Julia Smith

1
st
/2
nd
Hour
English I
September 13, 2014


On December 25
th
, a male suspect with obesity and white hair is believed to have struck
again in his annual burglary charge. There are no witnesses. The perfect crime has been
perpetrated. Sadly, its an inside job tale of deception and questionable activity. The parents are
to blame. Why wont they take the credit? What possesses them to tell their children that a man
who always watches them breaks in to deliver presents? Every year, thousands if not more
parents spread the holiday love and lies. Should this continue? Should children be lead to believe
in Santa? No, they should not because it is deceptive, pitiful, and disturbing.
First, children should not be led to believe in Santa because it is deceptive and damaging
to children because from an early age, they are taught to trust in their parents. Children follow
their parents actions because they earn how to behave from them. Studies show that how a
parent acts around kids has a huge impact on that kids life. It damages their social development
and trust when they found that they have been lied to. This illustrates that being led to believe in
Santa in deceitful and harmful to a childs psyche.
Second, it is pitiful to children to be led to believe in Santa Claus because the parents
who cause this behavior are often simply trying to re-live the nostalgia they have of their own
Christmasses as a kid. They feel the need to push their kids into the childish traditional beliefs.
This demonstrates that the cause behind most childrens belief in Santa is pitiful.
Third, children being led to believe in Santa Claus is disturbing. The implications of
various Santa media are horrifying. His nature is presented as kindly old man, yet he watches
you while you sleep. The watching eye of Santa can lead to paranoia. Children learn that it is
Julia Smith
1
st
/2
nd
Hour
English I
September 13, 2014

acceptable for an elderly bloke to break into their house and that it is natural to sit on his lap and
send him letters detailing what they want.
Next, the debate of whether children should be lead to believe in Santa Claus has been
around and the answer is clearly no. The ideas of Santas very nature and actions are repulsive.
Its not hard to see Santa Claus being a pervert if the mall doesnt check up on their seasonal
employees. Tales of breaking in are applauded and Santa encouraged that if a house lacks a
chimney, he must be given a key by the children of the house. Despite the obvious fact, many
people are of the opposing opinion. Their arguments include the notion that childish innocence
should be encouraged. Funny, considering that the flip side of that is punishment are denial of
presents at the slightest sign of misbehavior. Parents warning their kids that Santa will take their
presents away is a form of blackmail and a threat. They go on to insist that it would believe in
Santa does not affect their imagination. Children should not be led to believe in Santa because it
negatively affects their further development in many areas. It gives them the wrong idea about
what is socially acceptable and are fooled into delusions.
In conclusion, children being led to believe in Santa Claus is wrong. It is deceptive
because it weakens childrens trust in their parents. It is pitiful because it is a side-effect of over
nostalgic parents. Finally, it is disturbing because many of the basic Santa beliefs have an
unfortunate but sadly unavoidable undertone. In the words of Calvin, from the beloved Calvin
and Hobbes- Santa Claus. Kindly old man or CIA spook?