'Secret of being a Santa': Keeping the magic of Christmas alive - no matter how old your child gets

Christmas is an incredibly special time of year, and, if we're being honest, Santa is a pretty big part of making it so special.

The joy and excitement he brings to kids is not something us mums want to give up too easily. Sadly, however, a time will come when we have to – when our kids grow up and start to question who exactly this man in a red suit really is. 

So what happens then? Is that is? Is the magic of the festive season over then? 

Absolutely not, thanks to this wonderful solution that is currently doing the rounds on Facebook. 

The perfect conversation to have with your kids, read this now so you are prepared when the time comes to have your "chat".

"In our family, we have a special way of transitioning the kids from receiving from Santa, to becoming a Santa. This way, the Santa construct is not a lie that gets discovered, but an unfolding series of good deeds and Christmas spirit.

When they are 6 or 7, whenever you see that dawning suspicion that Santa may not be a material being, that means the child is ready.

I take them out "for coffee" at the local wherever. We get a booth, order our drinks, and the following pronouncement is made:

“You sure have grown an awful lot this year. Not only are you taller, but I can see that your heart has grown, too. [ Point out 2-3 examples of empathetic behaviour, consideration of people's feelings, good deeds etc, the kid has done in the past year].

In fact, your heart has grown so much that I think you are ready to become a Santa Claus.

You probably have noticed that most of the Santas you see are people dressed up like him. Some of your friends might have even told you that there is no Santa. A lot of children think that, because they aren't ready to BE a Santa yet, but YOU ARE.

Tell me the best things about Santa. What does Santa get for all of his trouble? [lead the kid from "cookies" to the good feeling of having done something for someone else]. Well, now YOU are ready to do your first job as a Santa!"

Make sure you maintain the proper conspiratorial tone.

We then have the child choose someone they know–a neighbour, usually. The child's mission is to secretly, deviously, find out something that the person needs, and then provide it, wrap it, deliver it–and never reveal to the target where it came from. Being a Santa isn't about getting credit, you see. It's unselfish giving.

What do you think of this solution? We are so going to do this when the time comes!