WCU prof offers advice on parents on handling the Santa questions

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The Southern Highland Reader points to a recent New York Times‘ piece that collects advice for parents from several sources about the all-important questions about Santa. One of the experts is Western Carolina University psychology professor Bruce Henderson. He offers the following:

Parents should tell their children the truth about Santa Claus when their children signal they are ready to hear it. When are they likely to be ready?

Some children will continue to suspend disbelief in deference to their parents.

Before the age of six, most children’s thinking will make questions and doubting about magical figures unlikely. The richly novel environment of Christmas will pique their curiosity. By the age of seven, as their thinking becomes more concrete and logical, many will wonder why there are so many Santas, how all homes can be visited in one night, or why last year’s request for a pony for the apartment was denied. Also by seven, some precocious peers or an older sibling will have (often gleefully) sown doubts.

So the key time for parents to be sensitive to signals is probably from the age of five and a half to seven. The signals are most likely to come in the form of direct questions about Santa-related inconsistencies, or more subtle comments. Children may also show less interest in seeing Santa, writing to Santa, or talking about Santa.

Makes sense to me.