In the Christ child-to post offices, the desire to stack sheets of paper, millions of children are eagerly awaiting the Christmas and the Christmas. The gifts, so they believe not, usually, bring the heavenly beings, or Santa Claus. Just like on the 6. December, St Nicholas comes to the experience in some places, even “real”, partially Ruprecht accompanied by the strict servant. But children should grow up in such a fantasy world?
“In any case”, says the Berlin psychologist Peter Walsch Burger. “It is important that children of this Illusion.” The magic of the stories for children and even enriching. Until about four years ago, they would lists slowly “small rationalism” and don’t learn then anyway at some point by someone, that there is Santa Claus & co. at all. At the latest, in the course of the basic school time, there is usually the extent.
Mary Too Large Perdekamp, technical Director of the Children’s protection League, Cologne, Germany, sees no reason to take the children to their Faith in the gift-giver: “It is an important cultural heritage that has its permission, and it corresponds to the magical fantasy thinking of children.” In addition, the parents tend to have fun at this Ritual.
The Santa Claus as a symbolic reminder
A teacher in the US state of New Jersey chose recently to the dismay of the school administration and parents, a radical method of education: according to Reports, it was unveiled in Tipobet front of a group of first graders that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny as a lie. As a consequence, the teacher is no longer teaching now at the school, reported the website “NJ.com”.
Disillusioned in the classroom, a teacher explains to children about Santa Claus, tooth fairy, and co. lessons of prohibition DPA
parents should not destroy the Illusion, but wait until the children ask, advises Walsch Burger. “As long as the children do not, one can assume, that you enjoy such stories, too.” Then, when the questions come, parents will tell, for example, the legend of the benevolent Holy Bishop Nicholas of Myra, and so explain that to be a reminder of symbolic rituals.
Speaking of Nicholas: The sinister assistant, Knecht Ruprecht, the North Rhine-Westphalian Green party politician Josefine Paul is a thorn in the eye. He was not and fit into today’s picture of the children’s education, Paul said the “Rheinische Post”. Children should look forward to the St. Nicholas day and not be afraid. “Maybe the servant can help Ruprecht also better when you Wear the candy, rather than threatening with the rod,” suggested the spokeswoman for child and family policy.
With Knecht Ruprecht is not Perdekamp
be threatened, “The figures should not have any punitive or moralizing roles,” says the protection of children Federal head Great. Your observation, after it has been in the past years, a corresponding cultural change. Often the Nicholas on my own, and in his “Golden book” rather praise than censure.
According Walsch Burger you could make use of the Ruprecht, though, is to remind children that they must keep to certain rules. “That should happen in a good, understated way, not as a threat,” says the psychologist. What is crucial is the way the mediation was: “In an atmosphere of trust in which children feel safe, you know that nothing will happen to you Evil.”
fin/Petra Albers / DPA
