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Original poster

How on earth do your children still believe in Santa?

153 replies

mauvish · 21/12/2023 22:23

As the title says. I get the impression that people think that their DC still believe in Santa right up to secondary school age.

How? When the answer to every question in the world is a few computer clicks away? When they will hear from other children at school?

I remember asking my mum outright when I was about 7 or 8, (about yr 3 I think) and that was because I was being teased mercilessly at school for being one of the last to still believe in Santa. Part of the reason that I still clung onto the belief is that I'd heard bells one Xmas night when I was awake (actually this was probably tinnitus secondary to my chronic glue ear but I didn't know that at the time! and convinced myself it was Father Xmas!). I also remember my daughter being told the truth by another child in front of me at school drop off when she was about 5 or 6.

So how on earth are children supposed to still believe in FC (etc) until a much later age nowadays, when in so many other respects they are far more wordly wise at a younger age?

OP posts:

stayathomer · 21/12/2023 23:24

chickadeeky
I definitely wouldn’t say sweet about my kids, it’s nearly the only innocence left in ours and it’s lovely! I’ve actually been trying to get all of my kids back to being kids, screens have ruined them, mostly due to me and dh both working, so am getting back to board games with them, I read more to them at night again (Harry Potter) and we’re watching as many family movies again. The Santa thing was always the one part that made them remember they weren’t all 18!

AuntMarch · 21/12/2023 23:25

I told my mum when I was about 5, wasn't sure if she knew.
We still played the game though- he still brings me a stocking now!

DragonMama3 · 21/12/2023 23:26

Year 5?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Events & celebrations Primary education

SausageChopsBellyFlops · 21/12/2023 23:26

2 of my dc didn't believe from age 6, my 8yo still believes, and my other dc were all about 9/10.

Totally depends on the kid, their imagination, how inquisitive they are etc.

Not sure why believing or not at any age is used as some sort of snidey stick to beat others with.

BorrowersAreVermin · 21/12/2023 23:26

DS 10 says he believes, wrote a letter to Santa and all that, but I think he knows really and is just going along with it. Overall his class seem quite young compared to how I remember school when I was 10, it's quite nice tbh.

The flip side is he had a tooth out a couple of weeks ago and when the dentist asked if he wanted the tooth he rolled his eyes when I pointed out the tooth fairy might want it. I suppose at Christmas the stakes are higher!

stayathomer · 21/12/2023 23:27

ThickPinkSocks

There’s a difference between playing with dolls/toys to believing a fat old man wearing red that I must add visits multiple locations and brings you gifts a good few weeks BEFORE Christmas (that’s overkill nowadays too isn’t it) makes the journey AGAIN on Christmas Day to bring more shite… at age 11.
um, trying to find a nice way to ask do you have kids?

mollyfolk · 21/12/2023 23:27

chickadeeky · 21/12/2023 23:19

Ugh only on mumsnet could children be divided into sweet innocent ones who believe in Santa at 11 and ruinous ones who are pouting into the camera on tiktok.

Absolutely some kids are just very logical. It has nothing to do with tik tok,

Canthave2manycats · 21/12/2023 23:27

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

That's sad.

Mulhollandmagoo · 21/12/2023 23:27

My 4yo has asked a few questions that makes me think she is on to me 🤣 but to be fair, she has been to see Santa twice this year, once with me and once with my parents, and she said they didn't look/dress/sound the same, and how come her friend from school went to see him the same day she did, but at a completely different place and I never know what to say when she says these things 🤦🏼‍♀️

Notchangingnameagain · 21/12/2023 23:29

Child 1 - 12 (Yes she did 100%)
Child 2 - 5
Child 3 - 10

Now they are 16,14 & 12 and still play along with their old Mum!

If you don’t believe you don’t receive! 🎅😀

FriedasCarLoad · 21/12/2023 23:29

I know a number of parents who say their children still believe. Their children have told me they know it's just a story.

I can't think of any child I know who's 8 or older who still believes.

I sometimes wonder whether some of the parents on MN are also thinking wishfully!

Canthave2manycats · 21/12/2023 23:29

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

I don't think it is.

Runnersandtoms · 21/12/2023 23:29

Singleandproud · 21/12/2023 23:19

Children believe because they want to,it's a nice thing to believe in even when you know. And even when they are 99% sure they know there's an awful lot of hope in that 1% that actually it's all real.

We still do some of the Christmassy things because it's tradition, once DD found out she became in charge of the elf, we put a carrot and a mince pie out in the afternoon and then munch them ourselves watching a film in the evening.

As a secondary school teacher that once put my foot in it about Santa I can assure you that some 11 year olds really do still believe.

I also think it depends if Santa is actually a nice and magical person in their lives or if Santa and his elves are watching the child's every move and they get threatened with him as a lazy behaviour management tool throughout December. I often wonder how those children feel when they work out it was their parents all along. Knowing your parents faked something nice is one thing, knowing that they faked something quite horrible is quite another.

Exactly right. My eldest first expressed doubts (in front of younger siblings) at around age 10. I said 'If you don't believe maybe he won't bring you anything ' and she never said it again. But I was pretty sure she didn't really believe any more. But then age 12 she wrote a secret letter Santa asking for a puppy (something she knew we wouldn't buy her). So the hope was still there. (Still no puppy tho!!!)

Isitthathardtobekind · 21/12/2023 23:30

chickadeeky · 21/12/2023 23:19

Ugh only on mumsnet could children be divided into sweet innocent ones who believe in Santa at 11 and ruinous ones who are pouting into the camera on tiktok.

If based on my post- I didn’t say the children posting on there - i said the parents who are making the Tik Toks going on about their 8/9 year olds Christmas lists based on those here saying that it’s cringe that children believe.

But now you mention it, look around. There is a definite difference between those 8/9/10 year olds who access social media and those that don’t.

idontlikealdi · 21/12/2023 23:31

We have never had the 'discussion'. Dts are 13 but they from prob y4 but played along, they thought they got more that way.

Once they're in a class with kids with older siblings they will know.

ThickPinkSocks · 21/12/2023 23:31

@stayathomer
😂 Ask away. Yes I do. They’ve met that twat Santa 3 times already this Christmas, village lights switch on ✅ school fair ✅ shopping centre ✅

So many fucking Santa’s, I mean come on?! Do these kids aged 11 think it’s the same guy?!

ThickPinkSocks · 21/12/2023 23:32

Runnersandtoms · 21/12/2023 23:29

Show quote history

erm. I think she just wanted a puppy 😂

betterangels · 21/12/2023 23:32

Allthescreens · 21/12/2023 23:01

My 12-year old DS still believes (not sure about the 9-year old). He has autism & ADHD & is mentally about 8 or 9. He wakes up every morning & asks if he is on the good list. We are happy to let him continue believing for as long as he wishes. He is at MS secondary school & his friends know he believes & let him, they also embrace his differences in other way. He is a well-known figure at his school who everybody likes & is so lovely to, teachers & pupils alike.

❤️

Merrypoomassaytheelves · 21/12/2023 23:33

Wait…what…Santa isn’t real?

AndThatWasNY · 21/12/2023 23:34

ThickPinkSocks · 21/12/2023 22:36

11 years of age and believed in Santa!

Sorry but that just makes me cringe. 😬

You are just a shite actor and blagger. Mine believed to 10 because I worked that shit. People believe in God far older and that is equally as unbelievable.

MajesticWhine · 21/12/2023 23:34

I think it is only fair to tell kids the truth once they either start questioning or when they are about to go to secondary.
I had to break the news to DD3 around year 6, and she was genuinely surprised and a bit upset. She has ASD and I think for her, this makes her a bit more gullible to be honest. But I think many neurotypical kids still believe in year 6 and older.
Grown adults believe some pretty ridiculous stuff too (religion).

IncompleteSenten · 21/12/2023 23:35

I think they want to believe for years after they actually stop believing because it's part of the fun. If there's one thing kids love to do it's pretend play. And that's lovely too. In a way, it doesn't really matter if they truly believe in Santa or if they're enjoying playing at believing.

NameChangeToday80 · 21/12/2023 23:37

WandaWonder · 21/12/2023 23:06

Our child is like me, I knew early on but was great at pretenting and going along with it

Same here.

DD (and I) figured it out aged 5ish (Reception age).

One day, mid summer, she looked me in the eye and told me that Father Christmas wasn't real, and when I asked why she thought that, she told me that "if something doesn't make sense, it's probably not true".

Fair enough.

She plays along brilliantly, and has never told a soul.

GrandTheftWalrus · 21/12/2023 23:39

My 7yo still firmly believes. She only turned 7 last month though and many in her class are still 6. I think maybe next year/year after she may stop but then she can help me with the santa stuff for her wee sister who is only 2.5 and doesn't understand santa yet.

AlltheFs · 21/12/2023 23:39

ThickPinkSocks · 21/12/2023 23:31

@stayathomer
😂 Ask away. Yes I do. They’ve met that twat Santa 3 times already this Christmas, village lights switch on ✅ school fair ✅ shopping centre ✅

So many fucking Santa’s, I mean come on?! Do these kids aged 11 think it’s the same guy?!

My 3 year old understood you have the pretend Father Christmas’s at various events and only the real one comes on Christmas Eve. Are you really such a crap parent?! No one pretends they are all real.

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