The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1933-12-28

0e1A1Id NlduS you saw OOWuIOWu
was just a man dressed up. There's
one on every corner, too, to remind
us that Christmas is the season
when everybody gives things to
someone else" Then she tells one
of the children's favorite stories
about the bells high up in the tow
Ier that sang song to the people
at Christmas, and the song was
lowing, giving, loving, giving"
Just what to tell children is not
so simple at it might seem; there
are two theories about it. IT'D like
to play Santa Claus said a we'll
known child psychologist and
mother of three boys: my children
were never told definitely that
there was or wasn't a Santa Claus;
they were left alone, and they had
the delicious thrill of trying to stay
awake on Christmas Eve to see if
there really were such a person.
Then, when Bobby said at five, you
bought me the train, didn't you?'
I said, why yes, I was Santa
Claus to you this time; everyone is
Santa Claus to- someone else
7 can't see any harm in the
Santa Claus legend" she went on,
Unless, of course one does DELHI
erately lie about it, or use it as a
threat. think children all under
stand that Santa Claus is like the
fairies and brownies; something it's
fun to pretend, and that, in flights
of delicious fancy, one half believes
in. When they do begin to ques-
ton seriously, why not put it up to
them, We'll, do you believe Santa
Claus is person and lives at the
North Pole, or that reindeer could
really ride around over your head?'
I think they know that it's fun for
|grownups to pretend Santa Claus,
too, and they like to continue play
ing the game even after they can
no longer do so with dignity-as
when they say, oh, let's pretend
there is a Santa Claus just another
year."
"And like to play Santa Claus"
said nursery school teacher, but
II don't think children should be
encouraged to believe there is such
Ia person. I think children should
always be told the truth, but the
truth couched in terms that will
not be too confusing, and still not
bald; terms suited to their age and
experience and the things they're
used to imagining.
IT don't think any child should
be left out of Christmas celebra-
tons, a tree and the lovely carols,
and 'The Night Before Christmas"
and the literary gem about how a
baby wos born, regardless of the
child's race or creed. Those things
are part of children's heritage, and
they love them! After all, the tin
sci and the tree and yule log-these
are part of a purely pagan celebra-
ton of a Christian holiday, and as
long as children are surrounded by
all that, and it's the custom, it's a
pity if they must feel left out of
it all.
"But as for not believing in San
ia Claus-while it may not harm
most children, even to be firm be-
levers, and then find out it wasn't
true, there is always the occasional
literal minded child whom
it does harm, the one time when it
serves to break the confidence of
the parent-child relationship, and
then it is serious. To say to your
child now you and know what
Santa Claus really is, but Billy and
lots of other children like to think
he's a real man because their
mothers haven't told them what I've
told you,' may serve as an addi-
tional bond to strengthen the child's
confidence in you
So there you are, both sides of
the question, and in the end par
ents must decide for themselves
what they want to do. It should
seem fairly easy, however, to put
the question up to the individual
child.