The legend of Santa Claus is a fun and memorable tradition for kids around the world. But when older children begin to ask questions about the existence of the Jolly Old Elf, it’s hard to keep the fun going for younger kids in the house. Questions about how Santa delivers gifts to all the children of the world on one night, how he gets down the chimney and how Santa can be at every mall at one time become more and more frequent. Use these fun ideas to keep the spirit of Santa alive and well at your house this year.
Change the Time When Santa Claus Comes
Most children look forward to waking up and seeing gifts under the tree first thing in the morning, but what’s wrong with opening gifts as soon as Santa leaves them? Let your kids go to bed at their regular time, and choose a moment in the middle of the night to go into your kids' room and tell them you just heard reindeer on the roof. Once all the kids are awake and downstairs, go ahead and have Christmas, even if it’s three o’clock in the morning. Of course you’ll have to do your part to get ready for this fun twist to morning gifts, but there’s always time for a nap later in the day.
Feed Santa Claus's Reindeer
Purchase a reindeer feeding kit at your local holiday supply store, or simply buy some cracked corn for feeding ducks or squirrels. Have your kids go outside and leave the reindeer food in a strategic place easy for the reindeer to get to and eat. The food will be miraculously gone the next morning and the magic will go a long way to keeping kids believing.
Letters from Santa Claus
Leave a short letter for each child at your house from Santa. The letter should say something about the child that only Santa would know. Maybe children cleaned their rooms without being asked for an entire month, picked up their clothes or got a good grade on a test after extra studying. This note from Santa will help kids with the idea that, “He sees you when you’re sleeping; he knows when you’re awake!”
Have Santa leave something behind that you can return to him next year
Maybe when Santa visited your house he got in a hurry and dropped a glove or lost a button off of his coat. Put one of these items next to Santa’s plate of cookies with a note. Be sure Santa leaves a note thanking the child for taking care of the item and giving it back.
Visit Santa at the Same Place
Choose a place to visit Santa with a focus on talking with the children and less about the picture taking. Places like museums, libraries or other unique venues tend to have more realistic Santas than the ones typically at the mall. Visit Santa in the same location each year to help make the experience more real for little ones.
Keeping older kids believing is the best way to ensure younger children get plenty of time with the wonder of Santa Claus. But if you can’t keep the game going long enough, be sure to talk with older children about not telling the secret until the younger ones are ready to let it go. Let kids know how important it is not to spoil the fun for everyone and that all kids need their own special time to believe.
Patti Richards - Patti Richards is a freelance writer and editor, former teacher, wife and mother of three. Patti writes children’s books and stories ...
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