Legend has it that badly behaved children get a lump of coal for Christmas. — Photo: agafapaperiapunta / Getty Images
As the holidays approach, many parents use the figure of Santa Claus to discipline their kids, reminding them that only good little children will get gifts under the tree. But using this threat to address behavior may not only be ineffective, but could also erode trust between parents and children.
According to a survey conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, a quarter of parents with children aged three to five have threatened their children with no presents at Christmas to encourage them to behave better. Others opt for more immediate sanctions, such as cutting short an activity or not serving dessert at the next meal.
