Editor's view

The tricky issue of what to tell young children about Father Christmas is hotly debated in this week's Special Report, 'The real thing?' (pages 10-11). Child psychologists and childcare experts remain divided on whether the Santa Claus myth adds up to telling children lies or plays an essential part in developing their imaginations. The argument that the Father Christmas story abides in the tradition of fantasy and fairy tales only holds so much water, however. In using fairy tales as a rich source of creative stimulus, we do not tell children that the witch in Hansel and Gretel or the...