When and how to tell your children the truth about Santa?

Question

These are two easy questions in one. I am not asking if it is correct or not to tell our childrens a lie, nor asking if Santa actually existed. I am not interested in long religious explanations of any kind. It's just a fact. My two children (6 and 8) trully beleive that Santa is sort of a magical person that brings gifts in Christmas eve. It was my and my wife decision to make them believe in Santa this way, and we have no regrets about it at all. We are just very interested in knowing other people's opinions on this subject. When and how it is the right moment to tell our chidren the truth about Santa? (that he actually doesn't "physically" exist). Thanks!

Answer 1

This is how my family explains it we are nonreligious. (Id wait till they are a bit older my 11 yr old just figured it out) Santa is the spirit of giving and while he may not visit every house physically himself he has helpers in the form of family and friends. I am 27 now my kids are 11, 6, and 1 and my mom still requires that we say we believe and we actually do because we believe in the spirit of giving to others without expecting anything in return which is the true meaning of Christmas. :)

Answer 2

Interesting question. This is something we've been talking about lately too. We both feel that it is important to teach the true meaning about Christmas (the birth of Jesus), while we both think that Santa is fun and can also teach a lesson of giving. So, we came up with a cover story...Santa brings presents all over the world to help celebrate Jesus' birthday each year. I'm sure at some point we'll have to address the question of the actual being of santa existing or not (especially when the kids at school start talking about it), but I'm hoping that by telling them what we have about the relationship of the two people, that we will avoid crushing the spirits of our children. I don't think that we will bring up the subject, we will wait until our children do.
Good luck!

Answer 3

Since you have already told them there is a Santa, I wouldn't bring it up. If they actually ask you, I would tell them the truth. However, I will warn you this is coming from a person whose kids find out the truth about Santa as soon as they find out about Santa. My sister-in-law was just told "If you stop believing, he stops coming" and just sort-of figured it out. So I guess those are your choices. I certainly wouldn't sit them down and have a "Santa's not real" discussion if they don't even ask, no matter how old they get.

Answer 4

My best friend's mother explains it like this....we live in a tough world and Santa Clause, Easter Bunny, etc. are just a couple of things that children have that brings them peace, happiness, joy, etc. A little magic makes the world seem a little brighter, I think . So try to hold off on a grown-up reality and let them have Santa for as long as they can. They'll figure it out eventually.

Answer 5

Well, in my opinion, you just wait until they grow older, and eventually, they will soon realize and have thier suspisions that Santa doesn't really exist. You proabably shouldn't tell them if they're too young, because that'll just ruin all the fun! Let thier imaginations explore, and let them have fun beliving until you think they are old enough to handle the truth without being upset. Use "Santa" as a good influence in your children's years of being young. Watch Christmas shows about Santa, Rudolph, or just some good jolly Christmas videos, and let them have fun! Eventually, they'll figure it out all one thier own, and you won't even have to tell them. Well hope I helped!

Answer 6

My mom instructed me while i became ten years previous... It form of ruins each and every thing for the toddler nonetheless, I recommend, it kinda gave my hopes up that there rather became somebody accessible variety sufficient to offer toys to human beings. you will desire to ascertain, it relies upon on the toddler no rely if or no longer you will desire to tell them now, sensitivity is usually a controversy with Santa and yule. Santa's like the king of all traditions, if that's even what you prefer to call it. as quickly as the toddler is familiar with Santa isn't actual then the completed formative years imagined holiday journeys is going down the drain. i in my view think of the blow is form of much less confusing if the toddler has a youthful sibling that still believes. of direction, what happens to the toddler without one youthful than them? they often discern it out themselves, a rather good variety of the time while their the only individual in the kin that believes in Santa they get the subconscious tricks that we deliver them.

Answer 7

Let them figure it out, that's what my parents did and I did with my kid. We might be a bit extreme, but we have a good time, and have great memories!
one year some of the cousins had Santa's autograph-they were really bragging it up to the other cousins, so the next year I cut some red material and left it like Santa snagged his pants in our chimney. That was better than the presents that year! Santa lost his pants in our chimney!

Answer 8

Well I have a nine year old daughter and I never told her that there wasnt a Santa. She just told me one day "Mom there is no such thing as Santa!" Let them OUTGROW it! I'm almost 30 years old and I still get all fuzzy and warm inside when I see Santa at the mall! LOL. Its part of growing up! Its fun!

Answer 9

You have to watch them for clues that they really want to know the truth. The moment of truth came for my 8 1/2 year old this summer. She asked me again if Santa was real. I asked her what she thought and she answered she thought he was and so I said, "Then he is." She started to cry, "I'm so confused." So I told her the truth and she was very relieved (as were her older sisters.)

Answer 10

Isn't there always that one kid in school that knows the "real truth" about Santa? It's bound to happen that they find out in school and come home to ask you, but until then, let them be kids and believe!