This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about maintaining the holiday spirit. One big dilemma parents face is when and how to talk to children about Santa Claus. Dr. Carroll Hughes, a psychiatrist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says dealing with children’s questions is a good opportunity to talk to them about values such as generosity and kindness.

Between the ages of four and six, children start to be able to understand the difference between fantasy and reality and to learn that cartoon characters aren’t real. That’s when they might be able to accept the idea of Santa as a symbol of the holiday season. Many holidays celebrated at this time of year also offer opportunities to teach children about your family’s cultural traditions and values.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/patientcare/medicalservices/psych/child.html to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in child and adolescent psychiatry.