The Santa talk

Christmas is a fun and happy time when you have small kids, and much of the excitement is inextricably tied up in the looming figure of the jolly man in red. Santa is everywhere, and deep down many parents feel that little shadow of dread of knowing they’ll one day have to pull back the veil and reveal “the truth about Santa” to their precious little ones.

It’s helpful to remember you’re not alone, and every parent living in a culture that recognises a version of Santa needs to have this conversation with their child at some point. But not everyone knows quite how to go about it. This is why, together with my coauthor Louise Cummins, I wrote Your Santa Agent Invitation, a brightly illustrated book that helps you explain Santa in a way that keeps the magic of Christmas alive. We designed the book to be read aloud and acts as a sort of guided conversation that helps you to gently explain to your child how the concept of Santa first came about. Even more importantly, the book reveals that the magic of Christmas is in fact created by all the people around us and invites the child to become a Santa Agent who can now take an active part in the festive season. Rather than the end of something, this is the start of something new and much more exciting: A chance for your child to help make Christmas magical for evermore. Reading the book with your child is an excellent way to approach this conversation, but there are some other things you could also do to make the experience as positive as possible:

Choose your moment carefully

It can be difficult to know when your child is ready for the Santa talk and deciding when to broach this particular topic is entirely up to you. Statistically children can be ready for this conversation anywhere from the age of six all the way up to 11 or 12, but you’re in the best position to know what is right for your child. And don’t feel pressured in any way by friends or family members who urge you to have the conversation before you and your child are ready. After all, judging the right time can depend on many factors. Perhaps your child has started asking probing questions about how presents find their way into your house on Christmas morning, or puzzling over the practicality of Santa visiting the entire world in one night. Or maybe you’re simply keen to get ahead of any confusion or to pre-empt older siblings or cousins or classmates brutally explaining the facts.

Whatever the reason, remember it is your choice.

Make the conversation into a special experience

Choose a time when you’re not rushed or tired and can give your child your full attention. You might like to give the time a ‘special occasion’ touch by including some festive snacks such as Christmas biscuits and gently playing some festive music in the background. Then sit down with Your Santa Agent Invitation and slowly read it aloud with your child. You can pause briefly any time you need to during the book, but we recommend trying to read all the way through it the first time to allow the complete message to be heard. Then give your child time to absorb the ideas in the book and perhaps read it through a second time together, this time pausing wherever necessary to further explain or discuss any of messages. Give them a chance to ask questions and take your time answering them as clearly and honestly as possible.