how old are they before they don't believe in santa

[AuldLangDooDah]

that's it, really

want to if I've got another year or two

agrre with you wwb

This year dd was almost 10 , and shyly told me that she 'didn't believe' she was on the cusp of disbelief last year.

Yes, but most children are quite bright enough to work out if they want to that there's actually nobody climbing down that chimney, and indeed that the two Santas we saw driving a truck along the South Circular the other day - very jolly too - might just perhaps be hairy-handed truckers with Santa hats on.

Well yes - but I'd rather it dawned on my 5 year old in her own time, than have it brought to her attention because it's sitting in a MN thread.

Dd was lovely this year - she and ds1 have never 'believed' in Santa, but Ds1 did his annual 'Santa visit' where he dresses up and delivers some presents to everyone, including one for himself, who has 'just popped out'. Dd was in that WONDERFUL state of suspended belief - she knew it was ds1, but was able to 'believe' at the same time that it really was Santa in our living room! When he handed her her present she said very sweetly 'Thank you Father Christmas', and you could tell there was part of her that really thought it was real, whilst knowing it totally wasn't!

dd very much 'played' with the belief thing for quite a while. I remember doing the same as a child.

Mine have long 'known' that the ones you see aren't real.....they are Santa's helpers etc etc.

Actually it was rather sweet when I got the credit for all of dd's loot. She told me she was impressed that I had remembered all her hints

She knows her mother, that girl

My dd can read the word sex and ask me what it means.

DS3 is 8 and still believes despite DS2's rather pointed efforts to let him know it's not real (without actually saying anything directly as he's been told not to spoil it for DS3!).

DS2 is struggling with the not believing bit, because, as I pointed out to him, if he didn't believe in FC, then he couldn't believe in the Tooth Fairy, so would be out of pocket. I think his belief in FC was strengthened!

DS is nearly 7 and still believes. He knows that the santas in shops and at fairs are people doing it for fun but that doesn't mean that the real santa doesn't exist.

He also still belives in the tooth fairy and is currently trying to work out where to get basilics eyes and dolphin milk for a potion.

Do people really let their kids read mumsnet? Isn't there often a bit of bad language?

LOL at being chatted up by santa!

A threads total was pulled at the start of the xmas period because it 'gave' it away.

Now aware I have bumped this thread

I'm quite surprised how many of you are actively encouraging them to continue believing even when they have asked you what's going on. I'm happy to go along with it at the moment (ds1 is 5) but will be hugely relieved when he twigs and I don't have to maintain the pretence any more - and I'll answer any direct questions honestly. Personally, I think Christmas is just as magical whether you 'believe' in Santa or not!

and surely there are plenty of other places they can read the truth if they are so inclined - this is not a children's website fgs so can't believe you are worrying about a thread title....

Batters, did you ever see the episode of Frasier where Roz fell for a bloke who played Santa, and Daphne called her a Ho!Ho!Ho?

Snort at your rampantSanta, Batters.
Did he ask you to sit on his knee and describe what you'd like in your stocking?

He asked her if she'd been a good girl, with a slaver.

DP had to be Santa at his work do the year before last, and I think got a suspicious amount of enjoyment out of it. Then he left his outfit at our house, and DD1 and I decided Santa had stopped in for a bath on his delivery round.