FROM THE ARCHIVES: OK, BUT WE DEMAND HE LOSE WEIGHT AND GIVE UP SMOKING

It's good to believe in Santa, says psychiatrist (Debbie Andalo The Guardian, December 1, 2004)

Believing in Father Christmas helps boost children's mental development and social skills, a psychiatrist claimed today.

The festive ritual of exchanging presents associated with Father Christmas also helps develop a child's sense of charitable giving as well as their consideration of others less fortunate than themselves, according to Dr Lynda Breen from Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool.

She accepted that some parents believe that promoting the myth of Father Christmas is deceitful and promotes materialism.

Parents, she said, had to weigh up the benefits of maintaining the fantasy against the day that their child discovers Father Christmas does not exist.

Writing in the latest issue of Psychiatric Bulletin she said: "Whether or not the fable is a threat to the child's trust is to be decided by each parent.

"On balance the tale of Santa Claus is a powerful tool that may serve to nurture social and cognitive development, particularly in a technological society where children mature earlier."

A child's belief in Father Christmas was also an act of faith and many youngsters draw parallels between him and God, she said.

But she argued although they might question their belief in God when they find out Father Christmas does not exist, they do not lose their faith in the long term.

She said: "Their capacity for faith in a higher, transcendent power is not lost just because Santa proves to be mortal."

In other news, scientists from UCLA have proven that a belief in the Ten Commandments does wonders for self-esteem.

[originally posted: 2004-12-02]