that Santa isn't... you know (don't want to say it just incase some little kiddies are hangin over your shoulders). I ask this on behalf of my dear friend who goes thru extravagant measures to fool her 10 yo (who believes hook line and sinker). They just moved and she's now afraid her dd's new friends will make fun of her. So, when is a good time to tell? My son is 8 and I'm wondering if he should know by now.
My son will be 9 on the 20th.. and this year we have not hid the fact that we buy everything.. but he has yet to question us about Santa. He wrote his letter to him the same as always... so I'm guessing he still believes. We have always told him that we talk with Santa, and we approve/deny what he brings, also that we have to pay for what Santa brings because "there are way more kids in the world now, and the elves simply can't make all those toys, so Santa has to buy alot of them". This may be why he still believes... or maybe he still believes because he wants to!
Samantha is 11 and I'm not sure if she believes or not but she acts like she does. I think that if she didn't have a little sister she'd surely know by now. She was 6 when Grace was born and so Santa has always come every Christmas. I'm surprised her friends haven't said anything to her yet. Or maybe they have. I have no idea.
I waited until my kids started asking questions. They were around 8 or 9 when kids started saying things that made them wonder about it. We always did Santa in a semi big way....but not so much that they would be devasted by the news. Of course, it probably depends on the child, too, as to how hard they take the news. I had a friend who told their son when he was 9 and he was devastated...he cried and cried, then he wa sreally mad at his parents through the whole Christmas season. I don't know, I still think you can wait until they start asking questions. But, you know your kids best, so use your best judgement.
I have a feeling that if Samantha still believes it will be really hard on her when we tell her the truth. For this year we will let her still believe.
My son is 11 and hasn't ever said he knows about Santa, but I suspect that he does. In our old hs group there were several families who didn't do Santa, and a few of the kids were happy to tell the others that Santa wasn't real. My 6 and 9 year olds have heard from friends, too. So they've all heard it, but haven't told me that they don't believe. I suspect that's so they'll still get gifts, though they would anyway. This year, I've tried to leave obvious hints for ds. If he went to youth group and announced that he believed, he'd become a huge joke. I don't want to have to tell him outright, but it's time he knew!
My kids never believed in Santa. My first dd, really just assumed that Santa was a character like Cinderella or Batman. lol. So we never encouraged her in another direction. Hence, my ds never believed in Santa either. My toddler loves Santa...which I have no clue why as we don't really talk about Santa other then seeing him on tv. lol. So, not sure if she will believe in Santa or not. I will tell her there is no Santa if she ever thinks there is one. I don't think the belief is harmful or anything. I just know I could never keep up with the whole Santa gig. LOL.
I think some kids play along b/c they're afraid they won't get any (or as much) gifts if they don't believe. I don't know if the whole Santa thing is worth it - you have to give presents from him, then from you and then you have to wait until their asleep (which takes a long time on Christmas eve) and sneek around. I have one friend who never did the Santa thing and maybe she was right. Then you get the kids who gets mad at you for lying about it!
I also have to add that playing along with the Santa thing is MUCH harder when hsing! My dd figured it out last year when the UPS man came (often). My ds (8) still says he believes but I think he really doesn't - he's just way too logical.
my kids are 7-10 and believe, though Sam asked.--- I guess when the youngest asks, then that could be it. but why ruin it for the younger ones... but they know they can't ask for just anything because mom and dad has to pay bill from santa. we try to hide everything still (presents are at my moms store in the janitor's closet. some more will be coming by UPS and they go strait to my room. ---- one year I just told them I ordered a bunch of tools for daddy.
I know I found out at an early age and when I was about my dd age, 11, I remember desperatley wanting their to really be a Santa just hoping maybe there really was one.
Elianna is 11 and I think she still believes but Elliot, 9, I am sure knows there isn't. He has asked more questions about Santa this year then he ever has and I have left it up to Elliot what he feels about Santa. I don't know if the kids have discussed it and I haven't asked.
I myself I have known there wasn't a Santa since I was about 5 but I did play along for years. Then my brother came along when I was 11 so it continued even longer.
My daughter is 14yrs and I have yet to sit down with her and say "There is no such thing as "...." She knows in past years that "...." needs help on buying some stuff. I think she sort of figures it out but is keeping it going for her brothers sake. Sam
I don't even tell my kids @ Santa. They know that we buy present for them for Christmas. Also that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. My daughter asked once when she saw Santa, and I said that some uncles just dress up in this way and give kids presents. She was cool with it
oh Man you all just bust my bubble I thought there was a Santa, man oh man now what am I going to do? See you old ones are always letting out the secerts on here. This one is bad one. I will need to get help now.. after this one. I hope my good buddy Deena comes on here to help me some... I need to talk to some one to see if this is true or not. maybe Sommer will come and help me?
Of course I will help you Kris!!! I still hear the bells!!! I can't imagine growing up without all the magic that came with growing up.. the wonder of Christmas, the wonderful baskets of candy from the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy.. I still don't know how she got under my pillow without being squished!... I love to see the excitement in my kids eyes.. the same magical excitment that glimmered in my eyes every year!
