The Big Santa Controversy #32
The Whole Parent Podcast
Why Santa Feels Important to Families
Jon explores how Santa symbolizes joy, giving, and family tradition and why parents struggle with the myth.
I need your help!
My book is behind on pre-sales and I'm trying to make up a lot of ground before release on January 28th, 2025. If you love the podcast, please consider preordering—it’s the best way to support me right now. If you don't typically read parenting books, I also have the audiobook version! Thank you so much!
Preorder the Book
It’s the ultimate parenting conundrum: Do you tell your kids the truth about Santa? In this episode, I dive into the psychology, cultural traditions, and ethical questions behind the Santa myth. Why do kids believe so wholeheartedly, and how do we respond when the questions about Santa’s reality start rolling in? Plus, I explore the tricky balance between keeping the magic alive and maintaining honesty and trust with your children.
This episode includes insights from child development experts, My personal parenting reflections, and an adorable interview with my own kids about their own feelings on Santa Claus.
Whether you’re Team Santa or Team No Santa, this episode will help you navigate the holidays with intention and a deeper understanding of how magical traditions impact your kids’ development and emotional well-being.
What We Covered in This Episode:
- The Big Question:
- When your child asks, “Is Santa real?” how do you respond in a way that honors both their wonder and your values?
- The Psychology of Belief:
- Why kids naturally embrace magical thinking until around age seven.
- How the Santa myth fosters imagination, perspective-taking, and moral reasoning.
- The Controversy:
- Should parents perpetuate the Santa myth?
- The downside of using Santa (and Elf on the Shelf) for behavior modification.
- Why the “naughty and nice list” might be doing more harm than good.
- Navigating Tricky Conversations:
- How to approach the Santa topic with sensitive or skeptical kids.
- Why honesty at the right age builds trust and helps children process big truths.
Resources Mentioned:
- Alfie Kohn’s book, Punished by Rewards, for understanding the impact of extrinsic motivation on kids.
- The 1973 episode of Mister Rogers' Neighbor
CLICK HERE to Register or learn more about the 5 Brain Hacks that will CHANGE your LIFE
Links to help you and me:
- To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack
- Get Jon’s Top Five Emotional Regulation Games
- Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting
- Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
- Follow Whole Parent on
The AI-powered Podcast Player
