Mlisaj

In general, I recommend Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn - great foundation book For your specific issue, try Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen I also really like How to Talk So Kids will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk Other good one is Brain Rules for Baby. Has a pregnancy and baby section that no longer applies, but it has a good section on building empathy and why that's so important to the brain. I like to know the "whys" sometimes so I can feel more confident in what I'm doing.

Refreshing this thread because I want to see if anyone else has more thoughts on Santa. I like what I've seen shared here. My daughter is 2 and I know I can't out-and-out lie to her about it. I kind of like the idea of just telling her some people believe and some people don't and letting her decide if she wants to believe. I didn't think I'd have to worry so early, but her verbal skills are really taking off. A friend's child, not even 3, asked her mom why she put a toy in the "Toys for Tots" bin. She asked, "Mom, why do we need to donate toys when Santa brings toys for all children?" Her mom proceeded to make up something about how sometimes Santa loses addresses. Then she asks, "How do we know Santa won't lose my address?" What a smart girl! I simply don't have it in me to lie to my child like she did hers (no judgement).