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At what age did your children stop believing in Father Christmas?

73 replies

Basketballhoop405392 · 13/09/2026 19:12

What age did your children find out about Santa?

Just that really. Trying to work out how many more years I have left with my oldest!

OP posts:
BooksandSlippers · 13/09/2026 19:19

Mine is 8 and still believes, she is quite quirky and is in a fairly innocent year group at school so hasn't heard otherwise from anyone. I think I knew a little earlier.

Kirbert2 · 13/09/2026 19:22

Mine is 10 and this will be his first Christmas not believing.

Moonnstarz · 13/09/2026 19:25

I have a 10 and 11 year old. I think they both still believe but I am hoping the 11 year old does kind of know (secondary school, don't want them to be laughed at).

hourspassed · 13/09/2026 19:26

Year 6, so aged 10 for both DS and DD. I had to actually tell DS because I didn't want him going to secondary school as a believer! 💔 DD was wiser and guessed after she overheard DH telling a relative he got her bike from Argos! 😅

Pumpkinsaregrowingnicely · 13/09/2026 19:26

I told ds last week.
Days before he started secondary..

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 13/09/2026 19:27

I think mine were gradual over a couple of years, so probably had doubts at 7/8 then figured it out over the next Christmas or so.

Bufftailed · 13/09/2026 19:35

9 I think it was

Herecomesthesundoodoodo · 13/09/2026 19:37

DD1 was 8 and DD was 5.

MagicThanks · 13/09/2026 19:39

Mine is 10 and admitted she didn’t believe last Christmas, but I think really she was 8. Youngest is 8 - not sure if he still believes but I think he’ll cotton on soon if so.

CraftyGin · 13/09/2026 19:40

They never believed in Father Christmas

Bunnycat101 · 13/09/2026 19:43

My 10 year old knows. She’s had her suspicions a while back but this summer she caught me being the tooth fairy so it sort of killed everything. She’s quite excited to try and set things up with me like the elf for her younger sister who at 7 is still firmly in the believe camp.

I’m quite relieved to be honest. Last Christmas she was trying to catch us out and each evening we were getting later and later with the soddding elf and then on Christmas Eve we were up mega late. The magic going is a bit sad but with the younger sibling it last a bit longer. I’m also hoping some of the stress disappears and she also understands a bit more about value and expectations.

bluebirdssing · 13/09/2026 19:45

Mine never believed.

zebrastripesarefun · 13/09/2026 19:47

8 and 9 years old but think had doubts a little while beforehand. Would never let them have went to secondary school believing as would be a laughing stock Thankfully worked it out by themselves but still got excited at Christmas

BirdLandedonmyHead · 13/09/2026 19:47

My teens recently told me thry had worked it out years before they stopped "believing", but it was fun to pretend. And they were worried it wouldnt be as fun without it.

AnnaMagnani · 13/09/2026 19:52

Depends when you ask them - no child is going to admit they don't believe the day before presents arrive. In the summer they may well be happy to express doubts.

Children play along with the adults too, by the time they admit they don't belive they may have been joining in on the game for ages.

Bunnyofhope · 13/09/2026 19:59

DS certainly didn't believe the Christmas just before he was six. I'm not sure he ever really believed to be honest.

Jojoanna · 13/09/2026 20:02

My DS was quite young maybe 4/5 he just thought it was impossible for a man to come down a chimney and visit everybody in one night

SeptemberRains · 13/09/2026 20:02

One of mine was a complete skeptic from about 5. He asked me straight out at 8. DD also asked at 8.

Dr13Hadley · 13/09/2026 20:03

Both of mine were around 9. I was also 9 when I outright asked my mum and she told me.

PumpkinSpicedTea · 13/09/2026 20:05

What's the poem or saying I've seen people talk about when explaining it to their children? If anyone knows what I mean 😂

SquigglePigs · 13/09/2026 20:06

DD is 7 and definitely has doubts but shd is hanging on at the mo.

She's picked apart the tooth fairy idea so I don't think Father Christmas is far behind.

ShittyGlitter · 13/09/2026 20:06

I’m 43 and I still believe

TomHanksIsMyHero · 13/09/2026 20:08

My 7yo still believes….doesn’t believe is God or Jesus though, too unrealistic and never seen them 🤔😂

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 13/09/2026 20:09

6 and 9

The 6 year old told the 9 year old.

TheGriffle · 13/09/2026 20:09

Mine are 13 and 9 and neither have come out and told me they don’t believe so I’ll continue the pretence! I don’t think either of them actually still believe though. The youngest if she does is definitely questioning after I got a grilling on the tooth fairy.

We do a watered down version anyway, they know we buy their presents, Santa brings them one present and their stocking only and we’ve never done the elf on the shelf.

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