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?

Dd worked out at 7 (she's now 8). I was never really happy with the whole Santa thing and I am truly relieved that she knows. We'll still play the game - but it's just a pretending game now. I did wonder if I would be sad because everyone else seems to be sad when they stop believing - but I really am not.

My girls still both believe. DD1 is 9½ and DD2 is 7

The rule in our house is that Santa only brings presents to children who believe in him. Hence DD2 (7 yo) absolutely believes but is concerned about the logistics of making everything in the North Pole and distributing it in one night; DS (10) is sceptical but believes in technology so the NORAD site keeps him on message; and DS and DD (13 and 15) don't breathe a word about him one way or the other!!!

I have a couple of lovely Christmas photos from when the DTs (now 6.5) were about 2/3, screaming to be taken off Santa's knee. But they've been ardent converts for the last couple of years.

Some doubt is circulating around Y2 now and so far we've sidestepped the questioning. We do them a personal video on the "Portable North Pole" website (free) which seems to cement belief for a little longer. You don't have to buy anything, but you will get loads of e-mails encouraging you to do so...

That and half-eaten carrots and mince pies on Christmas morning.

My DTs are 9 1/2 & still believe, to the point that, a classmate told them last week there was no such thing & they'd never heard in anything so ridiculous & apparently Santa is "fact...end of!!"

They also still believe in The Tooth Fairy & Easter Bunny, even though the Easter Bunny sacked them a couple of years ago & I do them a treasure hunt.

I have visions of them walking down the aisle & me having to tell their DHs to make sure to fill a stocking

dd does, or at least won't dare to discuss it.

I tried to sound her out a little the other week, her reply

'are you about to tell me something that will ruin my life?'

me 'no, no, if you believe he comes!'

I was prob more relieved than she was as i like the magic! she's 11.

It's fun.

We don't do Santa.
Here is France I have never seen a chilf believe after the age of 6.

Interesting reading as my eldest ds is 7 so I'm wondering how long he will believe for!

He is very questioning so I have had dilemmas about how to answer him in the past. I am totally unimaginative and struggle with "lying" to dc but in a harsh world I do like the idea that there is this one time of year where there is some "real" magic about!!!

So I tend to be v vague "what do you think?" And "oh well it's magic I don't know how it works"!!! My 4 yr old is much less questioning!

DS is 6 and still believes. He is a very curious little soul, but has not yet questioned anything Santa related. I think that if he really thought about it he would know it can't be true, but he chooses not to think about it too deeply, because he wants to believe in it. I suspect a lot of other children are similar.

DD1 and DS 8/9 (realised at around the same time and discussed it - they are very close in age). DD2 5 (they told her, despite my asking them not to).

Mine are both teenagers and havent really believed for years BUT they still love playing along with it for my sake