I have a 7 and 5 year old. Don't want him to spoil it for his sister but he has figured it out cause he is smart....what should I tell him?
2006-12-19 05:39:27 · 29 answers · asked by skecks2000 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
My older brother told me that Santa wasn't real when I was his age. There is nothing you can do about it. You can try to bribe him but the first fight her has with his sister.....bam! no Santa.
I would just tell her that Santa doesn't come to little girls unless they believe in him. Little boys get their presents from the Elves once they don't believe in Santa anymore. Then sign all of his presents from the Elves and hers from Santa.
Good Luck!
2006-12-19 06:14:23 · answer #1 · answered by moobiemuffin 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
My older brother spoiled it for me when I was in the second grade. He believed up to that point when someone at school made fun of him for still believing. He looked it up in the encyclopedia and read for himself about the legend. Then he showed it to me and took me to the room where my parents had all the gifts hidden. My parents found out because I told them the things I wanted from Santa and was extremely specific. My dad had built me a doll house and I described it in great detail. My brother got into big trouble. "Santa" never came again. My parents started putting all the presents under the tree and wrote from Santa on all of them. Now I have three kids of my own. One is much older than the other two. She claims that she still believes in Santa but I don't see how it's possible, she's in middle school. I think she has such a vivid imagnination and always enjoyed that aspect (the magic) of Christmas so much that she couldn't bear to ruin it for them even if she does know the truth.
I think it's really important to stress to your son that he needs to keep playing along for his sister's sake. Not believing in Santa kind of marks the end of childhood and five years-old is too little to end childhood. Reward him with something extra special for doing it. Do tell him the story of Saint Nicholas and let him know that the myth is based on true historical happenings. A&E has a nice biography of Santa Claus that explains all this for you but still leaves the part about whether Santa is real or not unsaid. This may help you explain things to him.
2006-12-19 06:01:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
My kids do believe in the spirit of Christmas. I know they speculate, but my son (even though he's 9) wants so hard to keep believing in Santa. We don't want to discourage it because of the excitement it still creates in their eyes! Even though my 10-year-old daughter says she still belives, she just wants the gifts. They know the true meaning of Christmas in that Jesus is the reason for the season, but they are still kids needing the magic of the holiday.
Even when it comes to light, we still have an almost 2-year-old who the kids will let it last for him.
The Polar Express is a great story to go to about the "believing" thing; it talks about hearing the bell as long as you believe. The whole "believe" theme is big in our household.
Just remind him it's about the magic & wonder of the anticipation of what might happen through the wee hours of Christmas Eve & how magical it seems, no matter what, on Christmas morning.
Or...even let him help give a gift to his sister that she doesn't know about. Part of the magic is watching the reaction of the receiver's face.
NORAD does a Santa Tracker every year. If your son loves hi-tek stuff, he'll love to watch the trailers for it, and to hear about all of the technology they use. My son totally dug the whole thing!
Good Luck!!
2006-12-19 05:53:18 · answer #3 · answered by AM~Erica 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't matter. I never believed in Santa and my little brother had also figured it out. It's no big problem, you can still have a great christmas with them. However, if you really want to convince the 5 year old that there is a Santa, dress up as Santa on Christmas and ring your doorbell.
2006-12-19 05:48:43 · answer #4 · answered by ???? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tell him that when he stops believeing that is when Santa doesn't exist anymore. If he believes, Santa will still be in his heart. That is why adults don't get santa presents, because at some point they stop believing.
I told this to my 9 yr. old when he came home with story of a boy in class not believing. I also showed him the POLAR EXPRESS movie which is a classic movie/book about believing in the spirit of Christmas.
Of course we try to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, which is the birth of our savior, Jesus.
2006-12-19 07:15:20 · answer #5 · answered by Mindy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest telling him the truth. Santa was a man named St. Nicklaus. you can read up on him at http://www.hknet.org.nz/StNicklaus.html
the story seems a little racy so you'll have to tone down some parts. Santa is more about the spirit of giving than some fat man in a red suit coming down chimney's, eating cookies and leaving presents. I believe we can only blame ourselves for turning him into the person he is now. Good luck. I have a 2 year old so I anticipate him asking me at some point. I've kept it very low key. We are actaully having a birthday party for Jesus at our house rather than talking a lot about Santa. I do anticipate the questions in a few years... Good Luck!
2006-12-19 05:59:52 · answer #6 · answered by Nora D 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes kids say they don't believe when they really do so be careful that he REALLY doesn't believe. If he really doesn't then make a big deal about him now being one of Santa's helpers "like you" and have him help with some of the wrapping. Hopefully he won't tell her but you never know! Good luck!
2006-12-19 06:06:31 · answer #7 · answered by dmommab@sbcglobal.net 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell him exactly that. Say that you want him to pretend to still believe in Santa for the sake of his sister. Remind him that it will only benefit him, because he'll wind up with a few extra gifts under the tree--from "Santa."
2006-12-19 05:42:09 · answer #8 · answered by Jess H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Admit he is right.. don't try to trick him to believe a lie.. that is a bad example... don't bribe him into not telling by promising him extra presents either...
Ask him if he will help be "Santa" to his little sis. He is old enough to help wrap his sister's presents and to stay up later and help put the presents under the tree.
Better still, don't teach your kids about Santa to begin with. Ain't you just lying to your kids? We celebrate Jesus' Birthday. It is just as exciting as an adult as it is for a child. The weeks leading up to Dec 25th, we prepare baskets and deliver them to families from our church and school. (We put the baskets on the recipients porch, ring the doorbell and then run!) And on Christmas morning, we go downtown and help a local organization feed the homeless. Isn't this the example that St. Nick set for us? To give to others and not receive?
2006-12-19 06:42:46 · answer #9 · answered by frogonalog 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Let your son know he is right and Santa is not real. Kids will be kids and he may tell the 5 year old. If he does say something sit both of them down and let them know Christmas is a time of love, giving, caring and sharing. Tell them Christmas is a celebration that happens once a year and gives mommy and daddy a chance to reward their children if they've been good. Maybe this will help them in knowing that you'll be watching them all year if they misbehave!
2006-12-19 05:56:24 · answer #10 · answered by Valley Girl 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your 7 year old might not believe in Santa but tell about the real Saint nick.Maybe that might change his mined.
2006-12-19 05:42:31 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋