Page 21 | Teacher telling 7yo that Father Christmas not real

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 2024-12-11T22:33:46+00:00

Is it reasonable for a RE teacher to tell 7 year olds that Father Christmas isn’t real? My 7 year old DS has just told me that his RE teacher told the class Father Christmas “isn’t real” today. He isn’t one to over-exaggerate. I asked if any of the kids prompted it by asking and he said no, she just said it. If you think it’s unreasonable, would you say anything to the school? YABU - teachers are fine to say FC is not real at the age of 7 YANBU - let the kids / parents decide if FC is real. Just don’t say anything!

SleepyHippy3 · 14/12/2024 07:22

anon666 · 13/12/2024 17:58

One of the deacons did this at my daughter's school. I was livid.

So ironic, that’s mad. So this deacon believes in a god that no one has ever seen, yet is adamant that Santa is not real (which obviously he isn’t ) and insists he must tell the child this? What are some people like!!

LuckysDadsHat · 14/12/2024 07:26

dizzydizzydizzy · 11/12/2024 22:38

Do 7yo children still believe in Father Christmas? I

Not in the world of MN where they either never tell the kids about Santa or there children are so clever they figured it out at the age of 4.

In the real world, 7 is still a normal age to believe in Santa. IT is getting younger but 8 or 9 seems to be the age they start to question it.

I think its sad that we are in such a rush for our kids to grow up that we can't have that magic for longer.

Alltheunreadbooks · 14/12/2024 07:36

I always feel a bit cringy when mumsnetters insist their child has perfect recall for conversations and would never lie or get confused

To that end I polite enquiry to the school, or a chat with other parents might be the best course of action.

Shwish · 14/12/2024 07:38

Harmonypus · 14/12/2024 02:51

Personally, I don't see the problem.

I never lied to my children, so even from about the age of 3 they knew there was no such thing as santa, easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc.

At almost 7, my eldest was argued with by another child at school about santa, then came home and said that so-and-so had argued that he did exist, so that weekend i took them into the city centre and visited 3 separate 'santas' in different department stores, pointing out the long queues we'd stood in and all the people still waiting as we left to go to another store, so he couldn't just leave the store to go to another one just because we were going there, because he had to stay to see everyone else in the queue, and ooh look, this one has a longer/shorter beard and blue eyes when the last one had green eyes, etc.

My child went back to school on the Monday and told the child who'd argued the point that they were wrong, explained our weekend visits and said 'my mum doesn't tell me lies, but yours tells you lies'.

Our class teacher overheard the conversation between the children and praised me for not lying to my child and proving the truth, saying that she hated having to perpetuate the lies the majority of parents insisted on telling their kids!

Jesus. Why wouldn't you tell your child to say something like "well we don't believe"
You sound like a spiteful piece of work being pleased at how your child told another that their mum lied to them and that there is definitely no Santa just before Christmas. I actually can't believe anyone would do something so mean. Why? Does it make you feel good to know that another child has been upset?

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 14/12/2024 07:42

Nope
I'm dead serious

@umar123

What do you think 7 year olds do if they don't play with toys?
Why are some people so keen to make children grow up before they need to?

FWIW lots 7 year olds DO play with toys. It's not unusual (thankfully).

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 14/12/2024 07:44

Harmonypus · 14/12/2024 02:51

Personally, I don't see the problem.

I never lied to my children, so even from about the age of 3 they knew there was no such thing as santa, easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc.

At almost 7, my eldest was argued with by another child at school about santa, then came home and said that so-and-so had argued that he did exist, so that weekend i took them into the city centre and visited 3 separate 'santas' in different department stores, pointing out the long queues we'd stood in and all the people still waiting as we left to go to another store, so he couldn't just leave the store to go to another one just because we were going there, because he had to stay to see everyone else in the queue, and ooh look, this one has a longer/shorter beard and blue eyes when the last one had green eyes, etc.

My child went back to school on the Monday and told the child who'd argued the point that they were wrong, explained our weekend visits and said 'my mum doesn't tell me lies, but yours tells you lies'.

Our class teacher overheard the conversation between the children and praised me for not lying to my child and proving the truth, saying that she hated having to perpetuate the lies the majority of parents insisted on telling their kids!

What your child did wasn't very nice.
You should try teaching them some manners.

UpTheMagicChristmasTree · 14/12/2024 08:26

Harmonypus · 14/12/2024 02:51

Personally, I don't see the problem.

I never lied to my children, so even from about the age of 3 they knew there was no such thing as santa, easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc.

At almost 7, my eldest was argued with by another child at school about santa, then came home and said that so-and-so had argued that he did exist, so that weekend i took them into the city centre and visited 3 separate 'santas' in different department stores, pointing out the long queues we'd stood in and all the people still waiting as we left to go to another store, so he couldn't just leave the store to go to another one just because we were going there, because he had to stay to see everyone else in the queue, and ooh look, this one has a longer/shorter beard and blue eyes when the last one had green eyes, etc.

My child went back to school on the Monday and told the child who'd argued the point that they were wrong, explained our weekend visits and said 'my mum doesn't tell me lies, but yours tells you lies'.

Our class teacher overheard the conversation between the children and praised me for not lying to my child and proving the truth, saying that she hated having to perpetuate the lies the majority of parents insisted on telling their kids!

What a thing to do! You proved nothing though, most kids realize that Father Christmas is very busy around Christmas and so has some kind helpers around to send messages back to him. Magic has never been meant to make sense.

Letskeepcalm · 14/12/2024 08:29

I think seven year olds are on the cusp of working things out/ realising Santa isn't real. I wouldn't tell them myself, I'd let it come to them naturally. As for complaining, I'd have a quiet word with her, not cause a fuss.
(I always find it hard to believe ten and eleven year olds still believe a man flies round in the sky all night to the entire world, giving presents - and some kids A LOT more than others. It's for little children tbh)

Peachperfect · 14/12/2024 09:01

I would be fuming. FC is such a huge part of the innocence of being a child and the magic that goes with it.
It's not the RE's decision to make to take that all away. My children are 10 and still belive-i will be having "THE" conversation before high school

stripeyshutters · 14/12/2024 09:14

TimeConsuming · 13/12/2024 18:55

I’d want to know if the teacher has also made claims about God/Allah/Jehovah and other gods being fictitious, or if the “facts” are only applied to Father Christmas.

This is the point. I don't know why this has veered off to " all RE teachers are not Christian " etc. That's irrelevant. Whether we are talking Father Christmas, God, Allah, Shiva whatever - they are all imaginary and based on faith and/or hope.

thepariscrimefiles · 14/12/2024 09:29

umar123 · 13/12/2024 23:05

Nope
I'm dead serious

Show quote history

Are you a parent? Did you take all their toys away at age 7?

Longma · 14/12/2024 09:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

thepariscrimefiles · 14/12/2024 09:33

Harmonypus · 14/12/2024 02:51

Personally, I don't see the problem.

I never lied to my children, so even from about the age of 3 they knew there was no such thing as santa, easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc.

At almost 7, my eldest was argued with by another child at school about santa, then came home and said that so-and-so had argued that he did exist, so that weekend i took them into the city centre and visited 3 separate 'santas' in different department stores, pointing out the long queues we'd stood in and all the people still waiting as we left to go to another store, so he couldn't just leave the store to go to another one just because we were going there, because he had to stay to see everyone else in the queue, and ooh look, this one has a longer/shorter beard and blue eyes when the last one had green eyes, etc.

My child went back to school on the Monday and told the child who'd argued the point that they were wrong, explained our weekend visits and said 'my mum doesn't tell me lies, but yours tells you lies'.

Our class teacher overheard the conversation between the children and praised me for not lying to my child and proving the truth, saying that she hated having to perpetuate the lies the majority of parents insisted on telling their kids!

OMG you went to all that trouble, just to be a twat to a 6 year old classmate of your child?

I'm not sure why you are boasting about this.

Longma · 14/12/2024 09:37

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

PureBoggin · 14/12/2024 09:43

Harmonypus · 14/12/2024 02:51

Personally, I don't see the problem.

I never lied to my children, so even from about the age of 3 they knew there was no such thing as santa, easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc.

At almost 7, my eldest was argued with by another child at school about santa, then came home and said that so-and-so had argued that he did exist, so that weekend i took them into the city centre and visited 3 separate 'santas' in different department stores, pointing out the long queues we'd stood in and all the people still waiting as we left to go to another store, so he couldn't just leave the store to go to another one just because we were going there, because he had to stay to see everyone else in the queue, and ooh look, this one has a longer/shorter beard and blue eyes when the last one had green eyes, etc.

My child went back to school on the Monday and told the child who'd argued the point that they were wrong, explained our weekend visits and said 'my mum doesn't tell me lies, but yours tells you lies'.

Our class teacher overheard the conversation between the children and praised me for not lying to my child and proving the truth, saying that she hated having to perpetuate the lies the majority of parents insisted on telling their kids!

You must be so proud.

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 14/12/2024 09:50

Harmonypus · 14/12/2024 02:51

Personally, I don't see the problem.

I never lied to my children, so even from about the age of 3 they knew there was no such thing as santa, easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc.

At almost 7, my eldest was argued with by another child at school about santa, then came home and said that so-and-so had argued that he did exist, so that weekend i took them into the city centre and visited 3 separate 'santas' in different department stores, pointing out the long queues we'd stood in and all the people still waiting as we left to go to another store, so he couldn't just leave the store to go to another one just because we were going there, because he had to stay to see everyone else in the queue, and ooh look, this one has a longer/shorter beard and blue eyes when the last one had green eyes, etc.

My child went back to school on the Monday and told the child who'd argued the point that they were wrong, explained our weekend visits and said 'my mum doesn't tell me lies, but yours tells you lies'.

Our class teacher overheard the conversation between the children and praised me for not lying to my child and proving the truth, saying that she hated having to perpetuate the lies the majority of parents insisted on telling their kids!

Season 3 What GIF by Animal Kingdom on TNT

Did ye, aye?

SleepyHippy3 · 14/12/2024 09:54

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

In regards to your very last sentence. It’s the parents who tell their children the lie in the very first place, and then it sticks. Christmas would still happen if the story of Santa was never told. Some people don’t tell their kids in the first place, and those children and those parents are not responsible for up holding that lie, that you told to your kid in the first place. It’s just a bit fun, and if they do find earlier than what you would have liked, they still remain children, and finding out that Santa is not real is not going to make them grow up any faster.

SouthernBelle2 · 14/12/2024 10:38

I think it is wrong for a teacher to say this, however I'd happily get rid of the whole FC thing. FC discriminates by seemingly bringing huge expensive presents to rich families and cheaper and less desirable gifts to poorer ones. Seems a bit unfair on both the. children and the parents. Why lie to them?

Lollipop81 · 14/12/2024 10:42

LuckysDadsHat · 14/12/2024 07:26

Not in the world of MN where they either never tell the kids about Santa or there children are so clever they figured it out at the age of 4.

In the real world, 7 is still a normal age to believe in Santa. IT is getting younger but 8 or 9 seems to be the age they start to question it.

I think its sad that we are in such a rush for our kids to grow up that we can't have that magic for longer.

Show quote history

😂😂 this

Deboragh · 14/12/2024 10:45

DragonGypsyDoris · 11/12/2024 22:42

Complain that a teacher didn't lie? Good luck.

Show quote history

RE teachers job is 100% a lie. St Nicklaus existed, there's no evidence whatsoever that jc did.

Longma · 14/12/2024 10:50

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Feellikeafailurenow · 14/12/2024 10:54

dizzydizzydizzy · 11/12/2024 22:38

Do 7yo children still believe in Father Christmas? I

Yes!

christ my 10 year old still belives. Other one questioned it at 10 but hung on til 11 & knew for high school! Not even pretend believing either! At 7 there was no doubt with them or any of their classmates

Feellikeafailurenow · 14/12/2024 10:56

Letskeepcalm · 14/12/2024 08:29

I think seven year olds are on the cusp of working things out/ realising Santa isn't real. I wouldn't tell them myself, I'd let it come to them naturally. As for complaining, I'd have a quiet word with her, not cause a fuss.
(I always find it hard to believe ten and eleven year olds still believe a man flies round in the sky all night to the entire world, giving presents - and some kids A LOT more than others. It's for little children tbh)

Why? Mine have as i go all out to make sure they have that belief. One was 11 & other 10. Current 10 year old still fully believes & why shouldn’t she - she is still a child! People
are too keen for kids to grow up too soon. I was also 11. At 7 none of mine questioned anything

MrsSkylerWhite · 14/12/2024 10:57

Some posters stating that they are religious then scoffing at the idea of Santa.

No difference. God and Santa are both fairy stories. Why is is perfectly acceptable to believe in one and scoff at the other?

HarrietPierce · 14/12/2024 10:59

Cazareeto1 ·

" I would not be happy if you told my kids Santa wasn’t real id probably want to punch you in the face if I’m quite honest. "

Good grief. You really have the spirit of Christmas there. Not.