Daycare Christmas Celebrations

[Lee-Bee]

My 2 daycare boy's mom has decided that since she was traumatized when she found out the truth about santa that they will not "do the whole santa thing" with their kids. They will still have a tree and presents but no santa.

I let her know that I can keep our activities related to christmas and not santa, but that my daughter is 3.5 and already talking about santa and I can't control that.

I also made the mental note that come next year I will no longer be able to care for this family's children because they will then be old enough to ruin it for everyone else. Love the kids and the family is great to work with...but this is a deal breaker!

[bright sparks]

I also made the mental note that come next year I will no longer be able to care for this family's children because they will then be old enough to ruin it for everyone else. Love the kids and the family is great to work with...but this is a deal breaker!

Yes, no kidding Lee-Bee.It is hard enough when older kids stop believing and keeping the magic alive for the little ones, but at least for the most part then you can explain to the big kids and have them keep the secret too. This would for sure be a deal breaker for me too. Not because I don't respect the parents choice, but because it is so difficult to keep it from spoiling things for others, especially in this age group.

[Lee-Bee]

Yes, no kidding Lee-Bee.It is hard enough when older kids stop believing and keeping the magic alive for the little ones, but at least for the most part then you can explain to the big kids and have them keep the secret too. This would for sure be a deal breaker for me too. Not because I don't respect the parents choice, but because it is so difficult to keep it from spoiling things for others, especially in this age group.

Yes. When the children are a bit older they can better understand it, and we as adults can explain that it is about the magic of believing. There was an article in the paper today noting how lying about santa can undermine trust between parent and children.

I can't help but feel this is only if the adults handle it in the wrong way. It can easily be explained in a manner than doesn't undermine the trust, in a way that doesn't leave kids traumatized for life. I remember continuing to choose to believe years after I truly knew. Because believing was more fun. I find every year I have to carefully word my conversations to my husband about santa and gifts because I often can't quite tell if he has figured it out just yet. He lives for the magic of santa.