Does Belief in Father Frost Harm Children: Psychologists" Opinion

Psychologists: belief in Father Frost positively affects children's development and strengthens family values

Specialists from Perm Polytechnic University told "Gazeta.Ru" about the beneficial influence of belief in the New Year's magician on a child's emotional and cognitive development.

According to experts, this fairy tale character helps young children develop imagination, learn to manage emotions, and form a basic sense of self-worth. Additionally, this tradition establishes important concepts of goodness, justice, and care.

"From a psychological perspective, belief in Father Frost is an important stage in a child's development. Immersion in an atmosphere of joy forms the basic need of 'I am good,' which underlies positive self-esteem and psychological well-being," explained Olga Yurieva, Associate Professor of the Department of "Sociology and Political Science" at PNIPU and Candidate of Psychological Sciences.

Scientists emphasize that the New Year's tradition has not only psychological but also cultural and social significance, creating a sense of generational continuity and uniting families around shared emotions and rituals.

"For parents, belief in Father Frost becomes a tool for care and creating warm memories. This is significant for both children and adults themselves," noted Mikhail Sukhoguzov, assistant of the Department of "Philosophy and Law" at PNIPU and clinical psychologist.

Developmental psychologists indicate that the need for magic is natural for children under five years old. At this age, the boundary between reality and fantasy is still blurred, and magical thinking fits organically into games and everyday life.

However, reactions to the "unmasking" of Father Frost can vary significantly. Toddlers aged 3-4 sometimes even fear the fairy tale character, and recognizing a parent in the role can reduce anxiety. For other children, revealing the secret can cause confusion or strong emotions.

Psychologists consider 9-10 years to be the optimal age for an honest conversation if the child has not shown interest in the truth themselves. At this stage, it's important to emphasize the symbolic nature of Father Frost as part of the holiday and family traditions.

Experts caution: trauma can be caused not by revealing the secret itself, but by adults' inappropriate behavior. Especially dangerous is denying the obvious – for example, convincing a child that the disguised dad "wasn't actually dad."

"Such behavior can resemble gaslighting and undermine basic trust in loved ones, increasing anxiety and internal conflict," explained Mikhail Sukhoguzov.

At the same time, specialists emphasized that rejecting belief in Father Frost from the beginning is also an acceptable parenting approach.

"If a family explains from the start that Father Frost is a symbol of the holiday, and gifts are expressions of love from relatives, this doesn't deprive childhood of magic. It's simply created in other ways - through shared rituals, care, and creativity," noted Sukhoguzov.