At what age do kids stop believing in Father Christmas???

[MilaMae]

Also what age is best to do the London visiting Santa thing??? Don't want to miss the boat.

I was about 10

He ain't ever real to ours!

I was about 10 too. My nephew is 10 and still believes, bless his cotton socks, and his sister age 8 does too.

(psst, word of caution, there was a big hoohah last year about people putting such stuff in their thread titles as their kids were reading the titles over their shoulders.)

Ds1 has got to nine and he's asked us this year as his friends at school are obviously finding out what really happens on Xmas eve too. We've told him the truth (which was as he suspected) and he's fine with it and still excited for his younger siblings and has promised not to say anything to them. I think it kind of makes him feel more grown up to be in on the 'secret'.

i was about 7/8.
mum never gave me a straight answer when i asked her but,as my Dad usually worked shifts,she made the most of his Christmas Eve "off";got terribly "merry"....never drunk!....and was sick all over the stairs.Dad didn't have a clue what to do with pressies,so put them all round my bedroom.(previously-apart from stocking-everything was left downstairs). I watched him doing everything and knew from that day on that Mr Claus was non-existent!I was almost 9.
My dd1 (9) is unsure.
ds1 has never questioned him to me.
ds2 still lives in that lovely fairyland where everything is wonderful!

I think when the time comes aero that is how I will play it. I am fairly sure that my 6yo is still fully believing.

i was primary 5. so 8 yo. 8yo sounds young to me but primary 5s at school these days (am teacher) seem very clued in and i'd be surprised if many of them still believed...

Thanks for that. Got a few years yet then, no need to panic. Mine are 3 and 4. Relieved to hear about 8, I thought from my teaching days there used to be some pointed questioning in year 1. Not entirely sure one of my dts is a true beliver, always looks like he's humouring me.

NOT a good thread titiel!!!

Sorry about the title can I edit it????

ok, qick hijack...have to tell you of a couple of little xmas cons to dupe your youngest on xmas eve (they'll need to be really young to fall for this)

1. get DP to go upstairs and put on a santa- like voice. set up baby monitor and hide it near the chimney. get DP to yo ho ho over the monitor(whilst dcs huddle round fire place) telling the LOs to get to bed as he'll be back soon with their presents.

2. tell the dc that santa only comes when he knows you are asleep. tell tham that if they listen carefully, they should be able to hear the sleigh bells, and when they do, they must fall asleep fast! then open bedroom window and listen carefully to DP gently jingly percussion bells at the end of the garden...the look on their little faces was priceless. (dds were 2.5 and 4)

My mum used to go out in the garden and ring little bells when we were all in bed - it used to get us so excited! Why haven't I done that for mine yet ? How mean!

Also you can go on the Nordic website tracking Santa's progress on Christmas Eve - makes it look all official.

Do the usual leaving out mince pie/carrot etc - but make sure to leave crumbs, gnawed (I use potato peeler to gain the effect) end of carrot etc.

A santa footprint in flour or something?

Now you see I did a thread where I asked mnhq if you canedit thread titles and everyone s&id that there was nio need and no you can't. But you see thereis a need for it!

Ignore them all you didn't lmean it and mine don't believe anyway so what do I care!

sorry aboput keyboard, tis playing up

I am sorry Mine are still non readers so didn't think. Can't do anything about it now. Thanks for the info MM. Hope I haven't ruined Christmas Beadgirl.

I love you!

MM i agree, there is a need! a while back i started an AIBU thread, but my OP was a bit ambiguous. as a result , i had loads of people getting the wrong end of the stick and attacking me! many times i explained and clarified...it made no differnce!(sorry to hijack again)

sorry too many !!!!!!

Well my 6yo would read it easily but fortunately has been in bed for several hours.

Don't worry - they are in bed now. Let's hope it has dropped off active convs by tomorrow.

Bozza - Nordic website ? That sounds fantastic! Will definitely be checking that out!

noonar - cracker ideas!

DS is 8 in a couple of weeks and still believes. He's asked a few questions ("just how does he get through the chimney" etc) but nothing too probing so far.