To have thought that trips to see Santa wouldn’t end yet?

[redambergreen70]

On a Santa experience today with DD8.5 and DS5.5. It’s a fantastic experience, lots of activities and cost a decent amount of money.
We think DD is starting to have doubts about Santa but hasn’t said anything directly, however it’s quite obvious from today that this is probably our last year as DD seems almost a little embarrassed and too cool for it all.
I feel quite sad and maybe it’s naivety on my part but I honestly thought we would have another couple of years.
So I guess I’m asking, what age did you stop doing the traditional Santa visits and look at something more suitable for older children? And what did you do instead?

I don’t think my DC ever believed the santas in the grottos were real, they enjoyed them
as part of a nice day out.

Over the year I have taught, the general trend seems to be most believe 100% up to the end of Year 2. Then you have some in Year 3 and Year 4 who start wondering and get a bit suspicious, but genuinely aren't sure and don't want to rock the boat just in case they are wrong. Year 5s have a mix, with more beginning to wonder and those who were wondering previously now being pretty damn sure it's all made up - but again, not wanting to rock the boat. Year 6s are generally too cool to fall for baby stories like Santa and can be quite vocal about this - but even then, some are still unsure and a few do still genuinely believe. We have to tell the older ones to just go along with it so ad not to spoil it for the others, and they generally do do and get well into the spirit of it all, even though they don't believe. (But still kind of do a bit, just in case!)

Oh, and this 100% for every child I've ever taught:

they were always aware that the Santa they saw was someone dressed up. They never believed it was the real Santa.

They enjoy guessing who the school Santa on the last day is going to be (although we never tell.)

I think a lot depends on whether they have older siblings. My DS said to me one day when he was about 7 that he knew it wasn’t true so there’s no need to pretend anymore.

DS has hated santa visits for the most part. I think he like the one when he was 4.

But otherwise we stopped it cos he was uncomfortable

My DNephew believed til 9/10. If she seems a bit sceptical that’s one thing, but please don’t tell her.

Alternatives - National Trust houses decorated for Christmas, The Snowman ballet, The Nutcracker ballet, panto. And traditional carol services of course.

But please don’t stop the Father Christmas stuff for your youngest just because your eldest may, or may not be, having doubts!

If you've got a 4 year old who doesn't believe you've done something wrong.

My 8.5 yr old is similar to yours - questioning the idea but not wanting to let go entirely.

But in the same way, yes he does know that the santas in the grottos aren’t the real one. But doesn’t mean the visit is a waste of time or not enjoyed.

TBH I had to remind myself not to book my teenager a ticket for it! 😂

You always get posters saying a ridiculously young age for belief in Santa/ enjoyment of grottos to end - 4/5 cut off indeed. It’s not a competition to see whose child stops believing in it first, nor is it a sign of intelligence or maturity for them to lose that belief early.

Exactly

My DC have always been told that the fake looking"Santa" they see is one of Santa's representatives. Youngest DC 7 believes she saw the real one once (tbf he was bloody convincing!) She loves a festive day out or trip to the garden centre with or without a Santa visit

My daughter (now grown up) didn’t believe by 4. She was very proud of herself for figuring it out. Too many children, not enough time, couldn’t fit into houses etc… I wasn’t going to tell her that her reasoning was wrong. We just said it was a fun game for children, the same as we chased unicorns when going for a walk. Christmas remained special and she still loves it. Maybe because she was never disappointed/ disillusioned.

In my mind Father Christmas is fun, but once a child questions it then adults should tell the truth. It seems wrong to further lie to convince them of a made up story.

And I don’t like “if you don’t believe you don’t receive” that I have heard from some. That does take away from the Christmas spirit.

(I am not a huge fan of Father Christmas anyway, especially the naughty/nice thing, it can be heartbreaking for children who don’t have parents who will give them gifts. Still have Christmas spirit, but not a mythical gift giver who doesn’t give to poor/abused children).

My DD is 7, we went to quite an expensive Santa experience this year, but I don’t think she believed it ☹️ she wants to believe but is quite logical, so just ends up picking holes in things. I don’t think we have long sadly and I thought we’d have a couple more years at least

We have never done a “visit Santa” thing. Isn’t the whole point that he comes to visit you, as a surprise? My DC are young adults now. I asked yesterday when they stopped believing. My elder one said she was six and my younger one said she was about nine. The elder one clearly kept her thoughts to herself on the reality of Santa.

My son is 6 and has questioned Santa for the first time this year the reason being that the Santa's that he has seen have all looked different and had gaps in beards.
I rescued the situation by using knowledge from a previous thread about santa needing help. 🤶