How old we're your DCs when they stopped 'believing' ?

[hoolahoolagirl]

Just that really, my DD is soon to be 11 and still believes. It's lovely but I am surprised! I'm sure I had stopped believing in Father Christmas way before I was 11.
If your DCs no longer believe, did they find out from friends or did you tell them and how did you tell them?
High school in September so I'm guessing this is the last year I can let her believe as I don't want to get teased next year :-(
Thanks in advance

[weegiemum]

My ds is similar. He's 10, 11 in Feb, and still utterly convinced which is entirely my doing! 3 years ago he wanted a Wii. I told him that if he asked for one, I'd write to Santa and tell him he's not allowed one.

Then "Santa" brought a Wii for all 3 dc, one of the most magical moments of my parenting career so far! (it was the last year that dd1, now almost 13, believed).

It's hard to know how to let them down - dd1 figured it out, but ds is rather charmingly naive and I don't want to ruin it! He's only in p6, so has one more year at primary school, after that I'll have to say something.

Though my Dad has always, always stuck to a one line answer about this - "if you don't believe in Santa, don't hang up your stocking", and I've always stuck to that with the dc.

[ItsRainingOutside]

My dc is 11 and believed right up to the point her dad (my EX) told her Santa didn't exist, never has and that mum and dad always bought the presents (it was always mum actually but that's a different thread!). I always told her Santa is magic and visits her up to the point she doesn't believe anymore.

[Notmyidea]

my younger one worked it out by six, then spoilt it for the older one. She's always been analytical and loathes being patronized. I'm not even allowed to refer to her as the hamster's mummy.

[Pourquoimoi]

DS1 is 12 at Xmas and hasn't believed for 3 or 4 years. DS2 is 8.5 and still believes but is clearly wavering.

[FionaJT]

I've just had a 'full disclosure' conversation with my dd this evening - she'll be 8 in the new year. She's been asking suspicious questions for a few years now and told me tonight that she doesn't think she's really believed since Reception. I've stressed to her the importance of letting her friends (and younger cousin) carry on believeing and not spoiling it for them - I think she loves being in on the grown-up secret!

[hoolahoolagirl]

It's interesting to hear how different it is for everyone's children. I LOVE the fact that she's so naive but I just don't want her to be picked on for believing. It surprises me really as she's a very mature sensible girl so I kind of thought she would have figured it out a while ago. Maybe I'm good at making it believable ......or maybe she's double bluffing and is just going along with it

[yummumto3girls]

DD 11, cottoned on last year so we came clean with her and swore her to secrecy with her two sisters. I think she has blocked it from her memory though as has never mentioned it since. DD2, 8, has cottoned on this year but I haven't owned up yet as it still seems too young not to believe!

[ISeeThreadPeople]

I never believed. My parents said I looked at them with a expression when they tried it when I was v small and roundly told them not to be so silly. Similarly, I would look askance at anybody who told me I was mummy to an animal.

DD doesn't believe either but we've only ever approached the FC thing from the pov of 'this is a story', the same as we tell her the history of the real St Nick and Baboushka and several other Christmas tales. She loves the magic and play of it but doesn't truly believe. She's 5 and I doubt her class believes either since a certain little girl stood up in show and tell and broke the news to them. That was a bad day on the school run.

[sandyballs]

I told my 11 year olds last week as they're at high school
now and I didn't want them being teased.

[HousewifefromBethlehem]

My ds 11 in February this year announced that it's us who buy the presents, i agreed but said Santa still distributes them!!! He didn't believe it.

Well, I said, your sister is almost 16 and she still leaves a mince pie and parsnip out on Christmas eve so it must be true!

He is somewhat skeptical however we laugh about it and I will always leave food out until they leave home.

[EggNogRules]

I think this is the last year that my 6yo wil believe. He is in a mixed year group and his older classmates have already started to let the cat out of the bag.

I am that DC beyond infant school believe.

I'm not sure that school will join in with a Father Christmas myth beyond Y2. He make be concerned about a lack of presents and keep a pretence up for a while.

[IsawFoofyShmoofingSantaClaus]

Last Christmas Eve DS was almost 10.
He got himself so worked up about not being able to get to sleep it was kinder to tell him. He was relieved.

[EggNogRules]

I'm ready for the chat though The Truth About Santa

I especially like the part about believing in yourself and the colclusion; "So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I?m on his team, and now you are, too".

Oh and btw 40yo friend, it's not my fault that your siblings made sure you never believed. Stop being an arse and let my DS believe for a while. If you can't we'll see you after the holidays.

[AdoraJingleBells]

I have one 11yr old who is vey sceptical , and another (also 11) who still seems to firmly believe. I was even abe to use the tooth fairy to improve her behaviour last week

[bigTillyMincePie]

DS was in Y2, so nearly 7 and DD was 8 when a little charmer told DS there was no FC. There's no flies on him, so he knew it was true, but DD still held onto it till she was 9.

They still "pretend" though

[blameitonthecaffeine]

DD1 was 10
DD2 was 8

DD3 is currently 9 and still believes but she is in Y5 so this will probably be her last year (though DD1 believed in Y6!)

Younger ones are still totally sold.

[MulledPinot]

Ahhhhh, this is a sore subject with me.

DS1 was 10, DS2 was 8 (maybe even younger, canny wotsit) and DS3 is 9....and is so close, so painfully close, to not believing. Keeps mentioning it, keeps telling me how only one other school friend believes.

I have sobbed proper big wet tears this week at the thought of the Father Christmas magic being over for my family. I'm choked up even typing this!

I was OK when sons 1 and 2 found out - a bit sad, sure - but not like this.

That website is great. Thank you.

[hoodoo12345]

DD-11
DS1-9
DS2-6,still believes, but it will be a sad day when it ends...

[DazR]

Mine are 18 and 21 and they still believe!
He hasn't failed them yet!