What age did your dc figure out Santa?

[Soubriquet]

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

DS1 was 8.
DD is 7 and she's figured it out she asked me the other day. She promised not to tell DS2 but as its DD I don't believe her. I fully expect DS2 to know by the end of next week

My two are 3 and 7. Last year at some point my eldest said one of his friends told him Santa wasn’t real. I knocked that down with a discussion about his friend not actually celebrating Christmas

6 when he asked for a magic wand and Santa didn’t bring it so he decided he’s not real then 🤷‍♀️

I’ve never told mine! They’re 11 and 19 now so clearly know the truth but I always just say that I still believe in him. Never understood why anyone would have to come out and say it- kids aren’t daft and playing along is half the fun!

Both my kids were 7. A few of their friends believed for a year or so longer.

I remember one mum telling me her son was 13, year 8 and still believed. Although she was also disgusted at his friends swearing at 13 as her son would never swear. He was definitely swearing as I heard him and I’m sure he didn’t still actually believe in Santa. 😬

DD1 was 11 and found out in October at secondary school, thought I could get one more Christmas despite her friend telling her at 5 he wasn't real.

DD2 I made sure she knew before secondary school and also DS.

I however am like a character from the Polar Express and will continue to hear the bell ring.

I however am like a character from the Polar Express and will continue to hear the bell ring.

🤣 🎅 🎄

We decided to tell DS just before he started secondary like a pp. Just because we didn’t want him finding out in an embarrassing or a horrible way. He was absolutely mortified and distraught. He said to us that he can’t believe we spoiled the magic by telling him. He’s now nearly 14 and he still holds it against us. DD is nearly 9 and still believes. We must just be either really good at hiding stuff from them and lying to them or have really gullible children 😂

Great thread btw!!

I figured it out really young, but a friend told me I'd only keep getting presents if i pretended I still believed.

I never actually had the conversation with my parents that I didn't believe - but I'm 30 now so I'm pretty sure they worked it out 😂😂😂

'Santa' still comes though. I even write a letter 😂😂

@MummyJ12 that's my concern. Dd1 has just started secondary and I was toying with telling her as I don't want her to get teased. I think she's sceptical and knows the tooth fairy is rubbish but just wants to believe. I'll probably leave it unless she's asks outright Dd2 9 is more sceptical and asked directly, which I've managed to defer by saying "What do you think?".

My 9yo DD started quizzing me a couple of years ago but I had a come back for all her questions. I’m certain she still believes. I’m hoping for at least another year maybe 2, only because I don’t think she’d be able to not tell my 7yo and they are really close, she in turn would definitely slip up in front of my 4yo.

Regardless of what she says to me I push back, I say things like:

there are always going to be non believers just ignore them because we know the truth
If Santa’s not real where do all the presents suddenly come from (I’m good at hiding them)
The toys in the toy shops are what people buy for friends and family, just like when we give your cousins gifts…

The fact my DDs understand the cost of things and value of money works in my favour as I regularly say no we can’t afford that so when quizzed about Santa I did once say, “well if he’s not real where do the gifts come from, you know mummy and daddy don’t have much money and there is no way I’m wasting money on expensive toys and gifts…” I could see the cogs spinning away on her little face and then she suddenly decided i was obviously right 😃

I think even when the time eventually comes I will still try pushing it as much as I can.

How have kids got to be secondary school age not knowing? I think they must just be telling parents they still believe but don’t actually.

@WinTheNight my DS1 had heard from other kids that Santa wasn't real but he didn't agree with them. I think he thought Santa was a bit like God - some people believe in him, some don't.

I think he thought Santa was a bit like God - some people believe in him, some don't.

Aw, that’s sweet. Don’t get me wrong, I would love it if more kids believed for longer. Most kids seem to be about 7 or 8 which is very young. My niece stopped believing at 5. 😔

All 3 worked it out by 6.
Youngest who is very daydreamy said if Santa was real then most children would get one gift while poor children would get mountains of gifts because they need stuff like coats and shoes as well as toys. Who can argue with that logic ?

@WinTheNight

How have kids got to be secondary school age not knowing? I think they must just be telling parents they still believe but don’t actually.

Like I said in my post, DH and I are either super duper liars and con artists with our DC. Or our DC are super duper gullible bless them. Either way, I feel incredibly lucky that I got so many Christmases with DS genuinely believing in Santa and also very lucky that DD still believes. I hope I can get her to secondary age too…..let’s see!!

Youngest who is very daydreamy said if Santa was real then most children would get one gift while poor children would get mountains of gifts because they need stuff like coats and shoes as well as toys. Who can argue with that logic ?

Logical and kind. ❤️

Logical and kind. ❤️

I think it's all the charity adverts in between kids tv programmes that probably made him realise that if Santa were real, he'd sort child poverty 😉

Sounds remarkably like the very religious “be good and you’ll get into heaven” form of crowd control to me. You haven’t really given them any option for critical thinking there, have you?!

No it sounds like magical fun.
It was a gradual transition into mythology fantasy in my home, we all hang stockings even my 89 year old mother.

You can't com[e

DD had suspicions when she was 5 which seemed very young. Her elder brother probably worked it out a couple of years after her!

I had to gently tell my DD when she was 11 so she didn't embarrass herself at secondary school. She says I ruined her childhood.

@WinTheNight

How have kids got to be secondary school age not knowing? I think they must just be telling parents they still believe but don’t actually.

Possibly. My mum is convinced I still believed when I was about 13 when I certainly didn't. I had a younger brother and you get caught up in the hype anyway so why would you tell your parents and then get fewer gifts!

I'm really sad to read that kids aged 4 to 5 don't believe in FC. I know you only get a few years where Christmas is really magical but I hoped it would be more than 2 years - my daughter is 4 this year and firmly believes but I worry she will become less innocent when she starts primary this week.

@AllTheSingleLadiess

Logical and kind. ❤️

I think it's all the charity adverts in between kids tv programmes that probably made him realise that if Santa were real, he'd sort child poverty 😉

We have tried to get around this by having a small stocking from santa and all the other presents from other people. So I can say those kids will only get the small stocking but nothing from their families, so that's why we donate. Hope it works!