A co-worker and fellow skeptic was telling me his 6 year old child still believes in Santa Claus.
I questioned why he would not teach his child that Santa Clause is a legend and fictional character, not unlike Captain America.
He returned that magical thinking is natural. But I wonder if it is.
Children are socialized to think magically from almost birth. Santa is the most heavily instilled. But superheros and children's science fiction is indistinguisable from magic. Only careful observation and explanation could tamp this trend. Could it be more natural for parents to desire their children retain beliefs that Daddy and Mommy are likewise superhuman?

I don't have children, but I do see my friends and family changing in strange ways as their children are born and grow.

People have always had thoughts and beliefs about magic. Why should it be different now? Just look how people seek quack cures and crystal ball readers.

If a 6 year old still believes in Santa that seems pretty harmless to me and probably better to believe in Santa than to be instilled with more cynical beliefs at such an erly age. If the kid still believes in Santa by age 12 that is another matter.

Belief in political figures to do all kinds of good things is an adult fantasy that seems to infect huge numbers of people and is not so harmless as the Easter Bunny. We should get over the matter of hero worship before disabusing small kids of harmless fantasy.