A friend of mine has always agonized over the fact of “lying” to her children about Santa Claus. She is terrified that once her kids realize that there is no man in a red suit climbing down their chimney leaving gifts under the tree and in their stockings, that they will never believe a word she says. I, on the other hand, never had a problem with “lying” to them about Santa. I don’t really look at it as lying. So when I was if I wanted to review the book The Santa Story Revisited, I said sure. Why not? I know my day will come (soon probably) when my kids will no longer believe in Santa, and believe me, that will be a hard day for me, so why not learn other ways to keep the magic of Santa alive?
In The Santa Story Revisited, you learn how to switch the Santa Claus “story” we all grew up with into a fun game for anyone in the family to play. For example, children (and adults too!) are encouraged to give through various acts of kindness. Some things I plan on sharing with my kids as ideas of random acts of kindness would be adding coins to parking meters you pass that are about to expire, holding the door open for someone behind you, etc.
I really like the idea of teaching my kids about Santa in this way. I always try to stress that it always feels better to give than to receive through “adopting” a kid at Christmas time and having the kids shop for the child. So by approaching Santa in this way, it really does stress the importance of doing for others and how great that feels as opposed to getting everything you want.
You can purchase the book here, or you can try to win one!!!!
Pati Bartlett says
One of my favorite traditions we try to carry on each year was one that my Grandfather started ever since I could remember. He would have various bulbs, baskets, or small trinkets hanging in the house at Christmas. When we got together for the holiday each of us got to choose one to keep and inside was a small gift. Inside one of them was a phenominally bigger gift. Say each one had $5 inside. This one had $20. The youngest got to choose first and so on and we all opened them at the same time. I will forever remember this memory and try to carry on the tradition for my children with cousins and aunts and uncles!
Amanda says
My favorite that I have started is we have monkey bread baking while we are opening presents. So small and simple but we all LOVE it!!!
Amanda says
We drive around looking at Christmas lights either on Christmas Eve or on a Saturday night in December.
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Amanda says
I love baking Christmas cookies and goodies with my kids!
Amanda says
I have a 12 foot Christmas tree in my house and love it.
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Amanda says
My kids must leave carrots for the reindeer and then they inspect them Christmas morning to see the 'reindeer teeth' marks. 🙂
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