Keeping Santa Claus Alive for Your Children

Every parent knows the day will arrive when junior will no longer believe in Santa Claus. We want to hold on to that magical childhood moment for not only the children but for us as well. Here are a few ideas that can help keep your children believing in Santa a little longer.

At the beginning of the holiday season have your children write a letter to Santa. In the letter allow them to express what type of gifts they would like this year and what good children they have been. Some stores have mailboxes set up for the children to mail off the letters to Santa.

When purchasing gifts, wrap a few and place under the tree. Explain these are gifts from you and that Santa will arrive on Christmas Eve with a few more. Do not put out any gifts from Santa before Christmas Eve. When wrapping the presents that Santa is bringing make sure to use special wrap. A wrapping paper with Santa's face on it is perfect since you will not need to use tags. If you have more than one child select a special wrap for each child. Do not put tags on the gifts if your child (ren) can recognize your writing. It will be up to you to remember which Santa wrapping is for which child.

The night of Christmas Eve gather everyone to go outdoors and place Reindeer food for the animals to eat while Santa is busy delivering gifts. The food can come from a local pet store or even some grocery stores will have a display. This is basically rabbit and dog food put out in a little trail for the animals. If you do not have animals in the area that will eat the food, make sure to make it disappear by morning. Do not forget to leave out some cookies and milk for Santa. After all he gets hungry delivering all the gifts during the night.

The next morning when the children wake, have them look to make sure the Reindeer ate their snack and Santa enjoyed the treats you left him. When it is time to open gifts be as surprised as they are over what great things Santa brought them. Don't forget to get a few things from the letter they mailed to Santa.

It is such a short time that our children believe in Santa Claus. Christmas does become magical when there are children anticipating Santa's arrival. Enjoy the moment and try and prolong for as long as possible.