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Remember how in childhood you waited for the New Year and experienced the feeling of magic happening in reality? This positive experience will benefit your child as well. Why confidence in the existence of Santa Claus plays an important role for children, says psychologist Ksenia Ulyanova.
Sets a positive example
Santa Claus is one of the most positive fairy tale characters. He is kind, strong, wise, generous and just. He has many assistants who work great in a team and are always ready to help and help deliver gifts to children from different countries. Since the child learns the world, including through fairy tales, such a character is a good role model. He teaches to be kind, tolerant, to share with relatives and friends. The actions of Santa Claus help the child understand how important it is to have positive character traits.
Develops patience
Faith in Santa Claus develops patience: after all, the New Year holidays happen only once a year, and you need to wait for a meeting with them. It is especially important that patience in this case is not just an expectation, it is seasoned with anticipation of a holiday and bright events. A positive attitude is useful for the harmonious development of the emotional background of the child.
Learn to express your feelings and needs
Most families have a New Year’s tradition – to write a letter to Santa Claus. Every child dreams of some kind of gift, but cannot always tell about it because of a feeling of embarrassment, insecurity, fear of being misunderstood, or even ignorance that one can declare one’s desire. Turning to a fairy-tale character is useful in that it allows parents to better understand the feelings and needs of the child. Also in the letter, children talk about their good deeds, this helps them learn to independently evaluate their actions and summarize what has been done over the past year.
Allows you to take care
In the New Year, gifts go not only to children, but to everyone who surrounds them: relatives, friends, kindergarten teachers. A child in letters to Santa Claus can ask for gifts for other family members, thereby showing attention and care for them. It is important to encourage and develop such aspirations. When you open the box and find the desired item, say: “It’s great that you asked for this gift for me! I’ve wanted it for so long!”
In a letter to Frost, children talk about their good deeds: this helps them learn to evaluate their actions on their own.
In the process of preparing for the New Year’s celebration, invite your child to make gifts for a brother, sister, grandmother or grandfather together with one of the parents. It can be anything: pastries, appliqué or a poem. Joint preparation will not only bring you closer to the child, but also give him a sense of belonging to the magic and real happiness from the opportunity to please others.
Helps deal with disappointment
Not always on New Year’s day the child receives the gifts that he wanted. Then disappointment is inevitable. But here, the good Santa Claus is ready to help. He can write a message stating that some of the presents could not be delivered due to bad weather. If you are ready to give the missing gift for a birthday or other holiday, let Santa Claus be sure to mention this and keep his word.
Develops fantasy
Santa Claus is a symbol of the holiday, which gives only joy. Remember: the smell of tangerines, a Christmas tree shimmering in the light of garlands, crackers and fireworks, long-awaited gifts, entertainment, the ability to stay up late … These moments are remembered for a lifetime, warming for many years. Thanks to the main winter character, the child learns to dream, to believe in miracles and that his wishes come true. In addition, faith in Santa Claus develops the child’s imagination. This positive skill is often lacking in adult life.
It is important not to manipulate the child’s faith in a kind fairy-tale hero. Let Santa Claus be associated only with joy
It is important not to manipulate faith in a kind fairy-tale hero, not to frighten the child with stories that he was offended and would not come to him or bring a gift because of his pranks. Let this character always be associated only with celebration and joy.
Council to parents
To avoid the whims or disappointments of the child about the received New Year’s gift, you can:
1. Help the child write a letter to Santa Claus and discreetly coordinate his wishes and requests.
2. Offer a ready-made list with specific gifts, compiled in accordance with your capabilities.
3. Tell the child that all children want gifts, and if everyone asks for something expensive, then Frost may simply not have enough gifts for everyone.
All this is important so that the child does not feel deprived. Let this night be remembered by him only with positive. After all, childhood memories in many ways form a feeling of happiness in us.
About expert
Ksenia Ulyanova, psychologist, founder of the school of psychological training “Happy Academy”.