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Original poster

What age did your dc figure out Santa?

87 replies

Soubriquet · 04/09/2021 06:16

Ds is 6, and was talking about christmas the other day (his favourite topic)

He actually came out with “I know who Santa really is. It’s you.”

“What do you mean? Where do the toys come from then?”

“You go to the shop, buy them, wrap them up and then put them under the tree”

“Have you ever seen the presents in the house before Christmas?”

“….no?”

“Well then. That’s cos Santa has them”

He didn’t believe me and has now pretty much figured it out

Dd (8) was gobsmacked. Never knew a thing.

Such a shame

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 04/09/2021 06:37

DS was 4 or 5. He just came and told me Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny aren't real.

Mincepiesallyearround · 04/09/2021 06:46

My son is 6 but I think is working it out from what he says. He’s quite switched on and asks things like well how can santa deliver oresents to every child across the globe in one night. I hope he believes a little longer as we’ve only got into the more magical side the past couple of years.

MissyB1 · 04/09/2021 06:49

Ds is clearly a bit of a late developer, he was 10 when I suspect he worked it out, he still won’t say it out loud to us though (he’s 12 now!), he likes to carry on pretending.

IggyAce · 04/09/2021 06:51

My dd is 15 and she’s never come out and said I know he’s not real, but she knows. My DS was 8 he’d hinted at around 7 but I was able to gloss over it & enjoy 1 more Christmas.
He now understands that he’s Santa and he’s happy to help create the magic for younger cousins & friends.

OrangeTortoise · 04/09/2021 06:52

Mine were 10/11. They're quite gullible!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 04/09/2021 06:54

I'm pretty sure my elder DD knew last year at 9. But played along for her sister.
Younger DD is now 8. She has a firm belief in magic.

We suspect this will be our last Santa year.

Original poster
Soubriquet · 04/09/2021 06:56

I was hoping for another year, maybe two at a push, and I was banking on dd figuring it out but nope. Ds had to get in there first for a change

Oh well. At least now when they ask for stupidly expensive things, I can honestly say “sorry sweetie. We can’t afford that”

OP posts:
Beakerandbungle · 04/09/2021 07:22

DS also 6 been asking questions for a while and came out with a very similar statement to your DS last month.

DS 9 still believed from the look on his face. He tried to say to DS 6 that it is all real but suspect he must now know it isn’t. I was trying to get DS to drop it in front of his brother but he’s like a dog with a bone when he’s into something.

Saying that I was one of those children who was genuinely a bit upset when I found out Santa wasn’t real as felt my parents had been lying/tricking me so I’ve never made too much of a thing about it anyway. Be a relief not to have to buy different wrapping paper from Santa this year at least Grin

Antsinyourpanta · 04/09/2021 07:26

My DD found out at 8 but was under strict orders not to tell (younger) DS. He still believed at 10 and we ended up telling him when he was 11!

IamChipmunk · 04/09/2021 07:35

My DS is 7 and has been saying similar things, he said just yesterday to 5 yo old dd 'it could be mummy and daddy that bring the presents' she corrected him whole heartedly telling him not to be so silly and how on earth does the stocking get there if its not Santa and the elves!

He is to matter of fact about things and too clever I fear. He told the elf at the Santa visit last Xmas that she clearly wasnt a real elf as she was too big and 'elves don't wear face masks' ConfusedShockGrin

BigSandyBalls2015 · 04/09/2021 07:37

One was about 8, I made the mistake of wrapping Santa’s presents with the same wrapping as ours 🤦‍♀️.

The other DD was oblivious to this and we had to break the news before she started secondary school ....

MistyFrequencies · 04/09/2021 07:42

My then 3 year old last Xmas said "Grandma is really Santa isn't she". I nearly died. I asked her what she meant and she said "grandma buys the presents, you just say they're from Santa". I kind of laughed it off but she mentioned to her dad how all the presents in the world couldn't fit in Santa's sleigh etc so I'm just hoping this year she's forgotten all that and gets lost in the magic again for a few more years.
She wholeheartedly believes in the Elf though.

PyjamasOClock · 04/09/2021 07:43

She was 4 - toy service at church - "if Father Christmas was real then we wouldn't need to bring toys for children who don't get any". Bright little thing really.

DontTellThemYourNamePike · 04/09/2021 07:55

DS1 was almost 12 and about to start secondary school! We decided to tell him as we were worried about possible embarrassing conversations, although to be fair he's not easily embarrassed. He is such a sceptic in other areas, but he clung on to his belief in Santa (while simultaneously declaring he was an atheist from he was 7 or 8🤣). DS2 still believes in Santa at 9, although I suspect he is more in the 'going along with it to get presents' camp.

PermanentTemporary · 04/09/2021 07:57

Ds I think basically knew from 5, but there is a long long patch when they kind of know but still have hope, so they ask little probing questions they don't want answered Grin

GrandmasCat · 04/09/2021 08:02

I think I must have been a good Santa as my son, who doesn’t believe on ANYTHING, went through childhood claiming he had PROOF Santa existed.

I had to tell him myself when he was 11 before he went defending Santa in secondary school.

merrygoround88 · 04/09/2021 08:04

12 here for the eldest (yes really but I think it’s kept going longer in Ireland)
Youngest is 10 and I would say this is last year

Chanel05 · 04/09/2021 08:06

My niece is 8 and I think this will be her last year of knowing.

I figured it out on Christmas Eve when I was 7. Heard my mum say to my dad, "We'll put the presents downstairs when they're asleep." It all came crashing down!

FriedasCarLoad · 04/09/2021 08:06

Slight aside, but I couldn't believe that my parents would outright lie to me. So when I realised Father Christmas wasn't real, I thought they must be deluded/stupid. This lasted for a few years!

Thatsplentyjack · 04/09/2021 08:08

The first was about 8, the second os 7 and will be 8 just before Christmas. He told me a few months ago he knew it wasn't true and he was adamant, so I told him the truth. Now he's claiming he still does believe so I'm just going along with it.

Juanbablo · 04/09/2021 08:16

Ds1 was around 9 or 10 and was ok about it. He kept asking so I told him. I was a bit worried as he was devastated when he found out about the tooth fairy.

Dd is 11 and I've realised she has never asked although I'm sure she knows. I feel like I should have a conversation with her soon!

Quornflakegirl · 04/09/2021 08:30

Mine are 9 this Christmas and I suspect both are going along with it despite knowing.

MsJuniper · 04/09/2021 08:31

DS is 9 and came home from school aged 5 saying that a friend had told him Santa wasn't real. I just feigned innocence and asked how the presents got there? Since then he has "heard" jingle bells in the sky and has completely doubled down on his belief in Santa. DD is 3 so it's nice to have a couple of years when they both believe. I guess I will have to tell him before he goes to secondary school judging from other posts.

TolkiensFallow · 04/09/2021 08:36

It’s a tricky one. Different for every kid. I remember a girl at school telling me when I was about 5 or 6 and was gutted! I 100% believed until then but it made total sense when she told me. I suspect that happens a lot.

MrsPworkingmummy · 04/09/2021 08:40

Whenever the children and I go shopping and they point things out they'd like, I say 'well, you'll have to put it on your list to Santa'. My 9 year old DD has now started to roll her eyes and say 'Santa? Right....' with a long sarcastic sigh, along with statements of 'Santa's not real' . I simply state 'Well I still believe'. I hope she clings on that little bit longer. Just one more year would be lovely as DS (3) is really getting into the magic now 😊