Or is the world obsessed with Santa?

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Starting this thread after a few bizarre conversations recently.

It started with a friend about a month ago who was aged 8 at the time of the incident - Her DD was concerned about santa coming into her room at night, so friend decided this was the time to break the news that santa wasn't real but she wished she had told her earlier.

DH is a school teacher. Apparently he was told not to "break the news" to his year 7s as some of them still believed in Santa.

My DS is now in year 2. All his friends still believe in Santa.

My sister has thoroughly brainwashed her children into believing if they aren't good santa won't come to them (this is just wrong).

I find it really odd that parents don't seem to tell their children sooner. I think my DS is the only one who doesn't believe (I told him in a small argument about what Christmas was about). I am sure as a kid I knew by the age of 7 and that less of a fuss was made about the whole santa thing and it was less encouraged to hold on to the belief in Santa.

I guess I am wondering if I am being unreasonable for thinking attitudes towards santa are slightly overdone?

You are really overthinking this. it's a bit of fun and excitement for ONE night of the year.

What's wrong with children believing in the magic of Christmas! And you told your young son in an argument you were having about Christmas. How old are you?

Kids get so few Santa christmas`s ... telling them at 7 is unkind.

I just let it run ot's course and wait for them to ask me if Father Christmas (no Santa in this house!) is real. I reply by asking what they think and take it from there.
Youngest ds is 8 and hasn't actually asked me yet, but he has older brothers who I'm fairly sure have already wised him up.
Mince pie, carrot and sherry still being left out, though, and stockings taken up to bed by all of 'em.

You told your son to win in an argument? year 2 is what 6?7?

Arguing with your seven year old and blurting things out to them in anger is hardly superior parenting when you are accusing others of brainwashing children. It isn't a big deal most people allow it to run it's course

OP I agree. What's cute about an 11 year old believing in Santa.

What's cute about an 8 year old thinking Santa brought them presents, not their hard working parents.

Fucking hell, I'm 33yo and still think HE is visiting tonight!

What's the harm? It's a bit of magic in a world otherwise filled with a plethora of things that are shit, grim and gruesome.

And if your DH "broke the news" to my dcs I'd go mental. Why is it his responsibility? Who tells him to do that? They're only 11 or 12 in Y7.

God forbid kids should have some magical excitement

I agree, OP, the hysteria is baffling. As a small child I vaguely believed in Santa, then realised aged about 7 that he wasn't real. This was entirely untraumatic and I continued to find Christmas just as exciting.

I find it extremely unlikely that any year 7 actually still believes in Santa. Pretends to believe for their parents' or younger siblings' sake, maybe.

You told your son Santa wasn't real to win an argument? How fucking awful are you?

I think I found out quite early compared to some. Older kids in the playground told us and mum confirmed it. Totally do not understand pretending otherwise. Children need to trust us and it's a good chance to learn about deciding what is true and what is false and not always believing what authority figures tell you.

I don't think it's up to adults to tell DC. It's for them to find out in the playground, or from friends, cousins etc.

I would not however expect secondary school teachers to keep up any pretences, but neither would they need have any role in telling any Santa stuff to their year 7s.

They're only 11 or 12 in Y7. Seriously, I sometimes think that I live in a different world. I would hope that my 11-12 year old had some critical thinking skills, honestly. My 5 yo is a bit suspiciously and I'm certainly not trying to convince her for 'magical' reasons.

We have, however, given toys for kids without, spoken about people without stuff and gone through the house and donated tonnes of stuff. And, she made cookies for the men in the homeless shelter, who were very appreciative. Oh, and did a sandwich run for the homeless peeps as well.

I think there is a little more to Christmas than a fat bloke magically judging children. And taking credit for work mainly done by women.

God, I've read back and I sound insufferably smug and irritating, sorry.

I find it sad that many parents don't want or are eager to put a stop in believing in Santa.

There is plenty of time when the kids are older to be more adult about money and Christmas but children are only children for so long. I will be encouraging my kids to believe in Santa for as long as they want.

I reality by y7 most children know even if they play along.

In y2 most children still believe ime. And why shouldn't they. They're only 6/7 years old!

And it's not unusual either - or new. At 6/7y most children still believed when I was growing up in the 70s too.

What's wrong with a bit of make believe???

My older two just organically figured it out in the last couple of years. They are 12 and 11. The 9 year old still firmly believes, who is it hurting if she does??

You told him in an argument what Christmas is really about - hmm, what exactly is it really about? Because what it's about is different to many people, there's no right or wrong answer. I'm not a huge fan of the idea of Santa, however I ouldn't ruin it for a believing child to push my own agenda of 'meaning'.

You will be told you are BU, but I don't think you are, actually. I have noticed the same. I think Santa is a lovely part of Christmas, but some parents seem to be almost traumatised at the thought of their children not believing. I found ouf from school friends aged 7, and none of the magic was lost for me personally

I also hate Elf on the titting Shelf, mind you, so maybe I am Scrooge!

I watched Miracle on 34th Street again yesterday, I believe!

I keep the magic going, nothing with a bit of magic and imagination in a world that can be so hard.

Oh and Santa brings the stockings here, nothing else.

A bit of magic that lots of children and parents share and yet there are still the folk who seem determined to suck the joy out of something. Live and let live.

My ds is 11 on Sunday and still believes. I know it will be his last year but honestly what's the big deal?