Parents shouldn't be using Santa as a threat to make their children behave this Christmas.

The old adage of 'If you don’t stop fighting, I'm telling Santa' is heard throughout many family homes in December.

On Newstalk Breakfast however, counselling psychologist Leslie Shoemaker said parents shouldn't take the bait.

"Santa's about fun, it's about presents, it's about family time together," she said.

"The other thing is Santa's only once a year, what are you going to do for the other 11 months?"

Santa Claus riding his sleigh on Christmas Eve in 2018. Image: Thomas / Alamy

Ms Shoemaker said the idea of a naughty and nice approach isn't really fair.

"We're not doing the same with the Easter bunny; we're not withholding all of our chocolate," she said.

"The Easter bunny still comes not matter what; we're not saying the Easter bunny's not going to come if you're bold."

'Positive types of discipline'

Ms Shoemaker said that while consequences and boundaries are important, handing authority over to Santa sends out the wrong message.

"People are using Santa, and therefore they're handing over their authority to somebody who lives in the North Pole," she said.

"We need to look at more long-term positive types of discipline and let's keep Santa fun.

"We've got 26 days left until he comes, the decorations are starting to go up, I've seen trees in windows, it's great craic.

"Let's enjoy the season for what it is," she added.

Ms Shoemaker also queried if anyone ever actually gets a lump of coal on December 25th.

Main image: A photo taken over Santa's shoulder as he reads his naughty or nice list in 2017. Image: Becky Wright / Alamy