My son is 9 yrs old and I'm pretty sure this is the last year that he'll believe that Santa is bringing him a couple of presents. It's possible that he doesn't want to break it to me yet but maybe he doesn't believe anymore.
When did your child find out the "truth" about Santa Clause? Did someone else tell them or did you?
Edit: I am talking about a man in a suit with reindeer.
I believe my son was about 8 when he came into the kitchen and said indignantly, "I KNEW there was no such thing as the tooth fairy. I lost a tooth yesterday and didn't tell you and now, there's no money under my pillow!" I J. sort of shrugged and didn't know quite what to say. Then, his poor little face J. fell, "Please tell M. you aren't Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny too!", he said...and the truth of the matter was out.
To this day, my mother says "If you say you don't believe in Santa Claus, you will get socks and underwear for Christmas." The four of us are in our 30's now. :) I think it probably started as a way to keep the oldest from spoiling it for the younger ones. After that it was just the spirit of it. I don't remember a big "ah ha" moment. It just turned into the way it was.
Funny at about the same age my husband and I were when WE were young.
Right after the Christmas when we were in 3rd grade.
I saw some wrapping paper, my husband said he woke up to go potty on Christmas eve and witnessed the truth with his own eyes.
Our daughter said she just felt like "there was no way the logistics make sense.. The North Pole, the flying Reindeer.. The gifts packaged like in the stores.". Hee, hee.. But Santa still visits our home Every Christmas, she is now 21..
Sadly, I never believed...
My eldest believed until the 4th grade.
My 2nd believed until the 3rd grade.
My last still believes this year, she's in the 4th grade, but that is all because of her convincing brother who she thinks hung the moon.
Great question, because I don't know what's normal in this arena.
My daughter is 9 and she knows the truth this year. She kept asking, and asking, and I finally told her. Then she said she's mad at me for telling... She's fine with it really, and Santa is going to be very good to her this year!
I'm pretty sure I was about the same age, 3rd or 4th grade, when I figured it out. Me and my siblings went on a present hunt when our parents were gone and we found them! We kept getting presents with "Santa" on the tag for years after that. We just knew that his handwriting was the same as our mom's!
I have a 9 yr old, 6 yr old, and 2 yr old. I think my 9 yr old has known for a couple of years, but won't admit it. She just plays along so she won't miss out on extra presents. I think the 6 yr old knows too. He started asking me last year if Santa is real. He's asked a couple of times this year and I just tell him that as long as he believes he's real, he's real. I hope they can allow the 2 yr old to enjoy the magic for a few more years. He really doesn't understand, but I can see the wonder in his eyes when he sees Santa at the mall, or sees commercials about Santa on TV. Next year should be really fun!
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...........
Our 11 yr old daughter figured it out last year. Our 11yr old son, this year. We have a 6 yr old and she is still with it.
My son is 9 and will be 10 in March. He started asking questions and making sly comments and as the summer went by and we started on this Christmas season he admitted that he thinks we are Santa. So I told him. I would rather him hear it from us and know that he can trust us when he comes to us with a question. Now if he would of asked us at 8 or before then I would of told him he is real if you believe he is real.
He's ok with it and has a younger sister who will be 5 soon. Im on him to let her believe for as long as possible. Knowing that she will also figure it out soon and want her to hold that magic as long as possible.
I heard alot of parents anymore dont bother telling their kids about Santa and tell them from day 1 that they buy all the gifts. I dont think that is right bc its usually those kids that end up ruining it at a younger age.
All my kids knew around 7 or 8, they didn't tell me they knew until around 10.
I think my oldest was about that age but my youngest is 9 and his cousin tryed to tell him last weekend and he argued with her like you would not believe. Then I guess my brother heard them and he shut her up. I did not hear it my oldest did.
Other kids had been telling my oldest and he just finally choose to believe them.
Wait a minute....... what's the 'truth' about santa?
Santa is the spirit of Christmas. He inspires us to give. Not to get credit. But to GIVE to others. for the joy of giving. I would transition your son from believing Santa is a fat man in a red suit to understanding that Santa is the spirit of Christmas and HE should embody that spirit. Is there someone he can GIVE something to.... and not take credit.... just to have the joy of giving?
If he can't... then you're right. Santa doesn't exist in your family or to him.
That would be really really really sad.
My kids aren't old enough yet to know the truth. BUt I remember putting 2 and 2 together in second I found it odd that the logistics didn't make sense, that Santa's writing was the same as my mother's, that the santa traditions weren't the same at all houses (some santas wrapped presents, some didn't, some only got one santa present, some got tons, etc).
If I remember correctly my kids, were 9 and 10 when we confirmed that there was no man in a red suit. I think they knew, but a part of them didn't want to admit it and they didn't want to disappointment me.
I think my 9 yr old was just reading over my shoulder just now.....thanks for outing Santa, ladies! LOL ;)
PS: As pointed out, my Santa is the spirit not the man (well, we still were putting out cookies and carrots, but maybe not this year now) and the spirit is with us all year long.
