How to Deal With the Santa Claus Question - My Child's Not Broken

As children grow up, parents begin having to answer some difficult questions. One of these questions is the Santa Claus Question - is he real? Whilst this is a hard question to answer generally, it may be even harder to answer for kids with special needs as it may distress them to learn the truth. However, it is also important to note that some special needs kids will already know the truth and be quite accepting of it.

Here are some tips on how to approach and deal with the big Santa Claus question:

• Be Honest

  • When you are asked by your child whether or not Santa Claus is real, it's important to be honest with them.

  • If you're not honest it may lead to more difficult questions in the future.

• Try to let them lead the conversation

  • If you let them lead the conversation, you can answer all their questions and give them the information that they want.

  • It also stops you from being overly informational and overwhelming them with information about Santa Claus and Christmas.

• Be responsive to their emotions

  • It's important to react accordingly to different emotions they may go through when finding out that Santa Claus isn't real.

  • Remember that their emotions are valid and need attending to whilst they go through the realisation.

• Explain why you let them believe Santa Claus is real.

  • It is important for them to understand that you did not tell them Santa Claus was real for any malicious reasons.

  • Take the timet o explain to them why you told them and continued to let them believe that Santa Claus was real.

• Try to explain him as a fictional character or concept rather than something completely false.

  • By explaining Santa as more of a fictional character than a complete lie, you may get to keep some of the Christmas magic.

  • It may help them understand Santa Claus in the same way as a TV character they like.

  • Or you could explain Santa Claus as a concept similar to that of love or happiness. This would stop Santa Claus from feeling like a lie, and more like something that isn't physically real.

• Teach them about customs, legends, and traditions.

  • By teaching them about customs, legens and traidtions you can feed into the concept of Santa as a fictional character.

  • You could show your child that there is more to Christmas than just Santa Claus and presents.

• Make sure you are prepared to have the conversation

  • It is just as important for you to be prepared to answer the question, as your child is to ask it.

  • You should be prepared for any response they give, but also what you're oging to say.

• Do not lie.

  • If you lie to them, they will find out from others eventually which could lead to mistrust.

We hope this helps you when you child comes to you with the big Santa Claus question. If you have any other ideas or questions, please let us know! Merry Christmas!