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Original poster

What age did your son stop believing?

34 replies

Mummysharkdoodoodoo · 08/12/2018 14:19

I thought my ds (9) didn’t believe anymore but he has just asked for an elf on the shelf next year.

I love that he still believes. What age did yours stop?

OP posts:
MrsCar · 08/12/2018 14:20

Around 10 I think (dd, notvthat it makes any difference)

GreenTulips · 08/12/2018 14:21

Couldn't say really

But come 9/10 we backed off the whole santa thing and it was hardly mentioned

dementedpixie · 08/12/2018 14:21
  1. He asked awkward questions from age 6 though
Snowwontbelong · 08/12/2018 14:23

Ds 10 still believes.. At 10 dd was suspicious tho!!

niceupthedance · 08/12/2018 14:25

DS didn't believe in nursery when he saw a man in a Santa outfit and realised it wasn't Father Christmas. Then he started believing again age 6 and still going at 8 (but doesn't ask too many difficult questions).

Original poster
Mummysharkdoodoodoo · 08/12/2018 14:34

I only said ds because dd is 10 and doesn’t believe.

OP posts:
Funnyface1 · 08/12/2018 15:02

Ds is 8 and still believes but I'm wondering if this will be the last year. Dd is 2 so I know he'll go along with it in future for her sake because he's such a sweetheart.

He did ask me this year if Santa is real and I told him he had to be because I couldn't afford that many presents!

Howmanysleepstilchristmas · 08/12/2018 15:17

Ds was 12! (Start of secondary!) Dd was 8. Ds6 still believes and just asked for an elf. I tried telling him it’s just a toy, but he insists I’ll be proven wrong. I imagine I will be...

Howmanysleepstilchristmas · 08/12/2018 15:19

Yes, my ds believed for as long as he did because there was no way I could afford it! And because Santa always seemed to bring things I’d made a big deal about them not being allowed (slime, whoopee cushions etc.)

Ginfizplease · 08/12/2018 15:22

I met two bright 11/12 girls this week who were utterly convinced by their elves on the shelves... I was actually really surprised!

Bunnybigears · 08/12/2018 15:24

DS1 was 5 when he told me Santa didnt exist and then listed all the reasons why he knew this aa a fact. DS2 is 8 and im pretty sure be doesnt believe but he is saying nothing!

RomanyRoots · 08/12/2018 15:26

Both were 9/10, one Y% the other Y6, it was different years though.
We had to tell dd before she started secondary.
A friends dd still believed at 14 Grin

SilkenTofu · 08/12/2018 18:04

2 days ago, age 9. He came home from school and asked me outright. I didn't lie this time. He then told me he was devastated and Christmas was ruined Confused

Cachailleacha · 08/12/2018 18:08

Maybe he just wants the elf for fun? I would be surprised if a child over about 7 thought a toy could come alive and move about by itself.

MnerXX · 08/12/2018 18:14

DS has spotted the people playing Santa a couple of times - eg his grandad and childminders husband... but is a firm believer at the mo. I’d be amazed if we last much longer as he’s fairly observant and we’re bound to slip up at some point!

WWYDhelpplease · 08/12/2018 18:32

Asked questions with doubt when 7 but made it through that Christmas. Didn’t believe when he was 8. Very young in comparison to kids in his class. He’s 10 now.

GlomOfNit · 08/12/2018 23:42

Silkentofu Flowers I'm dreading this happening a few days before Christmas this year. DS1 is 10.5 and very sweet and innocent but I know the cracks have formed. He would VERY much take it to heart. DH and I meant to out the whole thing over summer so it wouldn't hurt so much but then that seemed a bit contrived. I mean, most kids seem to phase out their belief but continue to go along with it happily. I know a family whose teenaged children have never asked and never been told, all happily talking about 'Santa'. Grin

Secondary school next year. I don't see the big push to tell before they go to secondary though - most of them have just enough self-preservation not to talk about it at school if they think they'll have the piss ripped.

Hohocabbage · 09/12/2018 00:40
  1. Still going, it’s a bit awkward now though but he has a younger sibling so i won’t be making any announcements, just hoping he will gradually stop believing in Santa but keep believing in the magic of Christmas
apostropheuse · 09/12/2018 06:54

Mine were all around 7/8, the same as most of their peers.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 09/12/2018 07:04

One was about 10, another one never really believed, from a very young age would express disbelief long before her sister, the other one (just 9) still seems to believe but we don't make a big thing of it and most of his peers are only/ eldest children which I think makes a difference.

Mummabear2212 · 09/12/2018 07:13

Sorry, stop believing....? But he's real! Xmas Grin

I don't have an answer as I'm just at the start of magical Christmas with DS (almost 1) but I know for me I stopped believing around 10. I didn't say a word and when my mum had a 'chat' with me at 12 ish I just said I've known for a couple of years. We never discussed it again, FC still came each year (still does) and we all just carry on with the magic.

millimat · 09/12/2018 08:38

11 - just after Christmas he said some about who bought the presents. Then said 'well I always knew and just went along with it for you'. He didn't GrinSelf preservation I suppose.

Serin · 09/12/2018 14:30

10 or 11. Just before secondary at any rate! We were lucky they went to quite a sheltered primary so most of the other kids believed too.

Funkyslippers · 09/12/2018 15:10

My DD1 was 8 (and very grown up) - she very seriously asked me if he was real and said "please tell me mum, I need to know!" So I told her! DD2 is 9.5 (not quite so grown up, still my little baby) and a few years ago did say she'd heard it was just mum & dad and so I thought she did suspect but today I had a heartwarming moment. We were reading a Christmas book and she asked me if I knew how Santa fitted all the presents on his sleigh....she gave me a very detailed explanation. So sweet.

Skyejuly · 09/12/2018 15:23

8 and I breathed a sigh of relief lol