• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar

Betsy Brown Braun

Child Development and Behavior Specialist. Parent Educator. Best Selling Author

  • Home
  • What’s New
    • Upcoming Appearances
    • Video Seminars on Demand
    • In the News
    • Ask BBB – Columns from the Palisadian-Post
  • About
  • Services
    • Register Now
    • Private Consultations
      • Consultation Policies
    • Custody Consultation; Co-Parenting Planning/Implementation
    • Concierge Consulting
    • Parenting Seminars
    • In-Person Parenting Seminars
    • Video Seminars on Demand
    • Parenting Groups
    • Monthly Parenting Groups FALL 2023 through MAY 2024
    • Speaker and Seminar Topics
  • Recommendations
    • Betsy’s Books
    • Books Betsy Recommends
    • Special Children’s Books
    • Books: Special Issues
    • Articles
  • Betsyisms
    • Questions and Answers
    • Video Shorts
    • Video Seminars on Demand
    • Well Said
  • Blog
    • All Blog Entries
  • Testimonials
    • Parents
    • Pediatricians/Professionals
  • Media
    • Magazines
    • Television
    • Newspapers
    • Internet
    • Radio
    • Podcasts
    • Electronic Press Kit
  • Contact

When Jewish kids want Santa

by Betsy Brown Braun on December 12, 2009, under Holidays, Parenting

As young children grow, their interest in and experience with the winter holidays change. This includes learning that different people celebrate different holidays in different ways—Christmas,Chanukah, Kwanza to name just three.  It is well within the range of normal development for young children to want for their own anything and everything that appeals to them. With all the trappings of Christmas so prevalent, it is not unusual for a Jewish child to want to claim trees and lights and Santa for his own. Knowing that lots of Jewish families have this experience, I offer the following tips. 

  • Keep your own feelings in check. If you feel sad or even guilty, as if you are depriving your child of something, (Santa for the Jewish child; 8 days of celebrating for the Christian child) your child will absorb those feelings. You need not feel guilty that Santa isn’t a part of your celebration.
  • Take this opportunity to walk your child through her/his feelings of disappointment.  Life is filled with times when we can’t have it all.  Learning to accept that and allowing your child the opportunity to reflect those accompanying sad feelings  is a gift to him. You will be helping him to develop coping skills. And it will teach a tolerance for disappointment which is a life long lesson.
  • Take pains not to position yourselves as Jews who are missing out on something. It needs to be about what you have and not what you don’t have! Be creative in your celebration of Chanukah. Create all kinds of family experiences, rituals and traditions. You have 8 days to celebrate, and on each of these you can do something different and special (a dreidle night; a baking night; a game night; a making-gifts-for-others night; a party with friends night; and a few gift nights, too.)   But don’t make up for the lack of Christmas by giving a gift every night. It only creates an insatiable thirst for getting more stuff and makes the holiday about gimme gimme gimme.
  • Teach about Chanukah and tell the exciting story of the oil that lasted 8 days, the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the Macabees winning the battle.  There are super heroes and there is  magic in the story!  Do science experiments with fire and oil and candles.
  • Make the holiday season more about give you than gimme. Give your child the gift of experiencing the good feelings that go along giving rather than getting. Create experiences that are all about sharing with others. Choose “Secret Elves” who do surprise acts of kindness or help for someone in the family, leaving a note that says “From your secret Elf!”  Ask your child to make a list of people whom he would like to honor with a gift (he has made). Do activities in which whole family participates, making cranberry bread or popcorn balls. Then give what you have made to those who don’t expect it (the crossing guard, the school janitor, etc..).  Create surprise coupons to give that are favors you will do for others. The list is endless!  
  • Help your child to learn that you can love and appreciate something without bringing it into your home. You can get yourselves invited to a friends’ house to trim their tree. You can go to a Christmas tree lot and play hide and seek as you smell the delicious trees. You can pile in the car in your pj’s and search for Christmas lights all over the city.

The joy and richness of whichever winter holiday you celebrate comes through the traditions and rituals you create and repeat each year.  The best memories of the holidays come from family experiences you remember and cherish, not from gifts you receive nor from bringing Santa into your home. It’s never to late to begin again.

: Celebrating Chanukah, Chanukah, Charity, Christmas, Gratitude, Heroes, Holidays, Rituals, santa, santa claus, traditions
25 Comments

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. cure knee pain says:
    July 15, 2014 at 6:49 pm

    cure knee pain

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  2. click to investigate says:
    July 20, 2014 at 4:51 am

    click to investigate

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  3. heating cleveland says:
    August 1, 2014 at 8:57 am

    heating cleveland

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  4. google play store download says:
    August 4, 2014 at 12:40 am

    google play store download

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  5. quartz says:
    August 5, 2014 at 3:18 am

    quartz

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  6. Darlehen auch ohne Schufa in schweren bekommen says:
    August 9, 2014 at 8:14 am

    Darlehen auch ohne Schufa in schweren bekommen

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  7. rebate Isabel Marant Wedge Sneakers Silver Bird Metallic Leather Shoes says:
    August 14, 2014 at 11:23 am

    rebate Isabel Marant Wedge Sneakers Silver Bird Metallic Leather Shoes

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  8. visit the up coming internet page says:
    August 15, 2014 at 2:59 am

    visit the up coming internet page

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  9. pregnancy test brands says:
    August 21, 2014 at 4:42 am

    pregnancy test brands

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  10. download brain booster says:
    August 24, 2014 at 9:34 am

    download brain booster

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  11. furniture stores in maryland says:
    August 29, 2014 at 4:48 am

    furniture stores in maryland

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  12. buy views youtube says:
    August 31, 2014 at 11:19 am

    buy views youtube

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  13. spotify free codes says:
    September 2, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    spotify free codes

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  14. art gallery of ontario admission says:
    September 5, 2014 at 11:51 am

    art gallery of ontario admission

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  15. PUre cambogia ultra Review says:
    September 13, 2014 at 5:47 am

    PUre cambogia ultra Review

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  16. replica watches says:
    September 13, 2014 at 9:33 am

    replica watches

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  17. smartphones android app review games Track App Data Usage - Android Manual says:
    September 21, 2014 at 12:09 am

    smartphones android app review games Track App Data Usage – Android Manual

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  18. this hyperlink says:
    September 23, 2014 at 2:22 pm

    this hyperlink

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  19. probiotics for women says:
    September 23, 2014 at 3:43 pm

    probiotics for women

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  20. ????? says:
    September 24, 2014 at 11:31 am

    ?????

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  21. miami roof repair says:
    September 25, 2014 at 10:11 am

    miami roof repair

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  22. North Carolina steroids supplier says:
    October 4, 2014 at 1:53 pm

    North Carolina steroids supplier

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  23. n64 emulator xbox 360 controller says:
    October 19, 2014 at 6:12 am

    n64 emulator xbox 360 controller

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  24. ??????? ??????????? says:
    October 21, 2014 at 2:46 am

    ??????? ???????????

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

  25. blog comments program says:
    May 25, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    blog comments program

    When Jewish kids want Santa | Betsy Brown Braun

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to receive news, articles and blogs from Betsy

"I do know so deeply what you have brought to me, Stephane, and the girls as a family.  They would definitely be little assholes without my Betsy’s wise words over the years LOL." -Katy Strouk - Mom of 2 girls--a teen and post college girl.

My wife and I watched your Discipline Video last night . It was ENORMOUSLY helpful...45 years of wisdom in 45 minutes!

-Brian Goldsmith, father of two young children

When you [Betsy] speak, everything just sort of clicks and all the chaos going on around us seems to have order once again. We really appreciate your help and insight.

-Carter Horton Thomas, father of two girls

Betsy is quite simply pure magic. Through the ups and downs of parenting, she is a constant source of tremendous guidance, , wisdom, and comfort. Having Betsy as a trusted resource, as I navigate life with two boys, is truly a blessing.

-Rebecca Jonah, mother of two boys

I have participated in Betsy’s groups and private consultations over the past decade-plus. I find her guidance to be experience and research-based. And I respond to her no-bullshit directness. Her support helps me feel like I am working to be the best mom I can be; knowledgeable, present, and open. Being in the groups has given me so much confidence as a parent, plus camaraderie and lifelong friends with my fellow mom members. Betsy is the rock, sounding board, expert, and friend everyone needs while navigating the parenting journey.

-Meredith Alexander, mother of two boys

Betsy is quite simply pure magic. Through the ups and downs of parenting (and life!), she is a constant source of tremendous guidance and wisdom and comfort. Having Betsy as a trusted resource (who has literally seen it all) as I navigate life with two boys is truly a blessing.

-Rebecca Jonah, mother of two boys

You’re like a drug and it’s hard to get enough of your wisdom so thank you!

-Maryam Shahrokhi, Pediatrician in LA

Your voice is so often in my head as I navigate the adventures (good, bad, and yes, sometimes ugly) of parenting. I can’t imagine what I would have done all these years without it...it’s like a touchstone that keeps me on track.

-Thea Andrews Wolf, mom of 2 middle school boys

We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of positive response in our community from the PA Forum Betsy held for our Middle and High School parents. We are all discussing our implementation of her practical, meaningful advice - from how to respond to our teen's and tween’s meltdowns to how to deal with their messy rooms. Additionally she helped frame parenting (and over-parenting) during this challenging time as well as normalize our parental anxieties.Thank you Betsy!

-Leigh Morales, MS PA Forum Chair, The Greenhill School, Dallas TX

A parenting guru.

-The New York Times

Betsy offers the clearest, calming, and most helpful advice there is on parenting...She's like having the smartest, coolest, and amazingly right mom just a phone call away.

-Jane Buckingham, Author of The Modern Girls Guide to Life and The Modern Girls Guide to Motherhood

Betsy Brown Braun is a fine observer of children…

-Dr. Robert M. Landaw, Pediatrician

Betsy keeps it real. She respects parents and children and gives parents the straight scoop about productive communication. I turn to her insights again and again.

-Alexis Bircoll Martin, mother of two

Your talk really helped me in becoming a more “open” parent and less worried about little things that really don’t matter and restrict kids in a negative way.

-Nina Hong, mother

Betsy got me over the bumps of raising two young boys and over the moguls of raising teenage boys. She is my rock.

-Deidra Hall

Betsy’s private consultations are fabulous. She has a gift for understanding all different types of children and giving advice that works for your particular child.

-Craig Mallery

I love the way you think and how clear you make the issues seem. You are so brilliant and I love how perceptive and straightforward you are. You anchor me and the things you say make a lot of sense.

-Leigh Nickoll, Marriage and Family Counselor

Betsy is always able to come up with simple and unique approaches to common parenting problems as well as more complex issues. What she says makes good sense and always works...

-Joanna VanTrees Cowitt, mother of a boy and a girl, Los Angeles, CA

Betsy Brown Braun is a master teacher and one of the wisest parenting experts I have ever known.

-Steven Carr Reuben, Ph.D., author of Children of Character

Betsy is a wise, humorous, and caring advisor... Due in large part to Betsy, we are smarter parents and our children are happier and healthier as a result.

-Steven Webber, father of two boys

Betsy Brown Braun’s class has been an incredible experience for me. Her wisdom, combined with a rare and wonderful sense of humor, has helped me become a better parent.

-Deborah Gleiberman, mother of three children

Betsy is our modern-day version of the ‘village elder’ from whom we all seek counsel. Her suggestions have enabled me to respond to my children’s questions and curiosity in a way that respects their intelligence without confusing them.

-Paulina Ladreyt, mother of twin boys, Santa Monica, CA

Secondary Sidebar

Seminars, groups and consulting
Engagements, media, presentations, and video seminars
Just Tell Me What to Say and You’re Not The Boss of Me. Buy them today!
On Demand Parenting Seminars.
Read the latest blog posts from Betsy.

Betsy Brown Braun

  • Home
  • What’s New
  • About
  • Services
  • Recommendations
  • Betsyisms
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Media
  • Contact