At what age do you tell children that Santa doesn't exist ?

Question

and does it affect our childrens behaviour from that point on bursting such a big bubble ?

Answer 1

Personally I reckon at about age 7 because they look & sound pretty silly at school when they start talking about what santa is bringing me this year, Of course thats if they don't already know by then.

Answer 2

I sort of feel kids work this out for themselves but are willing to play along for a few years for the pressies.
If I had to answer I would say about 7, when people tend to cotton onto the fact that not only does Santa not exit, but that they are mortal.
So don't worry about bursting bubbles, finding out you are going to die one day is worse, and everyone has to do that.
Also you could argue that Santa is like Diet-God or God with stabilisers. People need to move on to 'the real thing', but it's good to have the 'nicer' kiddy version to get used to.
Finally, I am not sure you can damage the capacity of human beings to believe in intangible things/concepts. For example: love, democracy, freedom, a free lunch etc. By the same token, although Santa may not be real like a brick is real, but 'he' still has a massive effect on thought and real behaviour. So he does sort of exist.

Answer 3

My son told me when he was seven that Father Christmas didn't exist and so I took him to a busy shopping centre and we sat on a bench and watched the people going past, it was a few days before Christmas and people were smiling at each other, there were the Salvation Army singing carols, and there was that feeling, which you don't get any other time of the year. I agreed with him that Santa doesn't come down the chimney, but that the spirit of Christmas is alive in every one of those people who smile a bit more than usual, or wish people they don't know a happy christmas, and makes us all be a little nicer and more generous for a few days each year, so perhaps the feeling of Christmas is real, even if its a little more complex to define than a guy dressed in red to bring presents.

Merry Christmas

Answer 4

I never told my children that Santa doesn't exist. I never told them that he did either. I told them Santa is more a state of mind, a belief in good, happy, magical, selfless thing than a flesh and blood human being. Kids find out that Santa is not a real person on their own, try to make the idea of Santa and the selfless act of giving real for them, it will last for a lifetime.

Answer 5

dont think many adults would choose to tell a child santa doesnt exist,it,s usually someone at school or a friend.i remember finding out at a friends party i must have been about 8 i was devastated!!!

Answer 6

When they come to you and ask why other kids at school are saying such things. Best to be honest about it spesh when they get to about 10.

Answer 7

You don't because Santa does exist. I saw him one year when I was little. He was leaving my house, and right after, I ran upstairs, my parents and brother were still asleep.

Answer 8

Never tell them that he does exist, and you won't have to worry about it.

Children shouldn' be lied to. It's not Santa that makes the holiday for them, anyway. It's family getting to gether, and it's getting presents.

They like movies about other fictional characters which they know do not exist, they will still like The Santa Clause.

Answer 9

my son asked me when he was nearly ten, so i told him, i thought i did well to leave it that long and also to enjoy the special time with him on christmas mornings, my daughter is just 9, and still believes but i think deep down she,s having doubts, you will know when the time is ready, enjoy it while they still believe, Have a good Christmas, love Jackie x

Answer 10

Soon as you cannot afford the gifts they would ask for from their dear Santa.