So how do you know if they still believe?

[iklboo]

DS is 11. He can't possibly still believe, can he? We're not entirely sure he believed last year. But how do we make sure without the slimmest chance of shattering his illusions if he still does?

He never mentions FC, doesn't say he'll ask him for anything, doesn't mention going to see him. Nothing.

I'm pretty sure he's just humouring us (no older siblings to ruin it spill the beans). But......

Any ideas how to test the waters oh wise ones?

[iklboo]

Anyone?

[StealthPolarBear]

Ime children seem to want to prove they've figured it out. Ds has never said anything directly but we can tell by the smart -ass questions that he's having his suspicions

[SmilingGivesYouWrinkles]

Why do you need to know? Whether he still believes, or whether he is just playing along, what's wrong with a little bit of fantasy and magic?

The big debate in our house is will he still come for DS1 who has turned 18. Father Christmas doesn't bring gifts for adults...

[Prizepudding]

I asked my dd 11 if she still believed in Santa and she said of course she did. I said do you still think santa brings the presents then , she said oh no, I known he doesn't bring presents but I still believe in him (like she still believes in unicorns 🙄). I've asked the wrong question last year obviously. My dd8 is questioning it this yr but believes parents wouldn't possibly spend that amount of money on toys. I would think you are right, he doesn't believe but just doesn't want to come out with it.

[esiotrot2015]

I never asked my two

They said little sly things like 'so mum how does the bloke in a beard get down the chimney when we don't have one ' etc etc

They figured it by at least 8 or 9

[VanillaSugarAndChristmasSpice]

I asked my DD (age 18) if I should tell DS (age 9) the truth and she said NO!!! He is desperate to still want to believe.

She found out because Father Christmas shouldn't say ohfuckinghell as he trips over the bed in the dark.

[MammaGnomes]

We found out my younger sister didn't believe when my niece (who is a few years younger) suggested that they set up the iPad to catch him on Xmas eve. My sister spent ages talking her out of it! The year before she would have been well up for catching him on film

[iklboo]

It's not so much we need to know, rather we don't want to let something slip by accident. Also to know who's brought what present and gets the credit

If he still believes, he still believes. I'm not going to spoil it for him. I stopped believing when I was about 5 thanks to an older cousin.

[J3NN1]

I'm really laughing at Santa swearing as he trips over the bed

I never told my eldest, she's 14 now and think she stopped believing at around 10, but it was all raised eyebrows and winks when she was talking about santa so that's how I know she was past believing, no actual conversation about it. When we first got our elf on the shelf she was around 8 and said she didn't think it was real until she accidentally touched him and was in tears she thought she'd made him lose his magic! She helps me hide them now for her sisters.

Dd2 will be 10 in march and still believes, I was the same as you op and really wasn't sure if she did or not. I broached the subject by asking if she'd asked her friends at school what they want from santa this year, and what they leave out for him Xmas eve. She said they told her santa wasn't real and neither were the elfs (on the shelf) but she says she chose not to believe them and she does still believe in santa and all the magic. This will definitely be her last year though.

Dd3 is 8 in Feb (asd) and is so enthralled with all the magic I honestly can't ever see her not believing!