Should I tell my daughter the truth if she ask me about Santa?


Whether you decide to tell your daughter the truth about Santa Claus is a personal choice, and will differ for parents depending on their own beliefs and values. It might be helpful to ask yourself why you think you should tell your child the truth about Santa Claus. Are you worried that if you continue to perpetuate your child’s belief in Santa Claus she will confuse fantasy and reality? Is it because you feel guilty not telling your child the truth? Getting to the root of your concern might help you decide what is best for you and your child. I can tell you, based on my own research and research done by others, that a child’s belief in Santa Claus and similar entities should not be taken as evidence of a more general confusion between fantasy and reality. 

Jennie Ito, Ph.D.

Child Development Expert

Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.