1983-03-30; Central Michigan Life

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Central Michigan LIFE
Vol. 6G No. 37
19H3CM I.IFK
44 pages
Mount I'leasant. Mich 4SH.*i^
Wedncsdav. Nov.:K). 1983
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Christmas alive for children
by RICH ROBINSON   '
LIFE Staff Writer
Christmas is for kids.
Children all enjoyed the season,
oblivious to the crowded stores
and high prices.
As children the only care is if
Santa is watching while they are
fighting with each other, or if
they will receive that special
present.
Kven in today's cold, cynical
society, the spirit of Santa lives
among the young, just the same
as it has always has, since the
story of St. Nick first was told.
A sampling of attitudes regar
ding that jolly old fellow and his
cohorts at the Fancher Klcmen
tary School in Mount I'leasant
revealed children's thoughts
seem no different than ours
were when we played on the swings and monkey bars.
"Sure. I believe in Santa." said
t> year old Allison Fillion. a first
grader. "Once. I remember I
heard something outside my
window when I was sleeping.
and I got up. and I think I saw-
Santa's reindeer flying away."
"I believe in two things," said
l'otina Zionts. a 6 year old first
grader. "I believe in Santa anti
Hanukkah. The best part is get
ting to see Santa, anti telling him
what vou want."
Hut alas, as one grows older,
the excitement of Santa Claus
wears off after learning more
about the holiday.
"I guess I believe in him a lit
tie." said Hrian Hiddick. 8, a
third grader. "Once. 1 found a
whole bunch of presents in my
parents' closet, anti I knew San
ta didn't put them there, but it's
OK. I still like putting up the
tree and popping the popcorn
anti hanging hig streams of it all
around."
Hut still, there conies a time
when the young wise up, ami it
is not cool to believe in Santa.
"No way." said Huben Hay. i».
a   fourth   grader. "It   isn't   real.
Santa is a Jolly belief
by JIM KNIGHT
LIFE Sports Editor
The great debate of whether to teach a child to
believe in Santa Claus continues for parents.
The debate centers on a belief system of a jolly .
plump, white bearded man living at the North
Pole giving out presents anti its effect on
children.
For psychology professors at Central and a pro
fessional family psychologist, agreement is
elusive.
"I would tell a chili! that he is the spirit of
Christmas, that there are a lot of Santa Clans'.
Santa is ali the parts of us that like to give." Julia
Carroll, professor of     psychology, said
Carroll said she advocates a belief in Santa up
to the age of six. but cautions against playing up
t he magical pow its of Santa since the ages of four
to six are years when children try to separate
reality from fantasy. This is not to say there
should not be any fantasy connect etl vv it h the San
ta Claus legend.
"It is fun to have fantasy, fun to anticipate San
ta Claus. fun lo believ e in magic. Carroll said.
Most children are sophisticated enough by the
age of four to realize the Santa Claus they see in
five different stores is not the same one. Carroll
said.
A parent's best explanation in this situation
would be to tell the child the store Santas are peo
pie who are like Santa Claus and are loving peo
pie who like children. Carroll saiti.
Another professor of psychology, Sophie I.ov
inger.    said     her     family     tlix-s     nut    celebrate
Christmas, ami she would not encourage the San
ta belief.
"I told my children who the tooth fairy was. We
still did it. with the tooth under the pillow ami
had a mommy tooth fairy anti a daddy tooth fairy.
I believe in telling kids the truth." I.ovinger saiti.
Children   who  have   been  taught  about   Santa
may have suspicions Santa is a myth, but parents'
teachings contradict  the doubts, giving children
the "feeling parents may he lying to them." I.ov
inger saiti.
If children are brought up to believe in Santa,
I.ov inger recommends a belief that lasts until the
ages of six to eight anti once the truth is learned,
tell the child that it was fun and exciting as
reasons the belief w as instilled.
l.ynn Mischley. a family psychologist in
Midland, saiti she had no available data on the ef
feels of a belief in Santa Claus, but personally
does not believe in using Santa as a threat.
Mischley said using Santa as a disciplinary tool
by  threatening  there will  be  nothing  under  the
(See "Age" — pagel!t.\)
t>-L
O   •
Vour parents buy the stuff that
goes in your stwking at the
store. It's like the Faster Hunny
— thev aren't real."
"I like building snow forts anti
making snowmen anil stuff like
that." Harry said. "Christmas is
a great time for that, because we
don't  have to go to school then.
The   spirit   of   the   season   re      and we can play all day long."
mains, however. Hay, along w ith With that, the school bell rang
a group of his friends. Hrian Col      anti   the   group   started   toward
lins, 8. Joshua Simcox. 9, Shawn     the doors of the school. Another
Sheets. 9. and  Hill Harry. 9. all     noon recess passed,
enjoy  the  holiday   --   especially
playing       outdoors       in       the As    people    grow    older,    the
Christmas snow. recesses     seem      to     become
shorter,     anti     perceptions     of
Christmas   change but    the
"Sledding  is  a  blast." Collins       feelings   the   season   brings   out
saiti. never leaves.
PB to bring
Dickens' play
to Warriner
by RICH ROBINSON
LIFE Staff Writer
For the past few years. Program Hoard has given the coin
munity a Christmas present in the form of some holiday enter
tain ment  around this time of year.
Charles Dickens' classic Vuletide tale. A Christmas Carol."
will be performed Monday in Warriner Auditorium as this
season's gift from I'K.
"We    generally    ilo   a    Christ mas tv pe    of   show     for    the
holidays."   Performing  Arts  Coordinator  Steven   Howe   saul.
"Last year's 'Nutcracker Suite' did real well for us, and the an
tiience enjoyed il  too. It  was professionally  done, and vv c e\
peel   nothing less  than  the  same  for 'A  Christmas  Carol,'
How e. Flushing junior, saiti.
It does not look like Howe will be let down, either. The coin
pany performing the musical is the Nebraska 'Iheatre
Caravan, an experienced and professional group from Omaha
which tliti 'Christmas Carol' two years ago at CMC and vvas
tfjuite a hit.
lSee"l»it kcris" —pagePl \)
r^-
j ■- i[-2»-g3
In Brief
Clarinetist James Hcfferman, Music Depar.
ment faculty member, will perform Thursday at
8 p.m. at Warriner Auditorium.
Campus
Learn how to take those
good Christmas photos
before the big day.
page9A
A nearl>.  school plans tt
train people to be the
perfect Santa Claus
page14A
Sports
The CMU Mens basket
ball team travels to meet
the University of
Michigan
page20B
Index
I.IFKslyles lilt
Klbom County IK
Classifieds 2Ml
Comment IK
Off the wire UK
Sports 'joK
Spotlife :>;»K
Weather J.JK