How old were your children when they stopped believing in Santa?

[SandyChick]

My 6.5 year old says he knows I buy his presents. I've tried convincing him but he doesn't believe me. It doesn't help that he's found some presents at his grandparents house.

Surely 6 is too young to not believe?

That was a bit frantic wasn't it , to be fair only had 3 hours sleep last night due to poorly DS2

Dramatic not frantic!

Eldest was about 8 when she realised but only stockings come from Santa in our house so it wasn't too dramatic a revelation. I told her that she couldn't let her younger brothers know yet as it was part of growing up. I think she enjoyed the feeling of being grown up and of keeping the secret.
The other 2 knew by about 7. They still have stockings now at 17,20 and 21 so nothing much has changed!

DD is 8 and a half and she still believes. Would not be surprised if DS (6) realises first!

DD1 "confronted" (in a nice way) us last year aged 9.

Another mumsnetter had a really nice way of explaining it on another thread. Something along the lines of Santa just being one way to describe the magic of Christmas...

My just 11 yr old still believes, but he knows mummy and daddy buy all the bits, wrap them and send them to Santa and Santa brings them back.

DS is 8, nearly 9, and still believes, I never thought we'd get past 5, 6 at the outside. I think this will be his last year, though (but then I thought that last year).

My dd is 9 and thought it would be this year.
yesterday she saw Santa and reindeer in a parade through our town.
She said I know that's not the real Father Christmas as he wouldn't come here just for this.
Ah, bless. I'm not sure we'll get another year though.
I think if you have the imagination, are quick thinking in your responses you can carry it on as long as you like.
OP, tell him anything in sincerity and he'll believe you if this is what you want.

I dont think you should lie to them,if you want to do the fatherchristmas thing then do it,but once they ask i think its fair to tell them actually its just a fun story.christmas is still fun.

notapizzaeater

that does not make sense though,does it not worry you that an 11 year old doesnt question not only the existence of father christmas,but laso that you buy presents,wrap them,send them to him,which he then returns????what a rubbish story,at least do it properly!I wouldnt of swallowed that at any age.

My 9yo has asked questions this year and last year but I am managing to still keep it going but mainly because he wants to believe it I think - or more likely he thinks presents won't come if he doesn't!

My dc are 7 and 10 and still believe! Ds (10) says his friends told him it was parents so I thought that would be that. But he wrote his letter yesterday and it is ready to be sent!

He has only just worked out about the tooth fairy though, so may take some time.

My two (11 & 13) refuse to stop believing. They know the truth but refuse to accept it Personally, I think they just want to keep getting the present from Santa as well as the one from us!

My dd will be eight just after christmas and still believes whole heartedly, have no idea how as I don't make a huge deal about father christmas. They think he brings them a stocking and one present and I get them the rest so if they ever find presents they wouldn't then not believe.

notapizzaeater that's what I do too! They know that people buy the stuff, they magically transport it to Santa, and then if they've been good, he delivers it on Christmas Eve
Stockings are definitely from Santa though.....

I've just been checking with friends whether or not theirs still believe........ my DS will be 11 in March and is in Yr 7 so thought he might have heard the truth. But no inklings so far. Can't let him start secondary school still believing as think he'll get ripped to pieces but might see if we can just get through this one last Christmas

I told DS just this summer. He was 9.
DH and I had agreed the next time he asked we would tell him.

He was furious !!!!

Sorry, meant DS is in Yr 6, so last year of primary!

Not mine yet and they're 7 and 9.

WE BELIEVE.

Mine do realise that Santas at grottos etc are just people dressed up as the real Santa is busy though.

I'm not so sure that Santa isn't real myself tbh.

I still listen out for the sleigh bells....

My 12 year old announced in the car last week that Santa wasn't real - his 13 year old brother was devastated.

They are really clever btw - they are just quite innocent and I was really good at batting back the questions when they were younger.

I've never said Father Christmas not Santa buys the presents which gives us a bit of wiggle room.

He leaves a stocking with small bits and bobs and a letter.

The reason we did this is we have had some years better than others so presents have varied. Also what about when they get to school and other kids have more presents, will they think they haven't been "good" enough that year.

Dd is almost 9 and still believes. She almost busted me on the tooth fairy though.

I'm quite shocked at how young some of these canny children are, working it all out at 6 or below! DS only started believing last year, aged 3- I was hoping for a good few years yet!

I carried on believing for quite a while - I was probably 11 or so when I spoke to my mum about it- but I think I knew deep down. I just carried on believing because I wanted to! Christmas definitely wasn't as good after that...