How do I break it to my son there is no santa?

Question

Last week he asked if santa was in fairy tales and was it just mum and dad pretending to be santa ?
how do we break the news that he isnt real and we have been lying to him ?

Answer 1

You never need to break the kid's heart like that. Santa Claus is a perfectly acceptable fantasy that should be fun for both the parents and the children.

When the child starts asking these questions, be honest without making the kid feel foolish or lied to.

Tell him that Santa is a representation of the love parents and grandparents feel for their children. That he exists as the spirit of unselfish "giving" love and that all of us has a part carrying on that spirit.

As the kid gets older, it becomes his job to help play the "Santa" game with his/her yonger siblings. Most kids instinctively catch on to the secret, and yet will still play a part in carrying the tradition forward to their sibs.

Answer 2

You tell him the story about the real Santa -- St. Nicholas.
Telling him that Santa isn't real would be the lie.
One thing to talk about, also, is the true meaning of Christmas -- celebrating the birth of Christ.

There is nothing wrong with the belief in Santa, there are no lies involved. Like I said, the lie would be to say that Santa isn't real.

Answer 3

I'd let nature take it's course and let your child find out on his own. Maybe some of his friends know about Santa and/or he already gets it. We all have a REAL Santa Clause in spirit. You have not lied to your child all of these years as another person suggested. You did what almost all parents do. You allowed your child to believe in the joy of Santa Clause which is a separate celebration from any kind of religion.

Answer 4

There are lot's of different Santa's...and though the fairy isn't real, Mommy and Daddy are. I wouldn't tell him directly, since the holiday season is almost here anyway, but instead don't include Santa when signing gifts.

This would be a perfect time to explain to him. Don't be agressive, or use agressive words (not there, lying, gone) or passive (maybe, away for a while), but instead be assertive (left, finished...) remind him that he is a big boy, tell him that you are proud that he asked, mention that he'll still get the same ammount of presents, and most of all, DON'T HIDE ANYTHING!

Answer 5

How old is she/he? Yo should take that into consideration. As a child I loved believing in Santa! So I'd say wait until after this Christmas to tell him or her. And you don't necessarily have to tell them, usually kids just find out for themselves, grow out of it and it isn't heartbreaking, at least for me it wasn't hehe.

Answer 6

one day when i was a child, i said to my mother, "the easter bunny isn't real, is it?" and she replied simply, "no." i then confirmed with her that santa wasn't real & went back to playing with my toys.
he already knows and just wants your confirmation. be honest & tell him that now that he's a big boy, he can know the secret about santa. if you have any younger children, ask him if he can keep the secret and play along with his sibling. good luck ;-)

Answer 7

This is why we dont do santa at our house.

Tell him about who saint nick is, what he did for boys and girls, and why people continue to celebrate his life and actions. Why it is that they want their chidlren to have that innocent excitement, and how now that he's bigger and knows the real story he can be in on the game for the younger kids now too.

Answer 8

just tell him

Answer 9

That is the problem you having been lying to him from the start about what christmas really means.

Answer 10

DON'T!