okay.

at what age do you think it's okay to tell kids that their is no such thing as santa?

I was told when I was around 7 that santa wasn't actually real, but I'm now 30 and continue to believe.

I'm one of these people who believe that kids shouldn't actually be told at all.. if they want to grow up believing in father christmas, let them. it's a cute thing to carry over from childhood

what do you think.

[TishaBuv]

I agree with ‘never’. They’ll hear it at school from another kids and ask you to confirm if it’s true. Then it becomes like a ‘wink’ sort of thing and everyone just plays along, like the tooth fairy. It’s fun to believe!

[LiteraryLark]

I heard rumors while at the boys and girls club that Santa wasn't real. About the same time, I found out when on Christmas Eve in 4th grade I saw my parents working on presents, and it hit me. I wrote them a nasty letter complete with drawings and it upset my parents. I believe that was the year we got the PS1, and I just stared at it in disbelief thinking there was no way my parents could have gotten that for me and my brother....shortly after Christmas, I overheard my mom talking with my aunt about how I found out Santa wasn't real and that soon they'll be telling my brother...so then it became "official".

I still believe in Santa, at least in what he represents. I loved setting out cookies for Santa and carrots and celery for the reindeer, and in second grade Mrs. O had us write letters for Santa, and soon after we got letters back and I remember how excited she was about how our letters came from the North Pole and she had us feel the envelope, and it was icy cold. I like how technology has granted us the Santa Tracker...it was around even when I was little, and I like to see where Santa's at in the world, even today. If I can find it, my mom made a Santa dispatch over the radio, it was very cool. The one thing that keeps me believing in Santa is the one time my brother and I actually saw Santa flying in his sled over the apartments one year, and then as we went to sleep hearing bells. I am not making this up! My brother doesn't believe it/remember it anymore, but we looked out our window and off in the distance we saw the silhouette of Santa and his reindeer flying over our apartment complex. I can see it as clear as day (or night) in my mind.

I think the most important thing about Santa is the magic of believing in the Christmas spirit, like the Polar Express.

I don't have children, but I will do exactly what my parents did to celebrate the magic of Christmas. Personally, I'll let them figure it out on their own, but I'll emphasize what Santa stands for, what he represents, and I will make sure they don't spoil Santa for other children. Come Christmas time, lots of naughty children spread nasty rumors, but I won't let my children be like that whether or not they believe. I want them to experience what I experienced as a child, but I want them to understand they don't necessarily have to "grow out of" Santa to appreciate the joy of Christmas.

I hope that makes sense.

[eskielover]

I never believed in Santa. That was not what Christmas was about in our family & it didn't tie in besides as a kid when I saw different santa's around all over the place it didn't make sny sense to me so I had no desire to believe in something that made no sense to me.

[Mountaindewed]

I just became suspicious on my own around age 8. I think what sparked my suspicion was that Santa had the same handwriting as my mom. Also Christmas Eve 2000 my dad took my siblings and I out for the day for pizza and to see the Jim Carey Grinch movie. When we got back my mom was standing at the kitchen table and there was a scrap of wrapping paper on the table. Years later she told us she would have my dad take us out so she could wrap presents.

I still follow where Santa is on the online NATO tracker on Christmas Eve. I think it’s just a really fun thing to do. I love finding out when he’s in my town. I don’t believe but I just like the spirit of it.

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

I heard rumors while at the boys and girls club that Santa wasn't real. About the same time, I found out when on Christmas Eve in 4th grade I saw my parents working on presents, and it hit me. I wrote them a nasty letter complete with drawings and it upset my parents. I believe that was the year we got the PS1, and I just stared at it in disbelief thinking there was no way my parents could have gotten that for me and my brother....shortly after Christmas, I overheard my mom talking with my aunt about how I found out Santa wasn't real and that soon they'll be telling my brother...so then it became "official".

I still believe in Santa, at least in what he represents. I loved setting out cookies for Santa and carrots and celery for the reindeer, and in second grade Mrs. O had us write letters for Santa, and soon after we got letters back and I remember how excited she was about how our letters came from the North Pole and she had us feel the envelope, and it was icy cold. I like how technology has granted us the Santa Tracker...it was around even when I was little, and I like to see where Santa's at in the world, even today. If I can find it, my mom made a Santa dispatch over the radio, it was very cool. The one thing that keeps me believing in Santa is the one time my brother and I actually saw Santa flying in his sled over the apartments one year, and then as we went to sleep hearing bells. I am not making this up! My brother doesn't believe it/remember it anymore, but we looked out our window and off in the distance we saw the silhouette of Santa and his reindeer flying over our apartment complex. I can see it as clear as day (or night) in my mind.

I think the most important thing about Santa is the magic of believing in the Christmas spirit, like the Polar Express.

I don't have children, but I will do exactly what my parents did to celebrate the magic of Christmas. Personally, I'll let them figure it out on their own, but I'll emphasize what Santa stands for, what he represents, and I will make sure they don't spoil Santa for other children. Come Christmas time, lots of naughty children spread nasty rumors, but I won't let my children be like that whether or not they believe. I want them to experience what I experienced as a child, but I want them to understand they don't necessarily have to "grow out of" Santa to appreciate the joy of Christmas.

I hope that makes sense.

interesting post, and thanks for sharing your memories.
so a question, do you think that telling kids about santa (and then them finding out) ruins it?

example: you tell your kids their's a santa, then they see you leaving the gifts beneath the tree- they'll watch something like the polar express and think, yada yada, what a load of rubbish.. santa isn't even real

is it just easier not to tell them anything and let them make up their own mind

do you know where I'm coming from

I love Christmas but I don’t care either way if kids believe in Santa or not. My mother told me when I was six that I went to her and told her I knew Santa was not real. That was the end of my believing, but I’m not against people wanting their kids to believe longer or if they find out sooner. I don’t recall if I was particularly devastated when I realized Santa wasn’t real because I was very young. I still enjoyed all the Christmas cartoons and movies and I still enjoy them to this day.

[healingme4me]

I let my kids believe as long as possible. This is the 1st year of everyone "knowing" the truth. My youngest will turn 12 in January. They all found out in school. The buck stops in grade 6. When my other two sons found out, they were ok about not sharing as the knowing trickled down.
I forget what age it was for me. I think allowing kids to believe keeps some "magic" in the holiday.

[eskielover]

Never taught my daughter about Santa as we celebrate Christmas starting with Advent & through Epiphny....but my inlaws hated that our daughter didn't believe in santa. They always had a Christmas eve party that we went to after going to our Christmas Eve service at church. My SIL knew a lot of stunt people & people from the movie industry as her BF was a stunt man. They arranged for someone to come to the door dressed as Santa.....(for the other little kids there too) & intentionally had our daughter answer the door (she might have been 4 or 5). She looked at him.....said Santa as we told her the original story of who St. Nicholas was & did & she saw Santas in the malls. Anyway she closed the door on him & came back & told them who was at the door. It was a fun evening for all the kids there & it didn't bother me that they did this....gave the kids some fun at kinda an adult party.

[Mountaindewed]

Another thing that made me suspicious was the Christmas I was 6 I was unwrapping my last gift and I heard my dad ask my mom what it was and she told him it was slippers. In my mind if Santa was real how would my mom know what was in the wrapping paper and why would my dad be asking her anyways? They say kids are resilient and don’t pick up on stuff or pay attention. I paid attention to a lot more then I think my parents realized. I don’t know. Maybe I was just a weird kid.

[eskielover]

They say kids are resilient and don’t pick up on stuff or pay attention. I paid attention to a lot more then I think my parents realized. I don’t know. Maybe I was just a weird kid.

I picked up on a lot of things that went on in my childhood....I just didn't totally understand what I was experiencing or why until it became clear a few years ago. Stuff even my parents were to dysfunctional to understand & excused things away on things that had nothing to do with what was going on but it made them feel better about themselves. I sensed it but couldn't put my finger on it as a kid. It's not being weird it being AWARE.

[scatterbrained04]

Christmas is more special when they still believe. I let my son believe as long as possible. He got suspicious in 5th grade, and he quit believing at all in 6th grade. Other kids usually spill the beans to them, so I don't see any reason to tell them.

[Blueberrybook]

I figured it out when I was in 2nd grade. I am not sure if my daughter believes or not. If not, she pretends she does. She turns 11 on Dec. 14. I am planning by being sure she knows at the of the school year. She is in 5th grade, her last year of elementary school.

H said his mom was livid because he had a teacher who told them the truth in 1st grade.

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by eskielover

I picked up on a lot of things that went on in my childhood....I just didn't totally understand what I was experiencing or why until it became clear a few years ago. Stuff even my parents were to dysfunctional to understand & excused things away on things that had nothing to do with what was going on but it made them feel better about themselves. I sensed it but couldn't put my finger on it as a kid. It's not being weird it being AWARE.

I feel like my parents should have been more careful with some of the stuff they did. And put their foot down and just said no on some other stuff. But they were very supportive so I guess that’s all that matters.

[Succulents333]

When I was seven I got suspicious and went around the house collecting evidence (cards and snacks we had given to santa that had somehow ended up in the bin) and laid them out on my bed and demanded an explanation from my mom, that's when she confirmed my suspicions and told me santa wasn't real, I was disappointed but also proud cause I thought I was the best detective ever. That memory always makes me smile.

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by Succulents333

When I was seven I got suspicious and went around the house collecting evidence (cards and snacks we had given to santa that had somehow ended up in the bin) and laid them out on my bed and demanded an explanation from my mom, that's when she confirmed my suspicions and told me santa wasn't real, I was disappointed but also proud cause I thought I was the best detective ever. That memory always makes me smile.

It is a good feeling when you realize you are the best detective ever & no one had to tell you because you put the pieces together & figured it out by yourself

[SeekerOfLife]

I always said Santa was "make-believe". I told them the truth. If I want them to be honest, I must be honest. If I had told them Santa was real, and they came to realize I was making it up, then would they believe in our heavenly Father? We cannot see our heavenly Father with our eyes, but I know He is real. I believe this causes confusion in a child's mind.

Christmas or The Nativity is supposed to be about the birth of the Savior of the world. Truth seekers long awaited and looked for this. It is supposed to be about the Christ, our Anointed One, the One who came to give us hope for the forgiveness of our sins, and a future in heaven (with Him !!!).

[amandalouise]

my children are raised right off with understanding the Santa story. complete with how it began with a real live person, a monk who gave the children and adults in his town toys and presents, how people places and things become legends, and how this built into what we have today. My children also are growing up with the native american ways. Every christmas season we go to the north pole events so that they can understand about the concepts and understand that though the very first santa claus is long gone everyone can be a "santa Claus" just by being kind and caring and if you see someone in need help them, pick someone that they feel would like something from "santa"

in other words we dont believe in theres no santa. we believe there was a santa and there will always be santa's as long as children and adults carry on what the season and legend represents.

in other words no reason to tell my children there is no santa because there is a santa. there are thousands, millions and trillions of Santa's out there in the world today. it just takes taking the time to see the love, caring and positive things in each other, rather than the negative, and striking out at each other.

Im a santa, my children are santa, my wife is santa. those that give their time and energy to help the homeless are santa, those that give to another for no reason are santa's...

yes virgina (to quote the movie) there is a santa claus I will forever believe in santa as long as there are good caring people in the world and so will my children.

heres a thought,. maybe reread your posts and see if you see santa in yourselves? One of my children had to do a school activity of reading their past journal entries and see if they saw santa in them selves. I am happy to say those that keep journals in my house all saw santa in them selves

I teetered between "between 5 and 8" and "you should never tell them about santa and just be honest with them."

I found out when I was 8. Maybe 9 but I think 8. I just knew there was no Santa, and I confronted my mom about it, who was honest with me. I then spilled the beans to my best friend and unintentionally ruined her whole day. I was literally like "Guess what? There's no such thing as Santa." I was shocked that she still believed. She was kind of an alpha mean girl and I felt she was better than me at so much. Not at this though.

[amandalouise]

I was just re reading the pole options and remembered a strange situation that happened to a friend of mine and his children. He and the childs mother decided to never take part in the legend of Santa, started raising their children with we give each other presents and never told the children about Santa. flash forwards to when the first of 4 entered kindergarten. with the christmas season in mind the teacher handed out coloring papers that had different pictures in one sheet. one of the pictures was Santa by the christmas tree and a little girl peaking around the corner. pretty harmless right. Wrong. the teacher was going through each of the 4 pictures on the paper and was explaining the story each picture on the paper represented. Teacher and school thought this was a harmless way to let the children know that people celebrate in different ways and beliefs. Teacher gets to the last one and this little girl bursts into tears, why? she was afraid some stranger in a red suit was going to jump down her fireplace. Another child in the room had no idea about santa and was afraid this stranger was going to get in the fire place fire.

Teacher ended up calling all the parents, explaining the situation and having the parents come in to the school for a meeting about how public school system handles holidays and what the children will need to know about the various holidays/ special days through out the year that is dealt with in school so that for example when the class is discussing memorial day, veterans day, easter, thanksgiving and others this situation of children not being told about things does not leave them in a highly triggering situation of being blind sided by it in school.

my wife and I decided to educate our children not only because of this but also we have a TV, computers, cell phones, tablets, in today's world with all that we have that children now have access to there's no way to keep them from knowing about santa. let alone going shopping and theres Salvation army person dressed up like santa, theres store employees dressed up like santa. everywhere you look theres santa sometimes as early as October and november. trying to keep our children clueless about santa would have been like keeping them clueless on the fact that they have two mommies that are married to each other, or that box over there in the corner of the room is a tv and this is a computer. and the guy down the street with a sign doesnt have a home.

There's only so much we parents can protect our children from, Santa is one of those things that children are going to know about if not from us their parents then from their school friends, children on the local playground, the church they attend, the school they attend or just going shopping or out for a walk. Santa isnt this "behind closed bedroom doors" situation. its out there and our children were going to know about this dude called santa. All my wife and I could control was how we wanted to deal with this. let them get blind sided and fearful or hey guys look at santa, do you remember when we read that book about the very first santa....

[SvanThor]

I think telling a child that Santa doesn't exist isn't a good idea. I think it would be detrimental for them to know that their parents deceived them (albeit with good intentions). I think that they should just figure it out themselves, and when they do, THEN you can have the whole "Oh, it's the spirit of Santa Claus that counts" talk with them later.