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Original poster

To ask teachers and parents if 6 is too old to believe in Santa?

145 replies

SpinneyHill · 19/10/2019 10:18

My DS1 (6) told me earlier this year he knows Santa isn't real, but today we got a toy catalogue and I told DS2 (4) it was from Santa to help kids write their lists I was just about to whisper to DS1 to not ruin the magic (because I thought he'd stopped believing) when he suddenly became quite excited about Santa knowing where we live (we moved this year).

I almost feel a bit worried because I don't think I did believe at age 6?
Are his friends going to mock him for this?
When do they stop believing?

OP posts:
Mammylamb · 19/10/2019 10:34

Not too old! I remember telling a girl as we left primary school that Santa wasn’t real, as I hated the idea of her getting bullied at high school for still believing. My mum said I had no right to do that, but I still think it was the kindest thing to do

Ponoka7 · 19/10/2019 10:35

Children are very good at covering things up.

If someone at school said something, he'd probably say that he has to go along because of his younger Sibling.

I think 7/8 is usual, but Lapland trips etc are too cold for little ones and they're happy to pretend santa is real, when they need to.

Grinchly · 19/10/2019 10:36

Yes.Grin

Slaymill · 19/10/2019 10:37

I think 8/9 is normal for the doubts to creep in and by 10 sadly all over so make the most of the magical fleeting years as time moves far to quickly.

Freddiefox · 19/10/2019 10:37

At 6 my ds was told by two other children that Santa wasn’t real. He still believed in him, he’s nine and when we talk about Santa now to his brother he gives me a knowing wink.
I tell him if it’s not Santa it’s me, so more reason to listen to what I tell you

Goldenbear · 19/10/2019 10:38

I find this bizarre as 5+ there was more interest and excitement about it all in our house. When I took my DD at 4 to see Father Christmas, she still didn't really get it tbh! She definitely still believes and she is 8.

Goldenbear · 19/10/2019 10:40

Although to add to that my DS (eldest) did appreciate Father Christmas at 4.5 and was very excited!

avocadotofu · 19/10/2019 10:41

I teach year 2 and lots of my little ones still believe in Santa.

TreePeepingWatcher · 19/10/2019 10:41

Ds1 was in year 6, Ds2 was in year 5. Ds1 asked, we told Ds2 because there were arsehole children in his year group gobbing off in the playground so we thought it was best coming from us.

They are both now teenagers, they hang a stocking up for Father Christmas every year with a wink to the camera as they do it. Elf on the shelf also makes an appearance every year because they will not let him die move on to "other children."

He brings inappropriate gifts that we as parents wouldn't buy such as high sugar cereal and other treats, he hides, he makes mischief. But hey, I have time, they like it so it continues.

The line a lot of parents use is if you don't believe then he won't bring you presents, which works really well if like us you only do a stocking from the man in red and everything else under the tree is from us and relatives.

concernedforthefuture · 19/10/2019 10:42

My then 7 year old was a bit Hmmlast year, but my almost 10 year old definitely still believes and has never questioned it.

81Byerley · 19/10/2019 10:42

My daughter told me last year that when she was 14 she still secretly believed because she knew that we were not very well off, yet they still got loads of presents! In our house, we never talked about believing or not, and the children knew Father Christmas only comes to people who believe in him. At 18 they still came into our room with their stockings to show us what they had got! Now in their forties, we still say "What did father Christmas bring you?"

AnnaMagnani · 19/10/2019 10:52

It's entirely possible for him to believe and not believe at different times.

Nowhere near Christmas - he can figure out Santa isn't going to visit every house and not believe.

Actually going to get a present soon - he'll believe Grin

Just go with it.

Original poster
SpinneyHill · 19/10/2019 10:54

@81Byerley that is so lovely

@TreePeepingWatcher I think that was my fear as well, there is a kid in his class that he fell out with over the tooth fairy as she left mine a pound but left this other kid a fiver. I told him the other boy must have lost a different tooth as they have a different value depending on how useful they are for building the castle(?), I was quite proud of how quickly I came up with it!

OP posts:
Sewbean · 19/10/2019 10:55

My 11 yr old is still not at all willing to consider the possibility that Santa is not real. I'm sure he must know in himself it's not true (surely he must know) but he's not willing to discuss it at all so we all carry on pretending he's real. Fine by me.

Wheredidigowrongggggg · 19/10/2019 10:57

Errr kids go to secondary still believing these days. I think that’s too old to continue a lie if questioned about it but let them enjoy the magic as long as possible at primary I say! We just told my 9 year old after years of questioning. She is now absolutely stunned that her mean parents are so generous. The magic has not ended, it just shifts.

reluctantbrit · 19/10/2019 10:57

DD definitely believed when she was 6. She had her doubts at 8 as some children with older siblings talked in the playground but we managed to just avoid the subject.

When she was 9 we told her, doubts had crept in big and she can get anxiety attackes over the smallest thing so thought it was better coming clean.

She is now 12, she already talked about writing her letter (no letter, no presents) and mulls over what Father Christmas and Rudolph may like to eat this year.

Sewbean · 19/10/2019 10:59

I told him the other boy must have lost a different tooth as they have a different value depending on how useful they are for building the castle

Genuis. Well done op, for both your quick thinking and your imagination

user1483387154 · 19/10/2019 10:59

6 is still young to believe in Santa

SamBeckettslastleap · 19/10/2019 11:00

4281Byerley I was the same, I just couldn't believe that my parents could have afforded our presents,

TreePeepingWatcher · 19/10/2019 11:05

Other kids are so awful aren't they? Grin

Yes the tooth fairy thing is £1 per tooth. £5? Do they realise how many teeth a child has? 20 teeth, 20!

I volunteer in a primary school and we shut down any conversations about whether something exists or not, tooth fairy, Easter bunny, Father Christmas. Just distract/divert the conversation.

When my own children expressed doubts saying but X says it's his parents, I would reply maybe he was so naughty that Father Christmas put him on the naughty list. Wink I am not having some idiot child ruin the belief in this house, if you know, you keep it to yourself.

my2bundles · 19/10/2019 11:05

6 is still so tiny so of course it's fine to still belives. The most magical santa years for mine was between the ages of 4 and 8.

Blubluboo · 19/10/2019 11:07

Age 6 or year 6?! Of course they still believe at age 6!

Skinnychip · 19/10/2019 11:10

My DS is 10 and i think he still believes, bless him. Props to DD who has known for 5 years and not let on.

fartingrainbows · 19/10/2019 11:10

I think that there's a fairly long period in a child's life where they have strong suspicions that Santa isn't real but are happy to go along with it because it's fun and magical. Most children don't get a shock when they realise Santa isn't real because it's a slow process. 6 is still right in the magical age, enjoy it!!

Pinkblueberry · 19/10/2019 11:14

No of course not! When I taught year 3 I did a letter to Santa and Santa wrote back, they loved it. There might have been a few who were sceptical/didn’t believe but no one said anything. I think even if they don’t believe they still love to play along at that age.