Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Making Kids Believe In Santa (Or How Parents Are Crazy)
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 24, 2010
Modified Dec 24, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 24, 2010
Modified Dec 24, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Besides the NORAD's Santa tracking, there are many resources for parents to perpetuate the legend that is Mr. Claus. The Wall Street Journal looks at the tricks of the trade that go beyond eating the cookies and drinking the milk left out at night. For instance, did you realize there's a "Santa's Official Evidence Kit," which includes "Santa's Authentic Sleigh License—dropped accidentally by Santa on his way out of the house" and "Santa's Glove and Glasses—removed and accidentally left behind on the table while Santa was enjoying his milk and cookies." And, yes, there are even Santa boot print kits (sold separately).
There's an Elf Cam app for the iPhone (of course; video below) and video services where parents can order greetings for their skeptical children. Some parents make up Santa Claus email addresses while other opt for creating Blair Witch-style videos. But one parent who used the Santa Evidence Kit got pwned by her own bragging:
Heather Peralta, a 34-year-old mother of two from Savannah, Ga., dropped Santa's glove outside the front door and left Santa's driver's license on the stairs—part of a Santa "evidence kit" she ordered online that arrived at the house in a plain brown box. After that 2008 holiday, she blogged about how her then nine-year-old daughter, Janson, bought the story and even insisted the family return the license via UPS.
When Ms. Peralta tried to pick up the ruse again last year, she recalls, Janson interrupted her: "She said to me, 'It's OK Mama. I already know. I read about it on your blog.'"
Tagged
legend
santa
santa claus
santa evidence kit
wacky
weird
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Ballot questions ask NYC voters whether to cut red tape on outdoor dining, bike lanes
A rundown on five proposed amendments to the city charter on voters’ ballots.
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
The NYPD arrested a mom and took her kids' Christmas gifts. She never got them back.
A new lawsuit accuses the NYPD of making it hard for New Yorkers to reclaim seized belongings.
By
Samantha Max
News
The NYPD arrested a mom and took her kids' Christmas gifts. She never got them back.
A new lawsuit accuses the NYPD of making it hard for New Yorkers to reclaim seized belongings.
By
Samantha Max
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
By
Charles Lane
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .