Part of my reasoning for not encouraging my kids to believe in Santa Claus was not wanting to lie to my kids, or set them up for disappointment when the inevitable truth came out. Reading the Little House on the Prairie series this past year really gave Ellen a different understanding of the whole issue when Laura and Mary's mother helped Laura reconcile the idea of Santa Claus with their Christian beliefs. It's really beautiful.
That said, I have found a little bit of make believe to be a great motivator for my kids.
In a fit of exasperation, I told my kids one night that any toys not picked up before bed would disappear because the toy fairy was visiting our house after they went to sleep. I didn't even have to try to convince them. They were frantically picking up within seconds.
"How is she going to get in?" "I'm going to LET her in."
"No, Mom, no! Lock the doors and don't answer when she comes. Maybe she'll just go away. Don't let her take our toys!"
"Pick them up, or I'll let her come get them and give them to other children who will take care of them." "Okay! Okay!"
The toy fairy didn't actually visit that night, but on occasion when someone can't find something, Ellen or Jack will suggest, "Maybe you didn't put it away and the toy fairy came and took it and gave it to another kid." "Yeah."
The toy fairy came up during the discussion about the tooth fairy.
"So the tooth fairy takes away your tooth like the toy fairy takes your toys?" "Yes, but the tooth fairy is nice and leaves you a present."
I was just checking to see if they still believed, because the play room might need some work . . .
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