Santa Claus?

Question

How so you tell your kids that there is no such thing as Santa Claus? What is the best way to tell them without hurting their feelings or dreams?

Answer 1

I'd just them decide on their own. If they want to believe then let them. Why ruin it for them. Just ask them if they believe if they do then leave it at that, if they don't then you dont need to explain anything.

I figured it out though when santa had the same wraping paper and hand writting as my mom....

Answer 2

Just let the kids find out for themselves. It's the best that way.

Most kids find it out at school somehow.

I come from a big family (8 kids, ages 22-6) and when the older kids found out, our parents just pretended there was still a Santa, and the older kids never said anything, because it's all part of the fun.
Even when I'm in the car with my mom, and my younger siblings
aren't there, my mom will still say, "So what do you want Santa to get you this year?"

It's just a silly little thing, and it gets you in the holiday spirit!

Answer 3

My son is 11 and I still play the whole Santa thing with him, although this year I think is going to be the last year he believes. He asked me the other day if Santa was real or not, and he is big on not being lied to......I skirted my way around the issue that day, but if he asks again I think I am just going to be truthful and tell him that a long time ago he was real, and that parents and grandparents, etc keep his spirit alive by giving gifts to children at Christmas. I think it all depends on the individual kid, but I say let them believe as long as you can. Kids grow up so fast these days......no need to take that last magical thing from them any sooner than you have to.

Answer 4

I remember when I found out, I was in fourth grade and all the kids were discussing if he was real or not and after that year I relized he wasn't real but I have two younger sibbling who kept the spirt alive, my mom actually put a piece of velvet on the fire place to look like Santa snugged his pants for my sister and that got another year out of her beleiving. But I wasn't too devestated. I will just keep my kids going as long as I can until there is nothing I can do to make them believe but I would never out right tell them there is no santa what's the point you lose some of the magic.

Answer 5

If you have a grade schooler, chances are they are going to hear it at school. I was a Teacher's Aid in a K-3 grade classroom and found it best to let the kids hash it out on their own. As a parent, I wouldn't recommend bringing it up to your child out of the blue. If they ask, then explain. I always found it best to talk about the actual history of Santa Claus, and how he was an actual person who helped others. It is educational and doesn't totally crush the child. It helps them see that we keep this tradition as a way of giving and sharing.

Turn it into a lesson when it comes up. But I do recommend waiting until they ask you.

Answer 6

I have always found this interesting. My parents NEVER started with the Santa Claus, so there was never anything to tell us. I remember asking my Mom why the twins down the street believed in Santa Claus? She said to me thats what her parents want her to believe. I asked if I should tell her I didn't know about no Santa Claus and she said, no it wasn't any of my business to ruin those little girls ideas about Christmas, that I could keep it to myself. I did too. I remember when those twins did find out, it was a lot of drama and a lot of "My Mommie said there was a Santa Claus" and "you're lying" to the boy who exposed it and so on. I won't say it crushed them, but they sure seemed to have a hard time understanding why Mommie who never lied and said lying was bad, had lied to them. I only knew that my Mom and Dad bought all my presents and always put FROM MOM AND DAD on everything I got. Even my Grandparents wrote their names on stuff they sent. Does that make my parents better parents? Well, I think they are good parents in their own way, but at least we didn't have to wade through why Mom and Dad could lie about Santa Claus and what else they might be lying about, and why I couldn't lie. So if you've been telling them that Santa Claus exists, just stop telling them that. Don't perpetuate it, but should you tell them there isn't one? Well like my Mom said, its wasn't any of my business to tell them different either. So if you started something you don't want to finsih, just stop encouraging it, and if they ask if there is a Santa Claus, ask them what they think. If they say they don't think so, say I don't think so either, but honey, don't ruin it for someone who does ok? OK! If they think so, ask if you think you should leave cookies and milk for him and let it be. This should not be that difficult. And you know what, if you want to tell them Santa Claus exists, they are your kids, you can do that, and if you don't, then don't!

Answer 7

You can not say that to your kids, that their is no such thing as santa claus. You gotta make them believe, that is part of being a child to believe.

Answer 8

What's wrong with this harmless fantasy? Do not tell--even if asked! My dad insisted on the whole Santa thing even when we were in our 20's and 30's--it just makes the holiday feel a little magical, and what is wrong with that?

Answer 9

i had to do that. this is the way i told them...
"santa claus was real, and he did give people presents but that was long long ago and he has passed... so all parents help him out by giving their own children presents during the night"
i found out that was the best way.

Answer 10

You don't have to tell them that Santa does not exist as they will get the picture when they grow a little older. I would suggest that you never tell them as it will crush their hopes and dreams on Christmas itself as presents are what they wait for on that day. Do tell them when they ask about it when they are a little older.