Yeah, this Jew gives the rest of us a bad name. I personally would not really relish my small child going on this field trip. Because it might hurt his feelings or make him be ashamed of not having the same red lotion when the rest of the class is all into it. But I wouldn’t make a stink about it; I’d talk to my child privately or even not send him, quietly.
If my child were older, he’d get it; he’d have been through enough Christmas seasons to understand it, and I’m sure it would be a fun day. No problems.
Honestly, for very young kids (k, 1st grade) it’s not a great idea to teach them equally about all religions, or to push one official one in a group of many. They need to first be assimilated into their family’s religion, and I think we can all agree on that.
And this particular trip and project is not about the Christian religion at all. So it’s not a religious thing. However, a five year old Jewish boy might feel very left out as his friends ask Santa for toys he wants too. And Santa comes to all the other houses but not his.
By the way, as a Jewish mama, I never tell my kids anything that disses Santa. I talk about him, and I say he doesn’t come to our house because that is special for the Christian kids. It’s their religion. And I make Chanukah more fun for little kids because of their exposure to the massive fun appearance of Christmas. And if they ask me if Santa is real, I do what you do: I say, “Do you think he is?” And they do, if they are young. And I say, me too. I never want them to go to their friends and say “My parent told me Santa isn’t real.”
Red lotion = religion What a funny apple typo.