To think adults shouldn’t talk about Santa not being real in earshot of young children?

It’s got to be London because when you move out of London you suddenly realise nobody uses public transport - everybody drives!

I believed in Santa even though my parents never told me he is real.
My dc believes in Santa even though I did tell him he’s not real and it’s all just a game/story.

OP sounds very unreasonable to me. We shouldn’t lie to our own children and certainly not play pretend in public.

You can't police people's discussions, but it's a bit rich to loudly talk about efforts they were making to convince their DC that Santa and elves was real in front of other children

You can talk about anything, and joke about anything at all, but not in front of anyone.

It's obviously not the same, but you wouldn't talk about still birth or horrible drama in front of a very obviously pregnant woman, would you?

You are mindful about environment, it's not that hard.

I also think it’s bad that kids catalogues eg Mulberry Bush have a prominent ‘stocking fillers’ section!! I almost emailed them about renaming that section but thought they’d think I’m bonkers. Maybe I am, but Christmas bring the passion out in many people doesn’t it 😄.

It’s crazy though because kids who can read are also still young enough to believe in Father Christmas, and they all love looking through the catalogues.

Let's be honest, Santa was just peripheral at Christmas. When I was a kid, I just wanted loads of stuff. I didn't give a crap who brought it.

I think people should not teach children that Santa is real. By all means explain the myth and how it originated but it is pretense and children need to know that. Christmas is still magical without that. As for elfs on shelves and all that, when did that start? It's too ridiculous for words.

Indeed. My 3 years older brother let me in on it when I was 5 and I recall thinking "Oh, right..." or some such. He told me the presents came from mum and dad, which was all I needed to know by way of consolation.

Or maybe they’re just different people.

My brother believed for a lot longer than I did and I love Christmas more than he does.

DD1 at the age of 5 heard her Nanny and Auntie discussing Santa and learnt he wasn't real. She kept quiet for her little sister's sake (and also because she thought she might not get any presents)

DD2 absolutely adores Christmas her elder sister is no way as near invested, so yes adults should be very careful what they say

Edited to say I didn't know of this until she was in her 20s

In out house " santa" only brought stockings. The proper presents were from other people that they had to thank them for. Wasn't going to have kids thinking they could get a ridiculous amount of stuff because " SANTA" had no restrictions

Seems very self-absorbed given they were concerned about their own children finding out. But then people are very self-absorbed.

YANBU

My children have never done Santa but we have always told them not to divulge to other children and I would be mindful of the same as an adult. It’s such a big thing for so many people that it’s best kept quiet I’ve found

This "keeping the magic alive" thing has become a psychological obsession with adults these days and almost entirely for their own benefit. It didn't used to be the case. Children believed in Santa until they didn't. Parents didn't perform ridiculous handstands or actively lie to their kids. Finding out that Santa isn't real is a natural progression in life, in growing up and discovering the world around you. Kids find out through conversations they overhear, through other kids at school and through their own natural inquisitive minds but mostly because they aren't stupid. No child should be denied that progression. It isn't healthy. When I was at school most kids knew, or at least suspected, by the age of around seven.

What are you all on about?! Of course Santa is real. You can track him in Google maps in Christmas eve.

If you had a young child with you then you could have given them a wink and a shhh finger to your lips whilst indicating your child but as you were on your own you would have looked like a complete weirdo if you said anything to them.

I agree with you. I be very mindful of talking about Santa not being real in front of children.

Children finding out Santa isn't real is a normal life stage and one of the ways they do this is by paying more attention to the world around them, how it works and what people are saying in it.

I get why people do Santa in the first place, I'm not a total grinch, but I can't work out for the life of me why people feel so deeply about artificially extending children's belief for as long as possible. They'll stop believing at some point and it's OK when they do - to be welcomed, even, as it shows they have observation and criticial thinking skills!

What, people talk to each other on the bus? Where is this place, you'd never do that in north London!!!

I agree with you op.

There are subjects that should not be discussed around young children and people should be aware of the impact such discussion can have on young children

Santa not being real or hints that there isn't a santa is not one of them