Has your DC ever seen past Father Christmas's disguise?

[TooTiredtoGoogle]

DD (3.6) totally believes in Father Christmas and couldn't believe it when she actually 'met' him in a grotto the other day.
Her nursery are also doing a grotto and the premises manager will be dressing up as FC. Apparently, when this has happened in the past, some of the children at nursery do recognise him. I'm convinced DD will recognise him too. Part of me doesn't want her to see him, part of me just wants to tell her that it's the premises manager dressed up ... WWYD?

When my DD was 4 she knew it was a different FC to the one she'd met when she was 3.

If the manager is familiar to your DD I'd say there's a fair chance of recognition, and a very high likelihood she'll know its not the 'real' one she met the other day.

In which case perhaps best explain from the outset that Mr X is helping FC

(but shhh don't tell your friends, its a secret!)

I did when I was 2, but it was my dad. That said my 9 year old brother didn't realise

My Mum told us at a very young age that the Santa in the grotto wasn't the real one because the real one was too busy getting ready for Christmas. The Santa in the grotto was helping out. We accepted that quite happily - after all, we still got the presents! I was quite a late believer in FC, too....

DH dresses up as santa to fill the DC's stockings just in case they wake up. When DS1 was 3 he half woke up and sleepily said "daddy get back to bed. father christmas is coming"

I told my dc from the outset that any santa you see in a shop/fair is a pretend santa. They're all just dressing up as Santa. That way, you get a few more years out it.

my dd is nearly 8 and I think the rational part of her brain has figured it out but she's in denial!!! I thnk after christmas, if she asks me outright I'll fess up.

I was the most guilable child ever and still thought my uncle with a white fake beard was Father Christmas until I was a grand old age. I think my 5 year old would be totally sucked in but when My eldest child was 4 and visiting the grotto when he said 'Last years father Christmas had a much lower voice than this years one- and he had grey fur ( nasal hair) in his ears- but this one doesn't. which on is the REAl one- because you said there is only one father Christmas'

The FC you see in town and shops, etc are not the real FC. He is far too busy in Lapland at the moment sorting presents and packing the sleigh. But he has an army of very specially chosen helpers who go out and meet children and hear their wishes and whether they have been god or not, and they report back.

Yup, 4.5 dd said 'father christmas came to nursery but he sounded like a lady and had flowery boots so I don't think he was the real FC'. We discussed whether it might be a helper or someone trying to pretend to be FC to make children happy or something.
she said 'Yes, I didn't say anything cos I didn't want him to be sad' (who says kids can't be tactful?! )

She is convinced that the one she saw last week is the real FC though!

yes my daughter said someone dressed up as father christmas at school today. She is 4.

My son has also seen pictures and said thats not the same santa etc he's nearly 6. we went to see the real santa last week, and my mum took him to see his helper at the weekend!

They are both well aware people dress up as him to help him, its hard not to because there are santas everywhere!!!