I told my pre-school students Santa isn't real. A parent accused me of ruining their innocence
As Christmas approaches, I can't help but recall the time I was accused of ruining a child's innocence — all because I had the temerity to tell my pre-school students that Santa Claus isn't real.
It all started with this announcement to the class from Kid A: "My mama told me Santa Claus is going to put presents under our Christmas tree tonight!"
Kid B shot back immediately: "No! My mama said Santa Claus is not real!"
Kid A gasped: "Noooo! But my mama said Santa will give me presents if I'm a good girl!"
Kid B repeated in a huff, brows furrowed and fists balled: "Santa is NOT real!"
I paused, momentarily thrown by the fiery debate. I was 21, young, and naive. That's probably why I shrugged and said: "Santa is just a man dressed in a Santa Claus costume, my friends."
Then I mentioned the little squabble in my daily updates to parents at dismissal. That's when I realised that Santa Claus was serious business.
While some parents casually agreed that Santa is just a character, others were on a full-on mission to keep him real. "Wouldn't you be ruining their childhood and innocence? I don't want to burst their bubble," a parent lectured.
I found myself politely nodding and acknowledging that we should not be spoiling Christmas for the kids, even as I thought: Seriously?
I later discovered that I wasn't alone — several of my colleagues had faced the same "Santa debate" in their classrooms.
Fear of spoiling the magic of childhood
After that incident, I realised that some parents genuinely want their children to live a childhood stuffed with fairytales and magic. Many will go to great lengths to protect what they see as their children's innocence.
But there's a fine line between encouraging belief in a fictional character, and actually nurturing childhood imagination or storytelling.
After all, kids adore characters from Paw Petrol, Frozen, and K-Pop Demon Hunters — but no one actually believes they're real. Santa Claus fits into the same category.
I do not believe that honesty kills imagination. Instead, the real magic lies in nurturing both at the same time — and surviving the parental firestorm with your sanity intact.
Honesty makes imaginative play even juicier
Children are remarkably capable of holding two truths at once: they can understand that Santa is a character, while still enjoying the joy of holiday traditions. Knowing the truth does not stop a child from hanging stockings, singing carols, or delighting in gifts under the Christmas tree.
In fact, honesty can make imaginative play even juicier.
Once children know Santa is a character, they are free to invent their own stories, plot their own adventures, and even create their own versions of traditions — no rulebook required.
In my classroom, children who knew Santa was fictional were just as enthusiastic, sometimes even more so. I remember one girl showing up in a Santa Claus dress, complete with a crown on her head. How adorable and sassy was that?
Undoubtedly, Christians will celebrate Christmas for the birth of Jesus Christ. But for non-Christians, Christmas lives in the stories, laughter, and the occasional glitter explosions — not the fiction of a jolly, bearded man in an iconic red suit who slides down chimneys with presents for the good boys and good girls of the world.
Innocence should not be confused with ignorance
In addition, innocence should not be confused with ignorance.
Children can be imaginative and emotionally secure without being shielded from the truth. In fact, young children encounter fictional characters all the time and are able to understand, at an age-appropriate level, that stories are not the same as reality.
From my experience, I have not seen children react with distress when they learn that characters like Santa are fictional. They may be momentarily taken aback, but move on quickly.
Ultimately, understanding that Santa is not real allows children to enjoy stories, while also developing their ability to make sense of them.
What matters more is that adults are honest and responsive to their questions, rather than maintaining illusions simply for the sake of "magic".
Wouldn't it be a relief if parents could fully enjoy the festive season with their children without the pressure of sustaining a belief or the risk of disappointment, when the truth inevitably comes out?
The writer was a pre-school teacher from 2021 to 2024.
