Quick help! 8yo asking if Santa is real

[Helpmeout124]

What do I say? It might be time but at the same time I can't bring myself to ruin all the magic with only weeks to go 💔 he will be 9 in January. I've said we will talk about it once I've got his sisters to bed to buy myself some time

Santa is real to those who believe in him. If he chooses not to believe he isn't real, if he chooses to believe he is real. Keep it simple and still magical, just tell him it's his choice if santa is real or not

I never said he wasn't real. Mine just figured it out and went along with it as I said if you don't believe in him he doesn't visit!
He still comes to us and they are now 17 & 22.The stockings get much much smaller with age though!

It's a nice pretend we do to make Christmas fun, now you know the secret we can make it fun together.

There was once a kind nice man who gave gifts to orphans (St Nicholas of Turkey) and everyone thought that was such a nice idea we carry on his spirit of giving.

Definitely this. The magic of Xmas is in the believing! And I’m facilitating it for others - so if he doesn’t believe any more, then he’s part of keeping the magic alive for younger kids.

DS is 8 and I’m so sad that people at school are already getting cynical!! He’s only just started understanding Xmas it feels like!!! (Of course it’s been about 6 years)

DS1 asked this when he was 6 and I just told him the truth. Made a game of keeping up the pretence for his younger brother.
It's up to you, I was never very keen on the superstition anyway.

He probably knows or at least suspects, so I would be honest. But keep it about the magic, especially as you have little ones.

I don't think my five year old is entirely convinced... 😬

I'm like this. Definitely tell the truth.
I did with my dd. I couldn't bring myself to lie tbh.

Could you ask him what HE thinks? Ask him why he is questioning it and go from there.

I don't know if I could bring myself to outright lie so maybe go from the point of asking his opinion and go with that.

You could say 'it's fine to believe in Santa, and it's fine not to'

It's a tricky one

DD asked this after last Xmas. She's 10 and DH said if you want the magic to continue don't ask so many questions and she went ok. So I think she knows but said she believes

I've done it, he said santa was "sus" 😂

I said what the lady said above santa is real for those who believe and not real if they don't. He asked me to tell him the truth so I did. Then I just said there's 2 things he has to do now 1. He can't tell anyone else because he wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone else. And number 2. He has to be a magic maker now with me and his dad. He's excited to do this. I've told him he can ring some jingle bells on Christmas Eve in another room for his little sisters.

he then said wait... so do you eat the cookies?

It's also a great idea to congratulations him on working it out even when he probably wished it was true - it's a really important life skill. I believe children ask outright when they are ready to know and lying to them at that point isn't good.