I suppose there is also a Moloch dynamic: if every other kid believes in Santa, the one who doesn’t might be left out. In worse cases, other kids might react agressively to their comments. Something similar happens to atheist adults in strongly christian communities.
The “sense of wonder” argument may be a rationalization for “I don’t want my kid to be the only one who doesn’t share THIS socially important sense of wonder with the rest”. The kid who obsesses with space shuttles instead of santa might be socially worse off.
If this is the case, arguing agains... (read more)
I suppose there is also a Moloch dynamic: if every other kid believes in Santa, the one who doesn’t might be left out. In worse cases, other kids might react agressively to their comments. Something similar happens to atheist adults in strongly christian communities.
The “sense of wonder” argument may be a rationalization for “I don’t want my kid to be the only one who doesn’t share THIS socially important sense of wonder with the rest”. The kid who obsesses with space shuttles instead of santa might be socially worse off.
If this is the case, arguing agains... (read more)