Hi all,
My son is going to be in year 7 next year and he still believes in a Santa. As much I’ve enjoyed and will be missing the ride of being Santa, I pretty sure I need to tell him that Santa isn’t real before he gets into high school. He has had is suspicious at times, and somehow I’ve flogged it off and got away with it. So is there any lovely ideas to let home down gently and tell him the truth? Im also worried he will spoil it for his 9 year old sister.
Anyone else feel a little sad that the excitement won’t be the same after kids find out?
Thanks in advance x
14 Replies
Unless you keep him locked in a cupboard, you can be 99% sure he already knows. Kids aren't dumb. Your daughter most likely already knows too. By about 6/7 They have clued on and know its not really possible. Combine it with kids who use the internet and other kids telling them stories, there is a very small chance an 11 to 12 year old child still believes in Santa.
As for officially telling him, you don't have to. I have never told my kids Santa is not real and my youngest is 16. They play along with it for our sake and for fear of getting less presents 🤣
Yep, at 46 I still ‘believe’ in Santa 😂
He already knows! Kids aren’t stupid, they all talk at primary school. They’ve done the maths on Santa flying around the work delivering presents on his flying sleigh with reindeers.
Most kids just play along that they believe by this age.
Yup. I sincerely doubt there is even a kid in prep/grade 1 that genuinely believes Santa is real.
I did believe at this stage and my little friends did too . We were in yr 3 or 4 wen we realised. Prep and grade 1 kids mostly do believe it . Remember they're only 5 yrs old by then
Im a grade 1/2 teacher. I assure you they believe in Santa 100%
I think all of my kids got to about 8 and realised Santa wasn’t real. (my eldest is 19 now).
If anyone has got a 9 year old that still believes (really believes) in Santa then that’s a phenomenal effort!!!
But I’m going to guess your son knows but has never really let on. I mean after all if you ‘believe’ you still get gifts right ❣️
Teacher here, there are definitely children who believe. I wish people would not assert every child knows and especially by age 6 or 7. They do not. I do agree that by middle and upper primary they have heard , discussed, argued, figured, but some still wholeheartedly believe, some choose to believe. Kids are all so different.
As long as its not something theyre forced into because you wont relent, then its ok. And I think that is also what makes it fun about him knowing, when he's ready, and having those little wink wink moments between you.
Yes!!
I stopped believing when I was in grade 1 (so I would've been 6 or 7) but I was an unusually cynical and logical kid 😂
Most of my classmates still believed with every bit of their heart at that age though and my cousins children still genuinely believe at ages 11 and 12.
My son is the same age. Although, I'm fairly sure he knows what's up (your son might too) I plan on having a gentle discussion about it after Christmas/before school goes back next year just to be sure because high school kids can be cruel.
A relative of mine essentially forced her kids to believe in Santa to the point I feel it went to an unhealthy level. Anyway, her kids went off to high school and once Christmas came around one was adamant of Santa's existence, the other was confused and heartbroken upon discovering the truth.
Both were ridiculed mercilessly by their peers, I'm pretty sure they ended up changing schools not long after.
But surely that says more about their peers.
It absolutely does but you've gotta weigh up what's more important.
The principle of the matter or best interests of the child.
Santa is real !! It's you!
If he genuinely still believes, I would let him have this Christmas. I would tell him after Christmas and then tell him he has the special job of keeping his sisters belief in Santa alive. He also gets to help you wrap and put the presents under the tree