Moms Talk: Is Santa Real?

Each week our Moms Council discusses a different parenting issue. Join the conversation by weighing in on a topic or ask our panel of experts your question.

We put this week's question to our Potomac Patch  for their ideas and advice. The suggestions don’t end here‚ add your own tips and advice in the comments section below.

This week's question: What Santa traditions to do you have your household? When do you tell your kids the truth about Santa? What were their reactions?

Jessica Maceyras: I have two young children. A 3-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy. The 3-year-old is just beginning to know who Santa is. We created a video recently that makes it appear that Santa is speaking with her, which she loves!  In the video, Santa tells her to be nice to her little brother if she wants to receive presents on Christmas. She therefore spends the rest of the video kissing her brother while looking up to make sure Santa can see her doing it. Reminding her of Santa's message when she is preparing to hit or push her little brother has so far gotten her to cease these activities. So, for now, our Santa tradition involves the allure of Christmas presents and the watchful eye of Santa keeping peace in my house.  

Lynn Makris: When my children were toddlers and in elementary school, we would remind them that Santa knows if they were naughty or nice. Occasionally my husband would pull out his cell phone and call Santa to make sure he knew if there was an unusually bad behavior. They were always impressed that Daddy had Santa's phone number. In addition to the traditional milk and cookies we would leave for Santa, we always left some baby carrots for the reindeer. One year, there was a half-bitten one left in the fireplace,so they were true believers! 

I work part-time at Geneva Day School, where my girls went to preschool and in our weekly e-newsletter to parents this Friday, we will be including this video link. While it was designed for children with Aspergers and autism, this video is a wonderfully detailed explanation about Santa, from Santa himself and is meant to be watched by parent and child together.