What Age Do You Tell Kids father xmas isnt Real?

[11Karen11]

Hi all
What age do u think is right for a child to be told Santa isnt real?????
My ex to my utter disgust told my daughter last year (when she was only 6yrs old) that he wasnt real, because her current partner isnt much into xmas.......or come to think of it anything exciting!!!!
It took me and a friend many months to convince her that he was real and was looking forward to surprising her with lots of things from 'Santa' only to find out my ex has once again told her he isnt real on the run up to Christmas.
So..........when is the right time?
I think before they start secondary school is fine...maybe a bit younger if they are bright/mature for there age.
But 6 yrs old!!!!!!!
Any replys much appreciated.
Thanks in Advance.
Chris.

[joffa from down under]

Have been through this with daughter No. 1 and just about to tell daughter No. 2 .... we decided to leave it as long as possible so as NOT to destroy the fun and excitement of Xmas.

We told our first daughter AFTER Xmas BEFORE she started secondary school (year 7 in Australia, 12yo) it was a tough thing to do, but she took it well and to her credit she has played along with our other two (younger) kids for a couple of years as she is now 14yo. The crunch came in 3's for her as she soon realised that if Santa isn't real then there's a fair chance Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy aren't either.

Daughter No. 2 has just turned 12 and starts secondary school in Feb05 so we will have a chat to her in January sometime after the excitement of Xmas/New Year has slowed up.

Fortunately our son is only 6 so we still have a few more years of playing Santa yet.

[Guest]

I don't think it matters and is such a small part of everything going on during the holidays that whatever choice you make is fine. Eventually their school mates will tell them of course.

[Fitz]

What do you mean Santa is not real???????

[rsmith]

Can someone write or do a survay and find out what the best age is to tell kids that Santa isn't really real? I think 6 maybe 7 is a good age but I also don't want to be the parent who tells my daughter too soon.

[SCSunshine]

I would think that by age 10 most kids know. We decided to tell our oldest at the age of 8 because she kinda knew what was going on but she told us that she wished we hadn't told her so soon. We decided that we would wait until our youngest is a little older.
That's all I know.

[joffa from down under]

Can someone write or do a survay and find out what the best age is to tell kids that Santa isn't really real? I think 6 maybe 7 is a good age but I also don't want to be the parent who tells my daughter too soon.

Whoa ... slow down .... 6 or 7 - are you kidding ??? Why spoil the magic at that age. Leave it till they're at least 12(ish).

Look even if kids at school talk about it - so what - what is important is what your kid believes. We had both daughters come to us at 8 or 9 or 10 yo saying the kids at school said Santa wasn't real ... we simply said those who don't believe, don't receive.

Our 14yo is aware of the truth but there still will be pressies under the tree from Santa for her in 5 weeks.

One of the most exciting things is watching the look on kids faces Xmas morning .... tell them too soon and you lose some of the magic.

[sharnibell]

My son is 10yo and keeps asking if he is true or false? I can see he wants to believe but is having trouble with what to do. He has asked me the truth, what do say? So far I have responded with, it is what you believe that matter. HELP!!!!!

[buddy]

I agree with Joffa, about 12 ish. Let them enjoy the magic for as long as possible.
I know some kids realise earlier, older kids tell them or whatever, but i don't think they should be told at such an early age.
I always write from santa on some of my 7yo pressie's, and the rest from mummy and daddy. The joy on their faces on xmas morning is fantastic to watch. I wouldn't spoil that for anything in the world.

[Guest]

what santa is real

[Guest]

i agree prove he isnt real you make me angry i have santas elves

[Guest 1]

My son is 9 years old now, and still asks us once in a while. We tell him that he is real, and his spirit lives through us. My husband and I looked up on the internet the story behind Saint Nicholas so that we would have a background to tell him on how the gift giving came about. We also told him that adults can help each other with presents, and that Santa is mainly here for the children. We told him we keep up the tradition and that is what lives in our hearts.

He has a younger sibling also, so we would like to have them both believe for another year at least.

[keep kids innocent]

Why are you asking when you should 'TELL' your kids he isn't real???

Why tell them anything?I can't believe this, if the kids are happy to go along with it, why would you spoil it by telling them that something they enjoy and get a lot from has been a big con all these years?

No way would i sit my kids down and say he isn't real....one has his doubts at 8, but I play along and they love it so why not.

[dredding truth too]

My son is 10yo and keeps asking if he is true or false? I can see he wants to believe but is having trouble with what to do. He has asked me the truth, what do say? So far I have responded with, it is what you believe that matter. HELP!!!!!

My son just turned 10 last month and he asked me the other week "if we were the ones who bought him the presents". I wanted to cry....I don't want to "tell a fib", so I did simply say. "When you stop believeing then Santa stops coming. I know the truth from us has to eventually come out but he's an only child and I hate to see the magic end for us. I have a feeling this will be the last convincing year of Santa.

[lilmizz]

My parents never did "sit me down and tell me." I think between us my sister and I eventually worked it out slowly.

I can remember being about 8 or 9 in the playground and proclaiming as my friends did that I knew he didnt exist but secretly i still had a little glimme of hope. That year my dad walked across the garden in stilts towing a sledge behing him (he told us the other year so I could do the same for my kids). I woke up to reindeer prints and santas sleigh tracks in the snow. That was the most magical xmas ever for me and it secured santa for my sister and I for at least another couple of years.

I dont think that its a conversation you need to have and I would hate for my children to loose that magic at such a young age!