Most people know the tale of St. Nicholas, steering his sleigh full of presents across the globe, visiting kids who behaved nicely that year and successfully avoiding his infamous “Naughty List.” Children leave out delicious cookies and milk for Santa, and some carrots or Chex-Mix for his exhausted reindeer. Either way, most children wake up and look under the tree to see dozens of “hard-earned” presents waiting for them. Although opening presents may be a blast, the negative, long-lasting psychological effects on children continue to be ignored, with no one addressing the topic of Santa spoiling children and giving them the worst present of all: unrealistic expectations.
Normally, people have similar ideas when it comes to Santa. Children behave well under the eyes of parents and the notorious snitch, The Elf on the Shelf, and in return, they get to bring out the mighty crayon and write down their deepest desires to send off to Santa Claus in the North Pole. Many kids believe that when they do act accordingly, they get whatever they want, even if the gift may be unattainable. Kia Abebe (11) thinks back to the time when she wished for the craziest toys, and because her parents wanted her to have the whole “christmas experience,” she received them. She grew up as a child believing the unrealistic truth that if she wished for something, she would get it. “As spoiled as it sounds, as a kid I got basically whatever I wanted for Christmas, so when my parents decided I was old enough... I stopped getting the expensive gifts I really wanted.” Allowing kids to believe that Santa will get them whatever they want, gives children unrealistic expectations that could be very hard to grow out of. Abebe shares, “It took me time to realize if I really wanted something, Santa wouldn’t give it to me anymore. It forced me to grow up really quick.”
In elementary school, many kids got rewarded for staying out of trouble, whether it be a trip to the well-known “Prize Box” or a simple piece of candy. It may seem like a treat earned for good behavior, but giving developing minds incentives for being kind, having the same expectations as adults. Simply put, people should not be kind only because they expect to receive something in return.
According to a survey conducted by Today, a mother wrote, “I have always been under the belief that if I don't give them everything, no one will.” While some mothers agree with wanting to give their kids the “ideal” childhood, other mothers that took the survey believed, “If they give their children too much, they feel bad for spoiling them.” The line between spoiling kids and simply celebrating the holiday may be close, but Santa giving children too many presents has long-term effects on children's minds.
If parents refuse to get rid of jolly old Santa, they should consider a strict budget that “Santa'' can’t exceed. Although it may seem hard not to spoil their beloved children, many websites offer helpful tips and suggestions so parents don’t go overboard.
Overall, the whole concept of Santa simply spoils kids, making them believe that behaving nicely benefits them. Getting presents for friends and family may be a great way to celebrate the holiday, but remember to keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas.
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