Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy

[glatt]

My 5 year old daughter hears from lots of other people about Santa Claus. I might read her a book about him, but I have never said anything to her to lend weight to the idea that he is real. She has asked me before if Santa is real, and I have said that I have heard of him, but never seen him. When we have presents under the tree, every tag on a present says who the present is from. There is nothing from "Santa."

I don't want to come right out and tell her that Santa is a lie, because I see that she enjoys it. But I also am trying to give her a dose of healthy scepticism, so she won't be crushed. I think the seed has been planted in her mind.

I remember being disillusioned when I figured out Santa wasn't real. I had friends who beleived in Santa long after other kids had figured it out, and had even told them. Their parents went to absurd lengths to keep the fantasy alive. That's just wrong.