I think I know the answer to the first part of this question but how do all of you feel about teaching your kids to believe in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy Etc? And do you think there is a correlatiion between religion, and encouraging these fairytales?
I think I mis-stated. What Ive been noticing, and I'm wondering if it's just anecdotal, is this: in my experience, religious types are more vested in doing the santa thing. For us it was just a fun thing for a couple years, but we let her figure it out for herself when she seemed ready. But the religious seem to intentionally hold on to the fantasy as long as possible, and I'm wondering if it's part of the whole "don't look at the man behind the curtain" mentality that keeps the religious from questioning their beliefs. Have y'all noticed similar trends?
I’m not reinforcing fantasy. It’s probably going to start fights with my ex’s side of the family when our daughter is old enough to understand.
I’m going to encourage free-thought. She can choose what to believe from there. I think there is absolutely a correlation. Santa and the like are just not continued to be reinforced after a certain age like god/religion is.
I'm the horrible sort of person who strips the veneer off all that stuff as soon as my kids are able to register what I'm talking about. Our 11-yo is an old soul and cynic and was such long before I told him about St. Nicholas, the patron saint of thieves and prostitutes, the Green Man, and some of the origin stories for Halloween.