With less than three weeks to go until Christmas Day, children around the world will be excitedly counting down the countdown to Santa’s arrival.
For many families, belief in Santa Claus is part of the Christmas magic.
However, one scientist has controversially claimed that parents should not lie to their children about its existence.
Joseph Millum, senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of St Andrews, says it is “unethical” to tell your children that Santa Claus is real.
“I believe it is unethical to tell your child that Santa Claus is real,” he wrote in an article for The conversation.
‘It is manipulative, betrays their trust and can cause worry and anxiety about benefits that can be provided without lying.’
Dr. Millum admits that “there are worse parenting choices out there.”
However, he added: “If you have the choice, consider having a magical Christmas where everyone knows Santa is a figment of the imagination.”
For many people, belief in Santa Claus is part of the Christmas magic. However, one scientist has controversially claimed that parents should not lie to their children about its existence
Growing up, most children are told that if they are good, Santa Claus will come down the chimney on Christmas Eve and deliver presents for them to open on Christmas Day.
Dr. Millum claims that this traditional story leaves new parents with a “dilemma.”
“Should you practice what you preach and tell your children the truth?” he asked.
“Or is there something special about Santa that makes this lie okay?”
Several previous studies have attempted to understand the impact of the ‘Santa lie’ on children’s emotions.
In 1994, scientists at the University of Texas surveyed 52 children who no longer believed in Santa Claus.
Their results showed that, on average, children discovered the truth for themselves at the age of seven – and generally responded positively to it.
However, the discovery left most parents feeling sad.
Growing up, most children are told that if they are good, Santa Claus will come down the chimney on Christmas Eve and deliver presents for them to open on Christmas Day. Dr. Millum claims that this traditional story leaves new parents with a “dilemma.”
Writing in their study, published in Child psychiatry and human developmentthe researchers, led by Dr. Carl Anderson, said: “Children reported overwhelmingly positive responses to learning the truth.
“However, parents describe themselves as mostly sad in response to their child’s discovery.”
Meanwhile, a study earlier this year surveyed 48 children about how they discovered Santa wasn’t real, and how the discovery made them feel.
The results of this study showed that, on average, children discovered the truth at the age of eight – and only a third reported negative emotions.
“Experiences with negative emotions were generally short-lived, and the vast majority of both children and adults reported that they would or were already celebrating Santa Claus with their own children,” the team, led by Candice Mills, wrote in their research. in Developmental psychology.
Despite these findings, Dr Millam argues that there is ‘no hard evidence’ to show that believing in Santa Claus improves the Christmas experience.
“There doesn’t seem to be any hard evidence that believing in Santa Claus is important for enjoying Christmas, developing a child’s imagination or improving critical thinking,” he said.
“And those benefits can still be given to children without deception.
“The argument for lying to Santa Claus based on the supposed good consequences is weak.”