short, don't overthink this

 

[Combo]

That is going too far in deception.

 

[Joeyjoejoeshabadoo]

It's sad, but it's part of growing up. My oldest knows and has for a couple years and he has a blast helping us put the presents under the tree. I also have twin siblings and the boy knows thanks to his older brother, but my daughter is still holding on to that belief, but this may be the last year. Let them grow and find out themselves.

My kids are 11 and 7, btw.

 

[MrHedin]

Just let her find out when she finds out, she'll be old enough to handle it just fine. This is probably the last year for my 7 year old, she's already starting to question things, and if she asks and really wants to know then we'll tell her.

 

[KarmaCow]

If a kid is old enough to realise Santa isn't real, they're old enough to realise you did it for their benefit. If she's teased for it, the kids will move on 5 minutes later onto the other billion things they pick on other kids for.

 

[Browser]

i think the idea is to make it look like a photo of Santa visiting their house

i say if you're doing it because it's fun for you and your kid go for it. If you're doctoring photos just to reinforce her belief or whatever that's weird

Click to shrink...

Yes, thats it they have an app for that, very easy and fast to do, but she will see it and reinforce that santa is real that much more. I think this changes the game just because I never had this when I was a kid, but if my parents showed me a picture with santa in it, I think that would blow my mind as a kid.

Its for fun, to see the look on her face light up and all. I just worry about after when she finds out, if she will think it was too much I guess.

I think you may be over thinking this.

Click to shrink...

Oh yes absolutely, I 100% am overthinking this. Thats why Im asking you guys, other perspectives.

 

[Genesius]

My daughter is eight and I had the conversation with her a few days ago when she asked outright. It went fine, especially since she gets to help with her younger brother now.

 

[PrivateWHudson]

i think the idea is to make it look like a photo of Santa visiting their house

i say if you're doing it because it's fun for you and your kid go for it. If you're doctoring photos just to reinforce her belief or whatever that's weird. Likewise not doing it just to avoid reinforcing her beliefs

In short, don't overthink this

Click to shrink...

Oh, that sounds like a bit much, but we didn't do the shelf elf thing either. Just good old cookies and milk, they figure it when it's right for them. Our youngest is 12, and playfully keeps up the Santa thing, and only came out and admitted it tonight since the power went out while we were still wrapping, and he came downstairs.

 

[ConVito]

Why do anything extra? If she still believes, I doubt that not seeing photo evidence will change that. And if it does, then she was already on her way to no longer believing. Let her take it at her own pace.

 

[tadaima]

Is the sticker really that convincing?

Seconded you should ask Era to photoshop your tree. Post the pic!

 

[Stencil]

I believed in santa til I was 12. I learned he was fake in the middle of class when the teacher asked if anyone "still believed" for some reason. Everyone laughed at me.

 

[cameron]

Kids usually don't feel betrayed about this when they stop believing. It's often a soft transition, with them becoming more curious and observant, unless it's by revealed by other kids or abusive adults.

Christmas will still be fun, and kids might even be more grateful for what their parents (and older siblings) are doing for them.

Keeping doing whatever you've been doing in past years.

 

[MistaTwo]

If the normal tricks of secretly eating the cookies and milk and putting some last minute presents out on the night before start to fail, then it is just time to let go IMO.
Just keep doing it as usual and let the the transition to skepticism happen as it will.

 

[healbite-maritima]

No need to reinforce, let them come to their own terms in their own time. When they decide to not believe in Santa, just explain the other reasons why Christmas is special (family, selflessness, etc)

 

[PersonAndStuff]

No, now is the time to go all the way. Actors, a complicated rope and pulley system, and some CGI.

 

[blame space]

santa is kind of a fucked up thing to lie to your kids about

 

[julia crawford]

Never tell a lie you know you'll have to reveal eventually.