Creative Child December 2025 | Page 56

special Feature

NAUGHTY OR NICE:

The Trouble with Using Santa for Behavior Modification

BY: Rebecca Eanes
“ Santa Claus is watching you.” It’ s a popular tactic – a built-in behavior control plan around the holidays- but do threats really produce better behavior? And do they belong in the parent-child relationship? To make matters worse for children, not only is Santa watching their every move from afar, but there’ s a live-in spy who will tattle.
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