Believing in Santa Claus does NOT make children act nicer at Christmas - but a surprising festive tradition does
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In the popular Christmas song 'Santa Claus is Comin' to Town', children are told that Father Christmas 'knows when you've been bad or good', and are urged to 'be good for goodness' sake'. But scientists are rewriting the rulebook, as they claim that the prospect of Santa Claus leaving no presents doesn't actually make children better-behaved.
![[Overall, the results are something of a surprise, because singing carols and going to church services may be traditionally perceived as boring for youngsters (file photo)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/13/93038429-14181251-image-a-67_1733922468975.jpg)
In their study, the team investigated the behaviour of more than 500 children over three Christmases to find out who was naughty and nice. While believing in Santa didn't make children act nicer, engaging in family activities such as singing carols and putting up decorations did.
![[Parents reported various good and bad behaviours from their children in the lead-up to Christmas Day, including sharing, helping and throwing tantrums (file photo)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/12/93035931-14181251-image-m-61_1733918575985.jpg)
Lead author Rohan Kapitany, a psychologist at Durham University, thinks parents should prioritise more 'costly' Christmas rituals – those that require more effort – with their children to get them to behave in the days ahead. 'It seems that the more costly rituals likely have a bigger influence on [child] behaviour,' Professor Kapitany told MailOnline.
![[Generally speaking, parents think the Christmas period is very important, but that their child's belief in Santa is only moderately important. The magic is in the time of year, so to speak, not in the claim over the supernatural big man]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/12/93036701-14181251-Generally_speaking_parents_think_the_christmas_period_is_very_im-a-65_1733921361034.jpg)
'Wearing a Christmas jumper is one thing but it's relatively easy to do, but going on an excursion in the dark and cold to listen to carols in a strange new building while holding candles is another thing entirely. 'The more unusual from every day life, the bigger the influence.'.
![[Many parents use the threat of Santa not leaving any presents at Christmas as a tactic to get children be nice rather than naughty]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/12/92951735-14181251-It_s_a_question_most_of_us_have_asked_early_in_our_lives_is_Fath-a-64_1733920090902.jpg)
The the prospect of Santa leaving no presents doesn't actually make children behave better during the festive period (file photo). Overall, the results are something of a surprise, because singing carols and going to church services may be traditionally perceived as boring for youngsters (file photo).
![[Santa Claus is based on St. Nicholas of Myra, who, according to Christian tradition, was a bishop in that small Roman town during the 4th century AD. This image shows a 13th-century depiction of Saint Nicholas from Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, Egypt]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/12/92777543-14181251-Santa_Claus_is_based_on_St_Nicholas_of_Myra_who_according_to_Chr-a-62_1733919069966.jpg)
