When? When do you tell them?

Yeah that's not really nice. My daughter believes in Santa. I think that we all should let kids believe in Santa since Santa is a symbol of Christmas and it's for kids. Let the kids know the truth as time passed by. Let the kids enjoy their youth and innocence.

I am not sure why parents lie to their children about Santa Claus. What are you really teaching your children, yet when they lie to you they are punished. My poor star rating is going to take another hit for this, but can you not explain it is harmless fun and Santa is a fantasy figure like Mickey Mouse and Barbie. It does not make Santa any less real. I realize parents perpetrate this lie to keep kids in line and behaving around Christmas time, but when you started out lying about Santa you knew that sooner or later your kids would find out about your deception.

Not to worry. They will tell you when they stop believing in Santa. It will be soon. The innocence doesn't last forever. Their friend will tell them or they will realize than mom and dad buy the gifts. Same goes for the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny.

I knew my children was in doubt of Santa Claus when they reached the stage that they have playmates outside the house.Not everybody believe in Santa thats why we cannot keep him for a long time.Still they pretend they do not know yet because they are still enjoying Santa's gifts to them.You do not have to worry when to tell as long as they are enjoying while they are still kids.Let them know by themselves.It is not foolish if they believe in Santa Claus.Let them enjoy.

I believe Santa Claus is Odin and that American children worship a pagan god for a whole month.

regardless of age culture as well as beliefs, everywhere around the world now a days know whether or not santa exist. It is then now up to us to let our children know the fact and the fiction about santa. I have a son, he knows about santa, but he never believed it really existed. I will tell you why, I for one one never discussed about santa. I renmemberet the time my son asked me about santa, i replied, there is no santa, it just started from other countries who celebrated their Christmas...In other words, I just told my son how the information or stories about santa started. I never made the question about santa a big issue, that is why my son don't bother to ask me about him all the time during the season. I guess if don't make things a big issue, our children don't have to either.

We did not lie to our children about Santa Claus. They were very observant anyway when they saw different Clauses in different malls and asked how come Santa looks different every time we see him. We told them from the start yes, there was a Santa Claus but he was a spirit but he inspired parents and grandparents and friends to do all the nice things at Christmas and fill the stockings and put presents under the tree.We told them of St. Nicholas who had given presents and started the idea. When they were little they found all that talk confusing but sort of got the idea, so when their school mates told them the big secret "that there was no Santa Claus" they were not shocked and retold the story of St. Nick in their own confused way. As far as the reindeer and the Northpole was concerned we told them from the start that this was a fairy tale like all their other beloved fairy tales. They loved "The night before Christmas and all through the house...." but they knew it as a fairy tale. We never put out cookies and milk though.

My kids are only 6 and 7. I have not told them yet. I don't really think that I ever will tell them. I don't think it is necessary. I believe that at some point that they will just figure it out for themselves. When I was a kid, at no point did anyone ever tell me that Santa didn't exist, but I eventually figured it out on my own. Just think about all the things associated with Santa. He rides in a sleigh pulled by reindeer that fly in the air. He comes down your Chimney on Christmas Eve to leave presents, etc. At some point, common sense will sink in and kids will realize that such things are not possible. When that happens, they will know that Santa is just a story told to children for fun. That is how I found out and I wouldn't have it any other way because that way, it was a gradual realization, and not a huge shocker.

I think you did fine. I am still waiting for that conversation to happen in my house. I don't want them to stop believing because it so magical watching them enjoy the season and when you finally think there is no santa, christmas is no where as magical for anyone.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTT!!!!!!!! Santa exists Humbug. Please don't say that you've fallen for that old chestnut about him not being real. Harmless fantasy! Oh dear. This is most upsetting. It's vitally important that you and your children believe. Make sure that you are tucked up in bed before midnight on Christmas Eve. Have your stockings hung. Sleep, bit you may just hear the tinkling of harness bells as the reindeer bring their portly owner to visit your house. Please watch the film "Miracle on 34th Street". It's all there. I do understand that children can be cruel to each other in the playground about such things. Tell them to play along with the non-believers if they must. But Santa, or Father Christmas as I prefer to think of him does exist. He and the Easter Bunny have adjacent homes at the North Pole. Believe Humbug. Believe.

I think it should be explained to him that Santa does exist but in a way like he exists as the Spirit of Giving in Christmas, I know it might be hard to understand by a child but surely if you could make them see that Santa is in each one of us during Christmas he would feel that Santa does exist.

I think that if they figure out he's not real, then tell them the truth. If they believe in it, then let them. However I believe all kids by the age of 10 should be able to know the truth, if they haven't yet figured it out themselves.

I think you did the right thing. I think its harmless to encourage him to believe in Santa as long as you can. He'll find out by himself eventually. Kids aren't stupid, they work it all out. Until then though, let Santa fill his stocking. It's all part of being a kid :)

I think that it all depends on the child. I don't ever remember believing in Santa, although I'm sure I must have at some time. But I was my father's only child and he has always been very rational, almost to a fault. I was comfortable with reality, but I have nieces and nephews who would be heart broken to know that Santa is not real. You are the parent and you know your child the best. I believe that as parents our gut reaction to issues with our children is usually correct. The way that you handled your son's question left the topic open for the future, and let him know that it was okay to believe whatever he chose to believe.

Hang on my dear friend, I'll go and ask my mum if she remembers at what age she told me, (Wolfie trots off to ask his mum!) Right my friend I'm back, mum seems to recall I was about 7 or 8 at the time, so the same age as your son, although I am an only child, I remember you have two other children don't you, younger than your seven year old? Would he tell the other two? That would pose an added difficulty wouldn't it? If you told him Santa didn't exist would he then tell his brothers who are younger? I think 7 is a good age to tell him to be honest! I remember I was upset and it's not as if you can ask your mum NOT to tell you he doesn't exist can you!

LOL and I am really laughing out loud since I have a similar problem to you. I have just posted a new discussion about the exact same topic with the only difference that my son is eight years old and does believe that Santa is going to give him a call. I do have your dilemma.

There is a Santa but not the kind that gives physical gifts. Santa lives in the heart and is always there. It would be hard to determine what age to tell your son that there is no physical Santa. There is a girl in the after school program that I work at who is eight and she knows there is no Santa Clause. So it all depends on each individual child.

ive never told them.. and i never will. my oldest is nearly 20, and she still beleives in the magic, im 40 for crying out loud.. and *I* still beleive. she asked me once about it, and i told her that the day she stops beleiving, will be the day he stops coming.. and left it at that. even tho she doesnt live at home anymore.. santa still pays her a visit. *nod*

What isnt he real!!!!! So who's been dropping my pressies of to me for the last 38 years then if it aint been santa? The problem in your situation is as soon as you tell one then he will tell the others. Maybe if he starts to question that santa exist maybe you should tell him that children who dont believe in santa dont get pressies then im sure he will change his mind and believe for a year or two more.

There is no real age actually. some children learn much faster and some take along time. Some like to live in a make believe world much longer. like your son, one day my daughter when she was much younger, hardly 5, came and told me "Dad you do not know. There is no Santa Claus. Our neighbour had become Santa Claus yesterday. i saw hism takign his beard off." i admitted that she was right and she was satisfied that she is wiser than her Dad.