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Original poster

At what age do children stop believing?

100 replies

Whatsername17 · 21/08/2017 18:19

Dd1 is 6 and dd2 is 7 months. Dd2 will be 11 months at Christmas this year so a little too young to 'get' the whole Santa thing. I just want a couple of years where they both believe at the same time. What are my chances?

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 22/08/2017 18:16

But you don't stop doing the lovely things once they don't believe..........

And I stand by my post. It is utterly unacceptable to let a 12 year old-a year 8- go to school believing in Father Christmas!

Helliday · 22/08/2017 18:20

At just turned 3 my DD was questioning how Father Christmas could have the wrapping paper as me. It was my first proper year of 'doing' Santa and I managed to balls if up Blush (I didn't think she would notice!)

Last year she said she didn't think it was real, but could explain why. She's never really been into it and was scared of him the first couple of years so I've always played it down.

Helliday · 22/08/2017 18:21

*same wrapping paper

SpanishFly · 22/08/2017 18:22

I don't know what a Year 8 is, sorry?
Amyway, it was the FFS I objected to a bit more. I didn't say it was OK, and in fact started a thread asking how to tell him. I was purely pointing out that I am baffled at very young kids not believing.

Helliday · 22/08/2017 18:23

Fgs, couldn't explain why.

Must remember to proof read Blush

MollyHuaCha · 22/08/2017 18:25

The madness of the logistics of Father Xmas and the whole flying sleigh thing is obvious to bright children who work it out without being told somewhere between the age of four and seven. Many children then choose to go along with it because it's such fun and makes them feel cosy and Christmassy. Anyone over eight or nine genuinely still 'believing' would worry me.

onlyconnect · 22/08/2017 18:25

I know a 12 year old boy who definitely still believes. DD is also 12 and she doesn't believe but I'd say she's not 100% sure still. I've been amazed at how long her and her friends have believed. Certainly still fully believing at ten.

BertrandRussell · 22/08/2017 18:25

I stand by the Ffs too.

SpanishFly · 22/08/2017 18:28

Implying what, tho? Seems to be belittling it ?

FrancisCrawford · 22/08/2017 18:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fishybits · 22/08/2017 18:45

DD is 5 and has been questioning the logistics behind Christmas Eve since she was 3 Sad. I've managed to get away with it so far by saying that Father Christmas is the spirit of Christmas. However, I strongly suspect she's now just humouring me and says she believes to ensure the continued stockings. I'll take what I can though because I love the idea of Father Christmas and all the "magic".

mogulfield · 22/08/2017 18:48

I stopped believing at 7. Surely these kids that are older that 'still believe' are appeasing their parents? I don't know any 9+ kids that believe. Not with the knowledge available to them now.

GherkinSnatch · 22/08/2017 19:17

Not even the knowledge available to them now - were the 12 year olds who still believe immune to playground discussions over who got what and not see any disparities? Did they not wonder why there are a hundred different portrayals of Father Christmas, all of them different from Elf to Arthur Christmas to the Santa Claus and Miracle on 34th Street? Do they really not have the critical thinking and logic skills required to put 2 and 2 together with this? Last year my almost four year old noticed that Tesco had the same paper as the Santa at his nursery.

BertrandRussell · 22/08/2017 19:25

I would really question what was going on at school if a child hadn't developed the critical thinking skills by 10 to work it out. Fine to go on pretending- if some people on this thread heard my 15 and 21 year olds watching Santa Tracker last Christmas Eve they would probably have thought they believed too!

GherkinSnatch · 22/08/2017 19:31

Me too Bertrand. And just want to stress, incase it's taken that way, that it's not trying to suck the fun out of Christmas to think that. If a child's enjoyment of Christmas is entirely dependant on the fat man in the red suit being real, then something needs to change about Christmas.

SpanishFly · 22/08/2017 19:53

But who's saying that believing in him is the sole reason for there being magic?

PS my 12yr old has aspergers so that might well be connected to his thoughts on it

BertrandRussell · 22/08/2017 19:57

I did wonder if there was going to be a drip feed.

SpanishFly · 22/08/2017 20:13

Drip feed of what? I'm guessing your comment is at me, given that you seem to have an issue with every post I've made on this thread Hmm

Yogagirl123 · 22/08/2017 20:19

Once they go to school forget it, someone always blabs!

GherkinSnatch · 22/08/2017 20:29

Loads of posters say it or imply it - talk of "losing the magic" and "Hoping to keep the magic for another year", children being devastated etc. That's not healthy.

bimbobaggins · 22/08/2017 20:31

I'd say around 10. I could tell my ds knew but didn't want to be the one who said. I finally had to say the year he was going to high school and being ridiculed.

bimbobaggins · 22/08/2017 20:32

I didn't want him being ridiculed that's meant to be

Buttercupsandaisies · 22/08/2017 20:53

I think a lot depends on other kids. My kids go to a very lower middle class school, no diversity at all. Everyone lives in similar area, families all very much 2.4 children with parents who are all ott with Christmas Easter etc. DD is year 6 and none of her friends question it at all and having spoken to their parents, most will be told in the coming weeks before starting secondary. In contrast, my brother lives 5 miles away, much more diverse, where kids play put from age 5 etc. His kids were questioning it from age 6- having heard it from friends.

I think a lot depends on effort by parents too- I know loads who just can't be arsed and almost can't wait to give the game away!

BertrandRussell · 22/08/2017 21:10

"I think a lot depends on effort by parents too- I know loads who just can't be arsed and almost can't wait to give the game away!"
So the longer your child believes in Father Christmas the better parent you are?

Buttercupsandaisies · 22/08/2017 21:27

No clearly I don't mean that at all but, certainly amongst people I know, a lot of those who insist kids who catch on are cleverer or parents who say they are being kinder by not lying to their kids etc are the same parents who can't be arsed, make little effort with their kids and are happy for their kids to stop believing so they can start saying no more easily to more empensive gifts!

Not saying it applies to everyone obviously, but anecdotally near me, it's defo linked.