lies of fantasy characters

Parents and other adults that desire to dominate minors often do so by falsely telling minors, particularly young minors, that there exists various fantasy characters. Different parents may tell their children that different fantasy characters exist. Such characters almost always include Santa Claus, and usually include the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Almost all minors become aware of such deceptions before the age of 12. The purpose of that deception is to make the young minors appear stupid and silly, and to impair their understanding of reality. Said impairment of understanding reality impairs mental development.

In addition, many parents use the Santa Claus lie to exercise an additional form of dominance, in which they tell the children that if they obey (are 'good') then 'Santa Claus' will reward them with presents, and if they do not obey (are 'bad') then 'Santa Claus' will not give them any presents. That makes said parents feel like an omnipotent god, like in vicarious autotheism.