How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

We saw a not so great Santa over the weekend and dd was not thrilled with even seeing him. We've always gone to smith haven and I just love the Santa there. How do I prepare or handle comments that they look totally different?

How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

I thought the "Santa's helpers" was always the popular story...that Santa can't be everywhere so he has helpers that work in different places.

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

Message edited 12/15/2015 2:49:15 PM.

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

honestly dd is 5 almost 6 and has never asked lol. We have seen from skinny to hefty lol, and all different. Hopefully she won't ask but if she does I would use the helper excuse as mentioned above.

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

DD started asking about the different looking santa's this year.
I explained that Santa is so busy in the north pole making all the toys that he sends out his helper Santas so that he can get everything done in time.
She seemed to be fine with that answer

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

I think 3 may be too young for the santas helper line. Will your DC notice? You could always make a fun excuse like maybe Santa was really tired one day or he was a little sick if DC does ask.

Funny, we didn't go to smith haven either this year for the first time (it's a long drive...), and I was disappointed as well by our experience.

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

I don't think my kids would even notice!

But I would use the Santa's helpers story

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

I always told my kids that the Santas they see all around town are not the "real" Santa but Santa's helpers. They gather all of the wishes from the children around the world and send that info up to the North Pole to the "real" Santa. I explain that the "real" Santa is very busy up at the North Pole and cannot be everywhere all of the time to talk to every kid so that's why he has these Santa helpers. They never questioned that, they seem satisfied with that answer.

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

My DD asked this last year when she was comparing her Santa pic from her first year and the current year (she was almost 4). I told her he just got older and that's why he looks different. I said, "look how different you looked three years ago!" She bought it. Phew! She hasn't asked about different Santas this year, but I think the Santa helper story will come next. My mom told me this, too.

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

I remember asking this... My parents told me there existed different Santas for different countries & ethnicities.

Not to long after... I remember the "click" when you realize there is no real Santa.

How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

Thanks everyone. She really didn't want to even go so I told her he had been under the weather the first time and we really should go see him now that he's feeling better. I figured if I planted that seed that she wouldn't be bothered by him looking different and it seemed to work.

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

Here's my two cents: Kids want to believe. I keep coming up with all these different things I want to say when a Santa looks less than, or we see two in one weekend. My DS (4) asked me why Santa was here once, if he was supposed to be in the North Pole, but then that was it. It is all magical to him. Sometimes I think he knows that one is not the "real" Santa, but he doesn't ask too much, or makes up his own justification. Santa is visiting him at school Monday, and I saw his brain working before he said, "It's okay if we don't have a fireplace at school, he likes to come down our steps." End of problem. I worry so much about possible what ifs, but I think they work it out themselves usually.

Re: How do you explain very different looking Santas to a 3yo?

We tell our kids that Macys Herald Square (the one the arrives at the end of the parade) is the REAL Santa. The rest of the mall Santas are his helpers. So, with that said, we go into the city every year so they can see Santa.