Theology aside, when it comes to Christmas and the holiday season, the topic always concerns parents about Santa Claus and how best to advise children about this mythical person.
Should parents be concerned that children tend to believe in Santa? No. They should encourage it.
Children are born with a natural inclination for the magical. Children are imaginative, and throughout their early developmental stages, their concepts and beliefs, especially in the area of the Christmas season, it's only natural for them to escape
into the mythical realm of Santa Claus.
Should parents tell children the truth about Santa? It's a complex problem, for sure. But there is a balance that can be achieved that helps parents deal with the subject of this fascinating character, which aligns with one's faith and does not hinder a child's imagination.
I do not believe that telling a child at an early age there is no such thing as Santa is beneficial to a small child under the age of 6 because it can hinder a child's ability to be creative and imaginative at an early age.
Children need to build their imagination, not stifle it. Data supports this as children need these functions later in life. Pretend play, auto-symbolic schemes, sequencing pretend acts, and constructive play all play a significant role in the healthy development of a small child.
Stripping away a child's early development block when it comes to constructive imagination can do great harm in the long term. These concepts build confidence; they help the child express feelings about subjects they might care deeply about. They (in this case, Santa) allow the child to explore their imagination and ask questions.
Eventually, a child will slowly mature and grow from believing in the "real" Santa and instead develop a more fundamental concept of the mythical Santa.
How does faith resolve the issue of Santa and the true meaning of Christmas? Can the two co-exist? Yes, they can, and they should!
My theology states that Christ was born of a virgin, a star shown where the son of God was resting, and angels heralded his birth. That is a fact. However, my theology does NOT include December 25th as that time frame.
Historically, the church took this time to incorporate early Christian customs into established pagan ones. Centuries later, we have a union of both pagan and Christian cultures; the world and the church survived.
Because of this historical account, I can celebrate Christmas, understanding that Christ is rooted in its origins while embracing a mythical Santa Claus who represents the holiday season. It doesn't distract from the truth. Nor was it designed to.
Children should be allowed to capture the magic of the season, embrace their childhood imaginative spirit, and still be given the fundamental tools needed to understand the world that they live in. It shouldn't have to be done at the expense of their imagination regarding Santa Claus. It should be done with proper balance.
Enjoy this time of the season. Sing about the baby in the manger. But don't be afraid to leave out the cookies and milk on Christmas Eve, either.
With all the trouble in the world, let's not make the man in the red suit one of them.
[Christopher Gregory]
1 Corinthians 10:31 ... Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. ❤
