Source: A Thrifty Mom
With Christmas fast approaching, choosing to introduce Santa is a choice parents will have to make soon! While my husband and I will be partaking in the traditions involving the jolly old man, I have friends who have chosen to forego the Santa tradition entirely. My opinion is that in today’s world of violence and technological advancements, the innocence of things like Santa are needed to keep our children grounded; almost forcing a sense of enchantment and mystery, things that have seemingly been lost entirely.
How a family introduces Santa will vary between families, cultures and across continents. Here are a few ideas on how to help keep the magic alive in your house:
Santa’s Key
Santa’s Key is something you can make yourself or chose to buy. The story goes that leaving the key will help answer questions about how the big fat man makes it into your house if you don’t have a chimney or just a skeptical kid.
Santa’s Footprints
A large pair of boots, some flour and a little glitter (for magic) is all you need. Leave the flour footprints by the front door or fireplace for kids to find when they wake in the morning to see if he actually came!
A Letter
Writing a letter early on in your child’s life about how you want the memories of Santa to be remembered might be a good idea. You can choose how you want Santa to be perceived in your house; is he a physical man or more of a giving characteristic found in all of us? Does he bring many gifts or just one? Does he have any rules-like being good all year? Write a letter to your child, when they reach an age of understanding, and explain what or who Santa really is.
Cotton Ball Beard?
I’ve heard of friends parents using pulled cotton balls and putting a few ‘Santa beard whisps’ in the tree, where his beard gets caught when bending down to put the gifts under the tree.
NORAD Santa Tracker
In today’s world of computers and i-everything, kids have great fun following Santa second-by-second on NORAD’s Santa Tracker. NORAD goes into great detail about exactly how the Santa tracking works, it’s a lot of fun.
Whatever your chose to do, make sure your kids are excited about it. Let them enjoy the mysteries behind it and indulge in their questions, be creative and do your best to keep Santa alive as long as you can!
Do you have any special tips or tricks you like to use to keep the spirit of Santa alive in your house?
Catherine is a first time momma to a rambunctious toddler. When she isn’t soaking up all that motherhood has to offer, you can find her blogging over at Plunged in Debt where she chronicles her and her husbands journey out of debt. You can also follow her on Twitter.
Such cute ideas! Thanks for sharing. I also have heard of parents keeping elf toys around the house and moving them each day; supposedly they watch over the kids and report back to santa on whether or not they are being good or naughty:).
The famous ‘Elf on a Shelf’. My husband grew up with a little elf tree ornament with the same idea long before this toy took off. It’s a cute idea!