What the fuck?! Santa?

[flumpybear]

Help - do I tell my 10 year old, year 5 that Santa is not real? She's just told me the boys st school have told her it's fake and it's parents and asked me ... help!
We also have a 6 year old boy who told me when he was 3 Santa was fake - said it many times since but still 'believes' ... apparent ... I'm not sure if he's digging or hiding his knowledge lol!!

What did you do!

AIBU to lie still?

Ds2 got money from the tooth fairy at the weekend

Apparently she left him a note which has mysteriously disappeared saying that the parents owe him more money, she didnt have enough money on her

He is 15

She said to me this morning 'I'll need to write my Santa list too! ' When I asked what was on her list for Christmas

My DD is almost 12 and has never asked. The past 2 or 3 years, she doesn't talk about him as real, so I think it's just fizzled. I was tempted to have 'the talk', but then I thought she clearly already knows and still goes along with it for the sake of her younger nephews, but is obviously just being kind.

I was told at 8 and I was distraught! I think it was the way my mum told me. Basically, there was a Santa/St Nicholas, but not anymore, so I took that as...Santa is dead Like it had just happened. Not a good day

My niece, who has a younger sister, had sussed but wanted to be kind to her little sister. Her take on it was, "I know it's only a story really, but I believe it on Christmas Eve, because it's so lovely!"
I think the idea of taking over the Santa role as you become a "grownup" at about 8 or 9, as per PP, is genius!

I have 3 more or less adult DCs. None of them ever asked, there was never a conversation or a fuss, I presume it just dawned on them. It dawned on me at about the age of 5 & I remember being told not to spoil it for my cousin, but it was no big deal. (Father Christmas here too, not Santa)

I asked ds whomis. 12 at xmas so year 7 if there were any kids innhis class who still.beleivevin Santa he said there were two! I do think its unfair if kids go to secondary school stilll believing

In all honesty I would think it a bit weird if a 10 year old still believed in Santa. I'd be wondering how they could possibly not have worked it out yet... I think there comes a point when it stops being a fun little fantasy game and starts become a bizarrely complicated lie that indulges parents more than it does children.

By the developmental age of 7 children are capable of distinuishin fantasy from fact.Believing in FC thereafter is based on trust that their parents wouldn't lie to them, which is kind of sad.Lots of kids play along for a few years, but that isn't what we are debatin here