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Original poster

When did your oldest stop believing?

124 replies

booklover164 · 23/12/2024 22:01

My August born 6 year old told me he doesn't believe in Father Christmas and I'm so sad. His two younger siblings still do. At what age did your oldest child stop believing? 6 seems really young to me.

OP posts:
Kibble29 · 23/12/2024 22:01

Apparently the average age is 7/8.

Jingleberryalltheway · 23/12/2024 22:02

My 5 year old me this a couple of days ago but seems to believe again. My 8 yr old still believes but neither believe santa you see out and about is the real one.

Nextyearhopes · 23/12/2024 22:03

Mine are little still but in the case of my nephews the youger one found out before his older brother at 6 🤣🤣

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6 year olds
Katy232425 · 23/12/2024 22:09

Just turned three. He announced Father Christmas couldn’t possibly be real and that was that. He still has lovely magical Christmases, just with Father Christmas as a fun story not a real person. There’s really nothing to be sad about in my view.

Younger sibling has never thought Father Christmas was real, but enjoys playing pretend and leaving cookies and milk and all those things. It’s still lovely.

TouchoftheTism · 23/12/2024 22:13

You shouldnt really enter double digits believing.

And any 4 year old with a brain knows the naughty elf is a load of shite.

popandchoc · 23/12/2024 22:16

My eldest stopped believing around 9. Youngest is 9 and i am not sure if she believes but she is going along with it.

StSwithinsDay · 23/12/2024 22:17

Both mine were going on 9.
I stopped believing at 6.

bevelino · 23/12/2024 22:19

Mine were aged around 4. I never told them that Santa was real and they figured out that Santa could not possibly visit every home, but they didn’t ruin it for other children by saying anything.

DanceMumTaxi · 23/12/2024 22:20

Gosh these ages are really young. The kids round here seem to believe for longer.

DappledThings · 23/12/2024 22:20

He was 5. DC2 is 7 now and still believes. Never been a massive part of Christmas for us though and I didn't get why I was meant to be sad when DC1 stopped believing. I forgot DC2 still does sometimes

HansHolbein · 23/12/2024 22:21

My youngest is 12 in March and still believes.

bakewellbride · 23/12/2024 22:21

My son is the same age as yours op and he still believes but I'm painfully aware this could well be the last year so I'm trying to soak up every minute!

BlackBean2023 · 23/12/2024 22:22

My DD is 8 (year 3) and she's questioning. I suspect next year she'll not believe but will hopefully play along just a little bit longer!

Kids have more access to 'truth' than we ever did.

NeedSomeComfy · 23/12/2024 22:22

At 3. My kid asked me if Father Christmas was real and I told her the truth. That was last year and I thought she might have forgotten this year but no, she told me that she still remembers it's not real (but she plays along for the presents).

ItsVeryConfusing · 23/12/2024 22:22

My DS never believed. I explained when he was about 2 and he looked at the opening in the top of the fireplace and said "no". and that was that.

StSwithinsDay · 23/12/2024 22:22

@HansHolbein
Is your son in secondary school? Do you not think you should tell him?
Unless of course he is pretending to believe....

BlackBean2023 · 23/12/2024 22:23

HansHolbein · 23/12/2024 22:21

My youngest is 12 in March and still believes.

Unless he has additional needs that you've not mentioned, I find it highly unlikely a neuro-typical 12 year old believes in Santa.

Sockmate123 · 23/12/2024 22:23

9 year old fully believes, no doubt at all same as her friends. 12 yeah old I dont think believes but is going along with it. 9 year old will definitely get next year too. She is innocent for her age though.

Illinoise · 23/12/2024 22:23

My 6 year old was quizzing me on how Santa got around the world so fast, he’s really into the speed of light/sound at the moment and I’m not sure my answers measured up 🫠 he’s incredibly logical so I don’t think we have long left…

YerAWizardHarry · 23/12/2024 22:24

Almost 12 year old definitely doesn’t believe and hasn’t for maybe a year or two, almost 9 year old definitely does still believe though.

bakewellbride · 23/12/2024 22:25

Wow 2-12, that's quite an age spectrum on this thread!

I'm sorry but I don't believe a neurotypical 12 year old still believes truly, how is that possible?

HipHipWhoRay · 23/12/2024 22:25

Am wondering if kids that believe for longer go to religious schools? Maybe if by having a faith in something you can’t see makes it more likely you don’t question Santa either, esp as he has gifts!

Kibble29 · 23/12/2024 22:26

Kids are starting secondary school still believing in Santa?

TamiTaylorIsMyParentingGuru · 23/12/2024 22:27

Similar to @Katy232425 eldest figured it out just before he turned 3. He was always very matter of fact as a child and rather pedantic - there was no persuading him otherwise. We were happy to just go with it as a fun story to pretend with, and stuck with that with the younger ones. It didn’t ever ruin any of the ‘magic’ of Christmas for any of them.

SugarCookieMonster · 23/12/2024 22:29

6 year old gave me a shock when he asked if he’d ever met the real Father Christmas as when we’ve gone to visit Father Christmas each year they’re all different.
He still believes but thinks that the event Santa’s are helpers while the real one is busy. I don’t think we’ll have many years left as he questions everything!