When did you tell your kids that Santa wasn't real?

[El Presidente]

As title basically.

I read today that the average age kids nowadays find out Santa doesn't exist is 6 apparently.

6 seems way too young, my wee lad is 6 and there's no way I'm taking that magic away from him.

I think I was about 8.

 

[Vance92]

Why bother? They'll learn it from their classmates eventually. All you'll have to deal with after that is that look of betrayal they'll have on their face from all those years of being lied to.

 

[olbriar]

I raised four children and never spoiled the mystery of the holiday for any of them. They let us know when it was over. And... it was around the age of six for each of them.

 

[dynomot]

My daughter has known the truth since around 7ish (she is 11 now) my son who will be 6 on Monday still avidly believes in "Santa". We didn't tell my daughter, she told us just as my son will do in not so many years time.

I'm a firm beliver in never lying to then outright, some harmless childhood things are just best left to grow out of. The Easter bunny and the tooth fairy being the two others.

 

[dynomot]

Adding to my post. Last week we went along with my sister and her son (8) to see Santa. He was a very good one, a real white beared gentleman who obviously adored children. My daughter and her eight year old cousin (who I think still believes) went along with proceedings quite happily. Anyway my son was in awe, eyes the size of saucers, then they narrowed down a bit.

"Santa, are you the real one, because you don't look like you did last year? "

'Santa' was brilliant, top notch.

"Of course not Matty, I am one of his many cousins, Santa is far too busy loading his sleigh at this time of year to see in person. I however know him very well and he says you have been very good...."

'Santa' then proceeeded with his spiel, charming the socks off Matty with his tales (we were in his grotto a good ten minutes and we were not rushed at all) of looking after the reindeer in Lap land and in the summer up near the North Pole. He was genuinely a lovely man. When we were leaving the children said Thank-you and their goodbyes and I was the last to leave. I shook his hand and said Thank-you too. He winked, smiled and whispered "a pleasure, you have lovely children". It made my day, not only my kids.

 

[olbriar]

I can still remember finding a price tag on one of my goodies from Santa. I was not in school yet.. maybe five. I thought about calling bs but my mother loved making a big deal out of Santa and Christmas. I let another Christmas go by before confessing the jig was up. I think most kids by the age of five or six know the score but enjoy the whole Santa thing as much as their parents. It is a wonderful time. Enjoy every minute of it... it doesn't last nearly as long as you want.

 

[dynomot]

No it doesn't last long enough. My daughter already has "flashes" of the teenage years to come a time where we put the adage that you give children roots and wings to the test. A time I'm not looking forward to and at the same time am.

 

[Hadron]

I told them when they'd worked it out for themselves and asked me to confirm they were correct. Both of mine had done this by the age of 6 - maybe we just breed them cynical in my family?

 

[Clementine_3]

I'm not sure how old the kid was when he knew, he never came right out and called me on the shenanigans. We both just knew he knew and still did the whole Santa thing. We went to Macy's in NYC one year w/his cousins, that Santa was great with the kids and not scary at all (he must have been the real Santa I was told, not one of those fake ones). That was the only time he actually went up to and talked to a Santa, he was terrified of them but we tried every year.

When he was about 10 the Mr. was convinced that we needed to tell him there was no Santa. I couldn't make him understand that he already knew, and had for years. I called him into the room and asked him if he still believed. He stood there, winked at me, and then said "if I say no will I still get a lot of presents?". I was hysterical, Mr. was devastated.

 

[zuben el genub]

Never had Santa. I got offended by a large popup that was meant for the toilet, and said "no more"
Told kid what Xmas was, and didn't push. She got presents from those who loved her. She was taught to be thankful for all, and still looks for her "home made" present. If something was made especially for her, even if it was simple, she cherished it.

If marketing had left Santa for the kids, it might have been OK. You don't have to sell cars or diamonds with Santa.

 

[Slug]

Whaddya mean, Santa isn't real?

 

[sfbloodbrother]

Wait! Santa isn't real?

I'm crying!

 

[sntaylor]

I came up with an idea last week (yes i am a tight fisted Scotsman!) When he is a little older, I'll give him a stocking of coal as Santa thinks he has been a bad boy, then we tell him that we still love him go spend the cash in the sales instead, then Santa ain't getting all the credit

This year is my son's second Christmas so much bigger.....can't wait

 

[huh]

kids just naturally start to logically put things together...
both my boys were in second grade...so they were both around 7
I have always told them I would never lie to them..and they could ask me anything
so..when they asked...I told them the truth i also told them that it's up to each person to get to that point on their own in in their own time..so it's not their place to say anything to anyone else

same with birds and bees and anything and everything else...

 

[mikedt]

Santa and his elves are real enough, they're all in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, and not at the North Pole.

 

[dynomot]

Santa and his elves are real enough, they're all in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, and not at the North Pole.

Yes at this time of year he's collecting the vast majority of the children's Christmas presents that are made there.

 

[MLSS]

When he was 23.......He sure took it hard

 

[jefboyardee]

Santa Claus is in Indiana!

 

[andruoid]

Not real? What do you mean ...?!

 

[bjacks12]

What the hell do you mean he's not real?

 

[sfbloodbrother]

Santa us indeed real. Not the physical Santa who stalks you when your sleeping, snatching your people up. Come to think of it, you need to hide your kids and hide your wives, and hide your husband too because they stalking everybody out here.

 

[LunahChick]

My 4yr old approached me and said "Mom, you want me to believe a big fat elf breaks into our house to give me toys? Ok." And rolled her lil eyes. What could I possibly say to THAT? :O

 

[kdude63]

I can't speak for the children I don't have, but I was 6 or 7 when I realized that the handwriting on the tags were completely identical to my mom's handwriting.

 

[dynomot]

My 4yr old approached me and said "Mom, you want me to believe a big fat elf breaks into our house to give me toys? Ok." And rolled her lil eyes. What could I possibly say to THAT? :O

Not much! Watch that one, she'll go far!

 

[LunahChick]

Not much! Watch that one, she'll go far!

She's 21 now, and yes, she's used her razor sharp mind rather well... except for a couple preteen yrs. *shudders @ the memory* lol

My (currently) 8yo son just noticed that Santa's handwriting looks an awful lot like mom's...but hey, he had an 8 year run believing, which is pretty long for a kid, I think.