Michael, children just love games, and they love pretending. We simply told our son about Santa Claus with a wink, and a laugh, and when he asked, to be sure, we told him that of course Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy aren't real, they are a game, and continued playing the game, which he loved. We told him that some parents tell their children these things are 'real,' and it isn't polite to ruin the way they play the game. He was struck by the fact that the grownups were telling a lie. He absolutely adored being one of the few children who knew the inside story. That was extra excitement, the 'knowing,' on top of the fun of the voluntary suspension of disbelief. He would come running out saying, "Look what the tooth fairy left me!" and enjoy it as much as he did when he played pirates or any other fantasy game.
The thing is, it's a lie you tell when you say those things are real without giggling a little and laughing conspiratorially. And it's absolutely unnecessary. Your child will think these things are as fun as do the other children, if you are having fun. Children LOVE fantasy games!
That's MHO, anyway. |
