At what age do/should children stop believing in Santa Claus?
 

My son will be 8 on Boxing Day and so far hasn't said a word about it. He's very smart, but very sensitive, so he may already have a good idea but just doesn't want to confirm his disappointment.

My daughter is 6 and actually did question it a few days ago, but it was more disbelief that he didn't exist quite frankly.

So, at what age do children normally stop believing in Santa Claus and when SHOULD they stop believing in Santa Claus?

I know it's going to be different for most kids, but I'm just looking for a general age that some of you have experienced with your kids, nieces, nephews etc.

What do you mean there is no Santa? :(

why should they

keep it going as long as it is fun

damn, i was not fast enough for such a witty answer :Oh crap

Oh, I definitely believe that too, BUT I also don't want them ridiculed at school because they're the last lone believers.

I think I was like 7 or 8 when I stopped believing (even though I kind of had a clue before being told). I think I just wanted to keep believing in him. In fact if I am not mistaken, it was somewhat traumatizing. I think I cried when I found out. :(

You don't have to tell them anything, thats what his friends are for hehe.

haha i was the same. i think i knew he didn't exist a few years before i accepted it.

I would think around those ages. Eather you tell them or friends will.

never - from the very beginning they should know the truth in a positive way.

Everyone is santa when they give not being selfish expecting something in return... and give not because you have too, but to see the joy on someones face.

That way your child can see that Santa is real and wont go to school heartbroken or terrify other kids.

:1orglaugh

Who has the RIP santa pic?

Fuck you... No Santa?

I don't look forward to telling my daughter, but its a catch 22. Do you want the child to find out on their own and think that their parents lied to them, or do you want to tell them yourself and break their heart.

Of course I don't know if its the same with a boy as a girl. I wasn't broken hearted when I found out there was no santa because I was still getting the same amount of toys just tagged from my parents and not santa.

I was told by a friend when I was 8.

I have 4 older brothers, so I think maybe I was 4 or 5, lol :)

Santa who?

:smokin

My son is 5 and i was always worried about what his friends would tell him. Now he started kindergarden and im worried or should i say I have not yet found an answer for him if he comes home asking me about it..

I found out that Santa was my dad when i was 7, broke my heart and couldnt believe that my dad would do such thing.

I would never let them believe in Santa in the first place. Thats gay, fuck santa in his big fat ass.

stop believing? why do i need to stop? is he not real? i see santa at the mall every year and i sit in his lap...and he likes me. ;)

santa pats me on the bottom.

My parents told me the tooth fairy didn't exist when I was 7 so they wouldn't have to pay me.

Keep it going as long as it lasts ...

I explained to my kids that santa stops bringing them stuff when they turn 10..so, they know that once they are 10, he stops coming...and of course at 10, they are pretty much ready for the news...

No Easter Bunny either :Oh crap

Kids these days learn its a fraud right away.

Best tell them during Kindergarten

Second that.

Probably they don't care that much as long as they keep receiving gifts. But then you will lose a psychological trick that might help to control their behavior.

what he said!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!

My oldest son is 10 and I'm sure he knows but he plays along because he has a younger brother and sister.

When he was 8 he found out about the tooth fairy from a friend who had found a drawer full of teeth. At first he though Jaden's mom WAS the tooth fairy...but then he clued in.

I didn't grow up with Santa so I was not that disappointed.

I am going to tell my kid the truth.

The problem with prolonging the Santa fairytale is the danger they might start believing in other mythical entities like Jesus and angels. And then they grow up to be a world leader that slaughters millions of innocent people based on these ideals.

kids grow up fast enough, let them be kids as long as possible.

you sit in his lap? :Oh crap

Good point.... Kinda explains a few of my childhood issues.

I think 8 is a good age to stop believing is Santa Claus. You're boy's already growing up. You don't want him to get laughed at, right? As for your girl, if she has already figured it out then go ahead and tell her the truth.

Pretty much Christmas when I was 8. Nobody told me. I just kind of grew up enough to know.

I don't see the point in telling kids that Santa isn't real. Nobody is made fun of at school. I know of one guy who told his little boy that Santa wasn't real because he wanted to take full credit for buying him all those toys. I'm sure that's a common motive for parents who do it.

Day 1...

This is what I don't understand...

A) Why do parents always lie to their kids about something so fucking stupid.

B) Not want the credit for spending 1,000's of dollars on their kids? If I had kids, and I just spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars on them, for no other reason then because society tell me to, I am gonna make damn sure they know I spent that money on them, so the next fucking time I ask them to take the trash out or mow the lawn, they best be getting on it with no lip.

:2 cents:

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

You did hit on a few valid points aico, one being the abuse of Christmas - it's not about "how much".

Did Santa puncture your ball one Christmas when you were young - or fuck up the electronics on the Playstation? :winkwink:

i was in 2nd grade when i found out. a bunch of girl friends were talkin about how he isnt real and i did that whole "NUT-UHHHHHH!!!! HES REAAAAAAAAAL!" act lol then they laughed at me & i was scared for life :(

please dont let this happen to your offspring! :sadcrying

LOL, no, santa didn't abuse me, however the santa at a mall near where I lived turned out to be ped, and I am sure that most of them are.

I just don't get why parents lie to their kids, not that mine didn't, but what's the point?

Easter Bunny, lie
Tooth Fairy, lie
Santa Claus, lie

Just seems like everytime there is something being given to a child, parents need to lie to explain it, it's fucking bizarre.

The "Abuse" of Christmas is that it's not even a Christian Holiday, it's a Pagan Holiday, which makes it ever more crazy... (same with Easter).

I figured it out on my own when I noticed that 'santa' and my mom had the same handwriting on the gift tags. I wasn't teased or scarred for life. I think I would be way more upset if my mom had sit me down and laid it all out. Let kids be kids for as long as they can. Kids get enough disappointment in their lives and grown up way too fast already.

Btw, telling them just to get the credit for the gifts is one of the most selfish things I've ever heard. People like that shouldn't even be parents in the first place.

i remember when i found out there was no santa.. i almost drove off the road

I think 8 is a good age to stop
my oldest 3 all stopped around that age.
One by one I had to get them to go along with it and not ruin it for the others.

why do parents lie to their children only to see them get hurt once they find out the truth?

there isn't a santa clause?

what?

I can't understand you; if Santa Claus isn't real, who always bring me the presents at xmas? :winkwink:

I just saw santa's naked photo shoot.
http://wormhole.tauniverse.com/image...NakedSanta.png