When I was young and December approached, my parents always asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I have a happy memory of answering right away because I was excited to hear that Santa Claus would be coming. Even though it's not a significant memory now, when I think of that time, I remember my childhood when I waited for Santa with my parents and looked forward to opening the gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Children have the right to have the happiness that Santa gives.
When I was in elementary school, my friends said, "Santa is our mom and dad. How can you be fooled?” My friends' words were quite shocking to me since I fell asleep on Christmas Eve with my younger brother after leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus next to the bed, and was happy when we saw the gifts ‘Santa’ left and the empty plate and milk glass the next morning. Nevertheless, in the deep belief that Santa exists, I believed in Santa until the 3rd grade of elementary school. Although I learned the truth of Santa later than other friends, I didn't feel betrayed when I found out that Santa was my parents. This is because memories of Santa remain precious as memories with my parents and my younger brother. Preschoolers are still young. Also, there are sensibilities and memories that can be formed at that age. I think one of them is Santa. A belief that only good children will be able to receive the gifts they want for Christmas, the gifts they want in return for living nicely for a year. All of these will be memories where they can smile happily while thinking about their childhood when they grow up as teenagers and adults. Robyn Fivush, a professor of psychology at Emory University who conducted research on the relationship between parents and children said, "Our personal memories determine who we are. Memories bring us together.” Memories of Santa affect us even as we grow up. Also, even if they find out later that Santa is their parents, they will naturally understand that it was unrealistic to think that Santa travels around the whole world overnight and distributes gifts to all children. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the ages of 2 to 7 is the period called the “preoperational stage,” when children do not understand concrete logic and play with symbolic functions. After that, when they enter the “concrete operational stage” from 7 to 11, they can think socially and logically, and believe that their dream is not real. Because of this natural growth process, there will be no shocking acceptance of the fact that Santa is fake.
Even in childhood, Santa and Christmas made me excited by their existence itself. As Robyn Fivush said, childhood memories are a great foundation for emotional development when growing up. I think it is right to make small but big memories of Santa so that children can enjoy it.