Tips for Creating a Santa Claus Parenting Plan!
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Parents, get on the same page and plan for the Santa Claus customs and traditions you want to share with your kids and help decrease Christmas stress!
Oh, Santa!
WE LOVE YOU!!
(but you do cause a little parent stress behind the scenes!)
In this past week, three scenarios came up that inspired this writing…
Parents discuss difficulties in keeping up with the “Santas” that give electronics and other expensive gifts.
A school field trip to visit Santa. Frustrated parents not only wanted to be there when their kids saw Santa but also wanted to hear what their kids asked for.
Yet other parents were talking about how other family members wrote “From Santa” on gifts, thinking it was cute, but it confused the kids.
Then there can be more Santa problems like…
The fact that each parent in a family probably experienced conflicting or differing childhood Santa traditions. How do you choose what you will do for your kids?
Commercialism and financial pressure.
The pressure of making the Santa experience perfect and amazing.
Kids are curious and ask questions about the big guy…and well, can you blame them?
School-aged kids compare notes on how Santa operates in each of their homes.
Movies and commercials add to the diverse look and feel of Santa. Each Santa, North Pole, and “magic process” looks different in each movie or commercial.
Now, there is NOT a right or wrong way to “manage” or make a plan for family Santa traditions…BUT…
Creating a plan will help, and here are some ideas to get your conversation started…
Festive Santa mailbox in downtown Denver!
Will kids write to Santa OR visit Santa at the local mall?
Are ALL of the Christmas morning gifts from Santa, or does he bring the one gift?
Gift or gifts? How many presents can your kids ask for? What is your number?
Does Santa wrap his gifts in special paper or leave them unwrapped?
What kinds of things will he leave in the stockings?
Will you leave out cookies for Santa?
How does Santa do it all in one night?
Check out the NORAD Santa Tracker site to keep an eye on Santa’s Christmas Eve travels!
How will you get your excited and overstimulated kids to sleep on Christmas Eve?
A favorite dinner?
Jamies and a holiday movie?
A later bedtime?
Run the kids ragged at the local recreation center so they will be exhausted?
FYI, sometimes the well-meaning Santa movies can stir up more questions and problems than solve them. Be prepared!
Do you have a system for when kids wake up at 12:01 AM to see what Santa brought?
Do they need to go back to bed?
Do they sleep in your bed until at least 2:00 AM?
Do they earn extra sugar cookies if they make it until 5:00 AM?
Keep it simple!
Visit Santa or write his letter early!
Stick with the first gift request!
If kids want something else later, they can ask parents or grandparents, but no new requests for Santa! He is too busy to change requests!
Can they ask for pets or expensive items?
Santa works closely with parents and honors their wishes on these topics!
Let the kids know that you and Santa are on the same page!
You are the parents… you choose how you want this tradition celebrated in your home!
Do not give in to pressure to overspend
If a kid from school rakes in a laptop, video game console, and a trip to Hawaii, well, remember what was said above…Santa works closely with parents, and what happens in one house will differ from what happens in another. No two families are the same, and well…that’s just how it is.
Do not give in to social pressure to complete every Pinterest craft and cookie recipe for Santa.
Say no thank you to Santa field trips if you want to keep visits a family tradition.
Request that family members do not sign gifts from Santa
Have Santa traditions that are fun for you and not overwhelming.
When kids ask questions about the mysteries and magic of Santa, respond with…
A question such as… How DO YOU think his sleigh flies? Hmmm…very interesting! You may be right!
Watch a movie or read a holiday book that gives options to answer the questions.
Bring out your imagination A+ game and create a solution on the fly. Then write it down in your plan so you remember!
Before the kids ask, have a plan for when disbelief starts. Parents need to be on the same page for this one!
Some parents press on, keeping Santa working forever in their homes.
Some parents discuss the reality with a heavy dose of “keep the secret alive” for others.
Some parents allow those kids to become elves and help keep the spirit alive for younger siblings.
Some parents don’t do Santa, to begin with.
Balance is the key…
Balance greed with giving.
Balance chaos with calmness.
Balance overindulging with sharing.
If you need more Santa ideas that you did not get here…
Ask family and friends!
Observe other families!
Check online!
So…
create your plan and enjoy working with Santa!
He’s a great guy…as long as you call the shots!
Check out these other posts for your parenting plans…
