Imagine Santa Claus, if he were real, telling a child, “Character doesn’t matter.” There’s something wrong with that picture, isn’t there? After all, many people use Santa Claus to motivate their children to goodness. Santa Claus is “making a list and checking it twice” says the song, to see who’s naughty and nice. Another song states that Santa “knows when you’ve been bad or good” and warns children to be good. Traditions of Father Christmas, by any of his many names, usually include a clear line of demarcation. Children who are good get good gifts. Children who are not good get a lump of coal or something equally bad. There is no middle ground.
Character counts with Santa Claus, and somehow, despite society’s lenient approach to moral values, Santa knows that good and bad are based on absolutes. He has a definite moral standard. He doesn’t have to “wonder” if your children have been bad or good – he knows! It’s clear. We teach children that Santa Claus watches them, and he knows without a doubt whether they have been bad or good. He views it in black and white. Down through the centuries, we have given Santa the task of enforcing moral values, and to fit him for the task, we have endowed him with solid, absolute moral judgment.
Character counts with Santa Claus, and no one tells him to be aware of the fact that each child has his or her own set of values, sorted out after being taught the basics. No one tells our children that Santa will understand if they just live up to the values they think are right. No. When it comes to Santa Claus, children learn that there are just two kinds of actions: bad actions and good actions. Santa is the judge.
Santa takes out his list of character traits and reads through them: adaptability, appreciation, attentiveness, caring, commitment, compassion, contentment, cooperation. How do your children rate? Is Santa Claus marking “yes” or “no” under each of those? Courage. Has John Teenager had the courage of his convictions and stood up for what he believed? Responsibility. Has Mary Teenager been exercising responsibility in all areas of her life? Santa may take this opportunity to wrap up a copy of Passport to Courage for John and a copy of Date with Responsibility for sister Mary.
What about the younger sisters and brothers? Does Santa’s list show that they have exercised courage – as much courage as the little kangaroo in the book, Katie Kangaroo’s Leap of Courage? Have they learned to exercise responsibility the way the little black bear did in Cubby Bear’s Big Responsibility? Maybe Santa will deliver those books instead of a lump of coal.
Character Counts with Santa Claus because Santa Claus is a creation of man, created to operate in a manner that man knows to be valid. All of us know, deep in our consciences, that character is vital. We understand that there are absolute moral values. We recognize that children should be rewarded for exercising those moral values, and punished for not exercising them.
You may like or loathe the mythical Santa Claus, but his presence at this time of year offers a great opportunity to discuss character with your children.
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?