to think that a child who believes in Santa beyond 6/7ish is either...

[santaslayer]

a bit naive or a bit dim?

I'm neither a troll nor 2bubs4me so no hunting.

I dont remember ever believing in Santa, and I remember quite a lot from my pre-school years. I knew the size of the Earth, the number of people and the impossibility of the logistics of 'Santa'. I also knew better than to beleive everything my parents said .

My DS is basically the same. I understand that 3yo's believe - it's cute, but I think it's a bit creepy when 8+yo's still do.

But I would never actually criticise a parent for having such deluded sheltered DCs.

Umm - in our house Father Christmas gives mum and dad the money to get the stuff - I am SURE my son (10) does not believe in Father Christmas, or the tooth fairy. But we keep up the pretence for fun, like...

I only stopped believing at 7yrs old because I woke up one Christmas eve and saw my parents carrying big black bags full of presents downstairs

Baroqin we have that book and it is really good.

Children who are willing to suspend belief and use their imaginations are not 'dim' or 'naive' but creative imo

My older DD rationalised it to herself last year (she was 8 - asked me not to buy expensive presents because of the recession and she knew it was us who bought the presents and Santa only delievered them) - and this year has come straight out and admitted she no longer believes. DD2 is almost 8 and believes with a few minor doubt, I think this will be her last.
It's the end of an era and the start of a new one, it comes to children at different times, nothing to do with intellect and OP - a bah humbug and a to you.

FFS. I have 3 DDs who are 8,7&6 and they still all believe. Why shouldn't they?

So tell me - what it wrong with a child being a little naive whilst still at primary school exactly? Isn't that what a yonung child should be - niave and all believing?

Goodness, far rather naive then worldly wise beyond their years, that's for sure!

"I think it's a bit creepy when 8+yo's still do"

I think that probably says more about you, than the children TBH.

I'd rather have a naive 7 year old than a spoilt brat who expects everything they ask for.

hiding thread incase 18yr old dd sees it

ggirl

My DD finally said something last year, to indicate that she doesn't believe. She was 14.

Does this make her dim and naive. No. It makes her a thoughtful, kind girl, who didn't want to spoil the fun for Mum and Dad!

Father Christmas will be only too happy to deliver to her again this year and the next and the next....

link to the book please moccachoccachino and baroquin

oh and DD1 still does believe age 6.5
she is really into space
she thinks it is to do with parallel time universes plus santa is magic and can freeze time. she doesn't believe he squeezes down chimneys or the flying reindeer, just that he is magic and can do it cos he is Santa.

and she is definitely not dim.

My DS1 does believe but I think this will be the last year that he does. You can tell by his face he's not too sure, he's 8.

Here is the book

www.amazon.co.uk/Santa-Really-Works-Alan-Snow/dp/1416901507

I still believe and I'm 40 years old. I must be especially dim!

Well, my children have autism and are 10 & 11 and still believe.

I have told them over the last 2 years that santa is a story that we tell little children, as it's really not age appropriate for them to still believe.

But they still talk of santa.

So. Add special needs to your naive and dim list.

Or perhaps sn comes under one of the other two...

Have my first

Do you know your name is an anagram of Anal Arse Sty?

I like the CIA (Christmas Intelligence Agency) as Santa can't possibly make sure that every child in the world has been naughty or nice on his own

Maybe you could change your name to 'La Nasty Arse'?

YANBU OP, I was like you and basically always knew it was a crock, though I did enjoy it all. I think my DS is similar - he's very perceptive and asks a lot of logical and sciency questions, and I think his attitude to Santa is fairly cynical, but he goes along with it (he's 5). I just can't accept that anyone over about 7 really thinks it's true. Surely their friends at school tell them? Surely they are in that state of willing suspension of disbelief rather than actually thinking it's true? It just doesn't make sense.

(But then nor does God from my POV so what do I know...)

What is worse though I think is parents being upset that their DC don't believe any more. I hate that. It is a good thing if your child has a bit of sense and independent thought and won't be fobbed off - and it doesn't mean they are no longer "innocent" or that christmas has "lost its magic". They can still love it and love the charade of it as I did.

I'm loving anal arse sty

oh and for you op my first ever

So it's ok to believe in the bible and god and a million and one other things which seem implausable but not father christmas?

My 11 yr old still believes. He is now way dim, in fact very bright. He is a little naive but tbh I prefer him that way. He probably has his suspisions but for whatever reason he is choosing to still play along, maybe just for the sake of his 2 younger brothers. Let the magic last as long as possible he has the rest of his life to be a grown up.
If he asked me outright I would not lie to him, am not keeping it going at any costs. I will let him play along for as long as he wants to and will certainly never do what dh's parents did which is sit them down age 8 and tell them it wasn't real when they were still firm believers.

ggirl - me too!

my nearly 7 year old believes..in Santa, dragons and fairies-wonderful! I'd be more worried if she didn't...I'd worry she'd be really dim, boring and less creative later!