Do any of your secondary school children still believe?

[nappyaddict]

My cousin is 12 and in year 7 at school. Apparently he still believes in FC. Is it not a bit cruel in some ways to not tell them the truth? I'm worried all the other children are going to tease him about it. Isn't it better to find out the truth in a nice way from your parents, than at school in a malicious way?

[canyou]

My 11 yro still 'believes' esp if family are around, The longer they believe the better the presents. [hgrin]
Don't tell him plse it is not your place and I would be surprised if he did really truly believe but if he does let him believe esp as it is that many children don't believe after 6/7

[nappyaddict]

I would never tell him but surely it is better for his parents to say something than for him to be embarrassed at school when the other children tease him about it?

[canyou]

But does he really believe?, My DD believes because she wants the presents [hmmm]
Unless there is a SEN, he will have heard all about Santa and made his own conclusions unless his parents are really great at the Christmas magic.
an you bring it up with his parents

[tummytickler]

watching with interest, as dd is 10 and really seems to believe. I can't quite work out whether she may be faking, but she certainly seems genuine.
With the tooth fairy we ended up just saying that she only comes to children under 10, and dh and I would do it from now on. But I don't know if she believes because she wants to, or because she really does!
I cannot think how I would tell her if I had to.

[fluffythevampirestabber]

I don't know. None of mine ever properly believed at 12 - I had told them when they were 10 on the grounds that they were P7 and I didn't want them going into secondary school to get the shit ripped out of them. Mind you, they'd all worked it out by then anyway.

Sad to say this will be our last year of Santa because DD2 is 9 and although I think she still believes, like Makiko I will have told her by next year.

[ChooChooWowWow]

I had a chat with my ds last year when he was 10. He seemed to believe but I wasn't sure if he was just playing along for his younger siblings.
He was due to start secondary school so I thought the time was right.
It turned out he did still believe and was really upset when I told him. I feel sad because Christmas isn't so magical for him now. I don't regret it though. I think finding out from some evil bully at school would be much worse.

[MindtheGappp]

Our children have never believed in Father Christmas.

They believe in much better things :)

[ThePumpkinKing]

How did you tell them fluffy, if you don't mind me asking?

My eldest is pretty unworldly, and not remotely open to peer pressure. I can absolutely see him believing in the face of much derision at school etc.

What if they don't ask outright? Any tips for opening the conversation that won't make me look utterly flakey or heartless?

[fluffythevampirestabber]

I am heartless.

Tradition in this house is on your tenth birthday. "now you're into double figures and you're big, it's time to let you into a secret. I'm sure you've already guessed and you've only been going along with it to keep us happy, but.... Oh and now you're big you have to keep it going for the wee ones"

[VivaLeBeaver]

My parents never sat me down and told me Father Christmas wasn't real. I obviously guessed at some point but they were still doing a stocking for me when I was 21.

DD is 10, nearly 11 and seems to properly believe still. I'm not going to be the one to tell her!

[nappyaddict]

Viva and tummytickler When are they 11? I would be tempted to leave it this year if they are in year 6 and then perhaps tell them over the summer holidays, when you first start seeing the odd splattering of Christmas stuff in the shops.

[fluffythevampirestabber]

I will be telling DD2 in February when she's 10.

Doesn't mean the stockings won't go up though

[Trills]

I will come and say what I always say - they are playing along because they know their parents want them to believe. (most likely if they are in juniors of primary school, let alone secondary school)

They do not actually think that a fat man on a flying sleigh pulled by flying reindeer actually comes down the chimney.

UTGSN.

[BedatHogwarts]

I think I'd be a bit embarrassed if my children reached secondary age without noticing all the clues around them that perhaps Santa doesn't exist. I'd be worried for their observational skills and common sense.

Surely basic maths and physics would give them an inkling that the logistics of present delivery don't add up, apart from the fact that all the shops are filled with 'stocking filler' signs, rotund men with fake nylon beards, and the presents that magically appear in their stockings are wrapped in the same paper that Dad brought home from Tesco last week!!

[ASuitableGirl]

I found out by about 9. My mum and dad presumably thought I did believe as thy told me when I was either 10 or 11. I really didn't appreciate being told - although I knew I didn't want to be told IYSWIM.

Not sure what I'll do about DS who's nearly 8 or DD who's 6 - I do occasionally worry I will give it away by accident.

[nappyaddict]

BedatHogwarts My son reckons Santa works with the time zones to fly in the most logical order and gain himself time, and that his sleigh is as fast as the fastest aeroplane. Apparently this makes it all entirely and logically possible

[HoneyPablo]

I still believe now and I'm 44.
I don't remember anyone actually telling me he didn't exist. I went through a long phase of not being quite sure. Even now I still have to be asleep before he visits, as he won't leave you anything if you are awake.
I don't belive in God though.

[BedatHogwarts]

It's not the flying bit though nappy - I'm sure some sort of rocket powered supersonic sleigh would be capable of circumnavigating the globe in 24 hours. It's the stopping off, manouvering a sizeable torso plus a sack of gifts down each and every chimney, not counting all the chimneyless properties that presumably require breaking and entering, then exiting the property, reloading the sack, eating the mince pie, toilet breaks etc etc. Times maybe 10 billion, in one night! Poor bloke must be knackered!

[fuzzyfeltfox]

I've taught Y7's who still believe- had to be very careful in RE lessons on fact and belief though they usually get more excited by the idea of the Loch Ness Monster! Colleague was 'told off' by head after parental complaint, she'd told a Y7 boy FC doesn't exist...

[LordOfTheFlies]

My DS cottoned on when he was quite young .I had to persuade him not to spill the beans to DD who is 2.5 years younger.

I cannot believe that a secondary school child (or even a Yr 6 or 7 ) still believes in Father Christmas.
Alot of people say it's lying to children but IMHO it's just embellishing and making Christmas more fun.
DCs still do the FC tray, the letters, we do the stockings as part of our Family Traditions.

[nappyaddict]

BedatHogwarts I do remember one child I know saying Father Christmas must be octuplets to be able to do it all in one night! Children can be quite imaginatively logical it seems.