re: Children and Santa Claus

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What's depressing about children believing that Christmas is about more than receiving gifts for good behavior?

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Since you're asking? Nothing.

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It's actually sad to think that parents negotiate with young children and tell them to behave so that Santa will bring them gifts.

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Well, considering tat's not what happens, you shouldn't have an issue.

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. I didn't need to believe in Santa to enjoy Christmas, and I think that's actually a good thing.

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You believed in Santa when you were a kid at some point. Stop lying to yourself.

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You just had Disney bro argue that it IS what happens and that it's a good thing.

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He said he negotiated with his child about gifts? You sure about that? ETA: I didn't read it that way, but I can see where you're coming from. I thin you're taking it wrong though.

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I never believed in Santa and neither did my sister. When we were old enough to understand the concept of a Santa and asked about it, we were told he wasn't real.

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You are full of shite Peck

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Bribing children to behave is a good parenting strategy?

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Yes. It's part of the process. Children have to learn to trust you if they're going to listen to you and part of that means following through with rewards and punishments as a result of their actions. You set goals with an understanding of specific consequences good and bad. Sometimes the bad is a direct result of action (or non-action) and no direct punishment is needed. Same for the good. Sometimes doing something good doesn't require a tangible reward although it's much more successful with younger kids.

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So if you're doing all that then why is Santa necessary?

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Who said he was necessary? It's a social construct that is reinforced by almost everyone who influences him including friends, family, teachers, etc. What good parent wouldn't take advantage of that?

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You're trying to tell me why a belief in Santa is necessary to the development of a child, which is absurd.

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"So what you're saying is..." is basically the line you are using here. Don't put words in my mouth. I never called him necessary. I've said multiple times now how stories help imagination and development along with the reinforcement of gifts for good behavior.

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an adult with a Disney obsession

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You've made probably 10 times as many Disney threads as I have. Who has the obsession?

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Bribing children to behave is a good parenting strategy?? Do you want me to start pulling sources on why psychologists think this is actually NOT a good thing?

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I genuinely don't know a single person who gives presents to their children based on their behavior. They're getting the same presents 99% of the time regardless of how they act. This is a straw man.

I know someone who didn't do Santa, because she was worried that kids finding out Santa was a myth would make them question if Jesus was a myth too.

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I genuinely don't know a single person who gives presents to their children based on their behavior. They're getting the same presents 99% of the time regardless of how they act

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It's all about what they believe. You could have some empty boxes wrapped and ready to throw away for bad behavior.

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I’ve never had someone try to convince me that I believed in Santa as a child. 

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Im just wondering if you were also the smug little craphead, that had to ruin Santa Claus for everybody else.

There always has to be that smartest person in the room. Our school had an issue this year with a few older kids telling the kinder, 1st, and 2nd graders Santa wasn't real. I know the older kids know the deal, but it is an asshat move to steal joy from little kids.

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It's an idea they're fed by society in this case. Why didn't you think gifts came from Santa and elves?

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Because he’s not stupid