Age when children no longer believe in Santa

[CurlyNo2]

My son is 6 and I am really enjoying this age and the magic of Santa and Christmas and it got me wondering how many more years do we have before he no longer believes.

What age was your child when they no longer believed in Santa?

How did this transition happen to your child and what was their reaction when they found out?

DS age 7 told me he is pretty sure the tooth fairy is mum and dad but he still thinks Santa is real.

I am not very into Santa tbh, it's DH who thinks it is fun to believe. I

Mine are 18 and 14 and the words ‘Santa is not real’ or anything along those lines has never ever been uttered in our house. We take it very seriously, just keep the magic going!!

And just to add to it, they have just put the mince pie and glass of milk out and we as usual have just watched the snowman together which is what we do every year. I go to the effort of using different wrapping paper for their stocking presents so it’s not the same as their ‘proper’ presents and we are waiting until midnight to fill their stockings undercover. And yes you read that right: 18 and 14 😂.

My eldest daughter was 7.

Mine is 11 and this is the first year I'm fairly sure he doesn't believe due to a couple of things he's said. But like PP said I'm not going to have a sit down conversation about it not being real.
My parents never did with me.
Stocking still goes up, mine pie and glass of baileys gets left out etc

He was really excited tonight 😊

Growing up doesn't mean the magic has to end

37, never been told. Tucked my own DC up and have done their FC stockings.... my own mother has never confirmed to me because in our family we believe with our hearts also 🎄

My eldest I told her at 11 to avoid any embarrassment at High school. My youngest is 10. I think she gets it but has a better imagination and loves make believe. I think she is on the cusp and wants to believe just in case, again I'll confirm before High school.

My dd was 11. There had been playground rumours a she wasn’t surprised. When she told me she knew, I confirmed it and said, “well I knew you’d find out one day, but you have enjoyed Christmas and Easter so much and you still will.” Dd gave a little wail and said, “Not the Easter Bunny too! Oh mum! …. Wait a minute is the tooth fairy … waaaah!”

worst. day. ever 🤭

DS1 was (he says) 6 or 7…and that would be the year when he gave me a smug grin and said ‘Santa knows I don’t like chocolate this year, doesn’t he’ rather pointedly (until then I’d snaffled his stocking chocolates). He didn’t let on and I wasn’t certain until this year (he’s 10). DS2 (6) still believes but is testing us rather:

1. Letter written but he wasn’t going to hand it over because Santa would know what he’d written.
2. When letter was extracted (thanks to DS1) it proclaimed his wishes for various superpowers (unlike previous years where there have been toys on it).
3. He wanted to leave a carrot for each of the reindeer…he was dissuaded on the basis that they all get a share and lots of people leave them treats.

I suspect we’ll get at most one more year. Which is a little sad but such is life.

DS1 figured it out today I think, though I think he is still keen to play along - he's 11.

That’s really sad you all didn’t believe, I still remember fully believing and my son believing. I can’t imagine never having that joy of believing in it all.

lovely hearing everyone’s stories of their believers tonight. May you never be too old to search the skies on Christmas Eve

I've never met a 2 year old that had any concept of what Santa was. You must know loads of very advanced kids.

I was very young when my dad told me and I've never really forgiven him- it was the beginning of a realisation he was a pretty shitty father all round. I think I was 6.

I will do everything I can to keep the magic for my two DSs!

My daughter I think still believes the way she asked for so much and she’s 22!
son 11 hasn’t ever really believed he’s so wierd he just was like mum why are you telling me a man comes in my room tell him to get out from about 4.

Mine is nine and announced last year that Santa wasn't real.

This evening he asked to put the mince pie and carrot out and we asked him why. He burst into tears and eventually admitted that not having Santa spoilt Christmas. We had a cuddle and all watched the carol concert to create an 'alternative tradition' which cheered him up. Felt awful though. He was so sad.

DS is 9 and I can’t tell whether he still believes or he is pretending just in case he doesn’t get presents 😂 either way pretty sure this will be the last year he believes.

Doesn't believe AFTER 2? When my dd was 2 she barely had any clue who or what Santa even was. She is 4 now and I'd say only fully gets it this year. How odd.

Ah @Nimbostratus100 I'm sad for you and your kids. It's so much fun and sets wonderful traditions that go on beyond childhood.
Have to say I'm very surprised that you haven't met any "believers" (quote marks like yours) past age 3. If it wasn't Christmas I might think you were trying to be goady. But who would state such amazingly unlikely statements at Christmas just to stir up people? So you really must be real and I will "believe" you and wonder what kind of people you've met in your life!
Anyway, I'll still waiting for mine to be fully asleep so the magic can continue.

Our eldest was 8-9 although he hedged his bets just in case up to secondary, and keeps the magic alive for his 6yo brother now even though he's almost 15

I think if you can get most of the way through primary school, you're doing well.

Growing up doesn't mean the magic has to end

Too right!

Tisfortired my DS is 9 as well and is exactly the same about it as yours! He asked me if I was Santa this year and I said no, I'm not a fat man with a beard!
When we didn't post his letter to Santa I told him it was because of the strikes so we emailed it to [email protected] and he really seemed to believe! Tonight he was busy sprinkling magic reindeer food outside where his Santa Stop sign is. Bless him. I never want it to end.

My oldest is 9 and I'm 50/50 in whether he still believes or not sometimes I'm 100% he does then he's say or do something and I'm not so sure. I think he doesn't want to say he doesn't believe in case he misses out on a present. I think it is the last year for him I'm just glad he's come to the realisation himself.

I draw the line before big school.

What 2 yo understands the concept of Santa?!?!

DS is nearly 4 and an ardent believer of course, but I can't really remember believing in Santa as a child. I can remember having a conversation with my mum-she says I was around 4 or 5- when I said I think you and daddy are Santa, and she decided just to come clean. I don't think I was particularly upset. Interestingly, I found the tooth fairy entirely plausible- maybe because she doesn't have to be in so many places at once 😆

My sister believed in Santa until she was about 10. I can still remember feeling intensely excited about the stocking becoming full overnight despite knowing full well it was mum and dad- it still seemed a bit magical.

Mine is 10 and this is the year I don't think she believes. But as she has a 3 year old sister who is high as a kite and has met him and he also came to nursery - she's doing a belting job in playing along with it. 😍