Santa question. Age what age is it best to tell your kids the truth about Santa?

Question

I'm worried that once my older children know the truth, it will somehow take away the magic for the younger ones.

Answer 1

Ok, I am 28 years and I still believe in Santa. LET ME EXPLAIN.....my daughter is 10 and just now realizes there is not an actual guy who comes into our house and puts gifts under the tree, but if you ask her today if she believes in Santa her answer is still yes. I explained to her, While there is no reindeer and elves, Santa is another word for love and giving. Why do you have to see or explain. That takes away the power of believing.

There was a really poor family in my neighborhood last year, I knew their kids would not have very much to open on Christmas day. Me and my daughter spent some of our Christmas shopping days gathering up toys and clothes. On Christmas Eve, I waited until the family was gone then we ran up to the porch and put the neatly wrapped gifts on the porch, we actually waited at home looking out at the neighbors for more than an hour, when they finally came home, you should of seen the happiness in those childrens eyes when they seen the gifts, one of the girls started opening the gifts before they even got them inside the house. The tags said To: Your Family Love: Santa. No one can tell me that Santa is not real. Its all in how you believe.

To get to your question on age: Wait until they are old enough not to get hurt when they find out there is no elves or jolly old man, but old enough to understand about the real thing called "Santa" Why take everything out of Christmas.

Take care, and have a wonderful, SANTA filled Christmas.

Answer 2

Usually kids start wondering and asking questions because one of their friends or a kid at school said he wasn't real maybe saw the parents putting presents under the tree--approx 9-10 but varies from child to child. Until the child(ren) start asking or you hear them talking I wouldn't say anything for usually no matter what they hear they'll think on it and draw their own conclusion and losing the belief in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny and thats part of growing up. The little kids usually keep on believing (I'd also warn the older kids once they know that they not dare spoil the magic for the little kids and explain how important imagination is when you're a llittle kid and usually the older kids see the sense of it, but just in cae if you do hear then trying to tell the little ones then I'd tell them that you are telling them to stop for if they do not then perhaps for them even presents should not be so real. I've also told kids that that when Santa first started giving kids presents on Christmas Day there weren't so many peopel in the world but Theres been more and more people that Santa has to have help and who better to have him help than the parents so Santa leaves the bag but has the parents help put them under the tree and usually works for awile.

Answer 3

Once the older children know then you can explain to them not to tell the younger ones because it will spoil the surprise like they had before they knew the truth. I never told my son he just figured it out on his own. He asked the question and I gave him the answer, that there is all types of religion and people that believe in different ways so he is allowed to believe what he wants, doesn't stop me from putting a present under the tree that signed by Santa.

Answer 4

Don't volunteer the information. Let the child ask you. Some older kids just like the idea of Santa, so they go along with it, while some little kids (like 4 years old) know he's not real and will tell the parents such.
When your older kids come to you about this, let them in on the "secret", making sure they know you trust them enough NOT to blow it for any other kids - especially their siblings. Explain to them that not everyone views Santa the way you do, that's why it's a secret.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, you can't do anything about the older one's or their friends telling them the truth. I am an only child and was told in 1st grade by my friend who has 2 older siblings. My friends little one believed until she was 11 or so, and she is the youngest of 3. I also have a friend that re-married and this new guy decided that her 5 yr old shouldn't be lied to, so he told the kid there was no Santa. He's now 10 yrs old and believes there is a Santa, and doesn't believe his step-father that there's not one! Just let whatever is going to happen happen.

Answer 6

I have told my kids that each year they get one less pressent from santa and one more from me and that when they reach the age of twelve santa doesn't buy them pressents anymore.
That way I can increase what I give them over Santa and some of the magic still stays. But they do eventually find out. We had an episode at our school last year where one of the year 6 kids still believed in santa and on a schoolcamp they found out they were the only one to still believe. Imagine how that child feels?

Answer 7

They find out in school usually. About 7 to 8 years old. My son began questioning about 7 and even wrote a letter to Santa for me when he was 8. On Christmas Eve, when I told him and his 2 little sisters (ages 3 and 1) to go to bed so Santa would come, he went to his bed with no argument (surprisingly). When I gave him his night love he whispered that he knew Santa wasn't real and had known for a while but didn't want to hurt my feelings, that's why he wrote the letter, I asked him not to tell his sisters and to let them find out on their own and so far he has kept his promise.LET KIDS BE KIDS AS LONG AS YOU CAN. IT GOES BY SO FAST.

Answer 8

You don't have to worry about that ! Kids are so smart today that they find out really young on their own. I was 6 when I found out and I have to admit it took some of the glow out of xmas for me but it all comes back when you have children of your own and you get to play santa. It's a wonderful belief and very hard when the children do find out. I don't think it is really like lying either because it is a part of your childhood that will be remembered with much joy. Just let them enjoy as long as you can.

Answer 9

I had a really hard time with this myself. See my dad is a "real beard Santa" that goes to nursing homes and such. So my daughter not only believed Santa was real, but that Papa WAS Santa. She is 9 and it was just this past spring when she came to me to tell me that she knew the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Santa were all fabricated! This was after she had been told by the step kids that she was a baby for believing in them. We talked about how important it is to WANT to believe in magical, caring beings...whether or not they are real...especially with a new baby on the way. She understood...now, about those step kids.....

Answer 10

I figured it out on my own at around 9. I, for some reason that is beyond me, didn't tell my younger brother so that he could still enjoy Santa. (Man I should have crushed his little dreams.....LOL j/k)

As for my kids, they're 10 and 8 and still believe. I think the 10 year old is getting wise though. They'll figure it out for themselves one day and when they do I'll explain to them why I let them believe. It's fun.

It's fun to believe that some jolly old fat man comes down your chimney every year to deliver presents if you were good. I've held Santa over their heads many times. I've told them that if they don't get some act right I'm gonna call Santa to let him know how naughty they've been. They straighten right up. heh heh heh

So I say keep letting them believe. As long as it doesn't turn into some sort of psychosis, and they're still believing at like 15, it's fine.