When did you tell your children Santa doesn’t exist?

[Honeybeexo]

I’m not a parent (25 no kids), but I’m thinking back to when my mum told me and my sister (we were 9 and 11, just as I started high school) that Santa didn’t exist. She said she told us because she didn’t want me teased in secondary school for believing in him. Me and my sister were a little suspicious but still totally shocked when she told us, it was horrible, haha!

Just wondering how others have told their kids, and whether it made them unhappy or they weren’t bothered?

My oldest (age 16 & 12)
I didn’t ever tell them. I just let them work it out for themselves and that’s worked out well.

My third is 4 and the older two keep the dream alive for her.

never told them ,think they worked it out for themself ,although i do still say santa wont come even tho they are 15

They figured it out way before high school but we only ever portrayed him as delivering presents that others had bought so they didn’t have gifts from him. That way they could thank others and seemed the best way of explaining why some presents and amounts vary from others.

I've never told them. They still pretend to believe (16 and 13)

My mum didn't tell us so there was no shock, horror moment, we just worked out that it couldn't possibly be true.
I won't sit mine down and tell them, my 9 year old is starting to get doubtful but I tell him that he won't get anything if he doesn't believe so I think he is still hanging on in hope. When he clearly doesn't believe any more I know he will enjoy keeping it alive for his younger brother and help with the elf etc so I won't be breaking it to both of them.

Haven't and won't. They still do letters/list to Father Christmas and will forever more . They're 13 & 15...

And they get really pissed off with the elf now!

I've never told mine (13 and 9).

I don't know when/if they worked it out. They still go along with it all anyway.

My elder DD figured it out for herself when she was 10 and I told my younger DD when she was 10 and she was furious with me!

We never told them that he did exist... you can still have the trappings and "magic" without saying or implying that Santa is real.

I never believed in Santa so never got told he didn’t exist. We read stories that had Santa in but my parents always made it plain that he was just a story. I’ve done much the same with my kids - although we do tell them that if anyone else believes it’s not right to tell them Santa doesn’t exist.

I’m surprised you got to that age, my child was about 6 when he came out of school saying he wasn’t real because someone at school told him

I never told them- it was a delightful slide from real to myth.

And one that we still all love.

My eldest had his suspicions and asked on you tube if santa was real on his tablet. Think he was 8. He was totally fine about santa not being real but then asked what the elves do without santa. I said they are not real... and while we are at it neither is the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy 😂

My 11 yr old dd still insists he is real. A few months ago she found her elf who we had hidden and not out back in the attic, she was so upset but I thought it was time but then I think my dh talked to her and convinced her somehow. She is now year 7 and I worry what will happen if her friends find out she believes

She figured it out at 5. She admitted she knew at 8. The deception was because she thought the presents would stop. Once I explained Santa always brings presents to children and teens at our house, she admitted she knew.

When mine asked me outright I told them. Well actually when the younger two first asked I asked them if they really wanted an answer and they said no. A year later they asked again (9 & 10) and I told them. They weren't bothered and I was relieved... Especially because no more poxy elf on the shelf - oh except they still want that done apparantly. Why did I ever get one!

When they were about 5 or 6. They'd guessed by then anyway. It didn't make any difference to their enjoyment of Christmas.

Never and they're in their 40s now! I think most children have worked it out by around 8 or 9 but many go on ;believing' just to keep their parents happy.

Only told dd cos she nagged...she was about 12

Ds1 at 16 said to me

‘I know logically santa can’t exist, but i dont know how else the presents get in the house so he must exist’

I worry about that child 😀

My youngest sibling is now 30 and it has never been acknowledged in my family even once that Santa might not exist. We still put out a mince pie and a carrot 😁

Don’t believe dont recieve

Don’t believe don't receive

Same in this house! And growing up. Just a bit of fun, no trauma, no broken hearts, no sense of betrayal.

(They figured it out themselves we've never 'told' them.)

Don’t most children figure it out for themselves?

Dd1 had suspicions at 4/5 and was sure he didn’t exist by age 6.

Dd2 lasted until 7 I think.

Never told her/pretended he did.

Mine worked it out at some point and from then on they have been humouring me. They are in their twenties.