When do kids stop believing in Santa?

[caybee 21]

I don't remember every believing in Santa. My parents told me Santa was basically the concept of kindness and generosity, not a flesh-and-blood human, and I musta bought it. I was a nerd in a family of nerds. Ho ho ho.

[MissStacey 1]

I don't think I ever had a chance to really believe in Santa. My sister is 5 years older than me and ruined it for me.

[AtlantiCat 0]

I currently have no offspring, though I might someday. I would never ever teach them that Santa Claus is real for two reasons.

One is that when you have to eventually tell them that you've been lying to them for years, it destroys their faith in you as a parent. You should never lie to a child because you then teach that child that lying is okay. Even though Santa is a primarily Christian myth, by telling your child that he is real you're breaking a primary Christian commandment and teaching your children it's okay to do the same.

Two is that kids don't learn the true worth of their toys when some anonymous stranger whom they'll never meet brings them for "free." This encourages attitudes like "Oh, Santa brought it, it doesn't matter if I destroy it, I'll just get another one next year." This is no attitude to be teaching children. This also makes for awkward discussions when they see things like Toys for Tots and wonder why people have to donate toys if Santa brings them.

Teaching children that Santa is real is not right in any sense of the word. Just because it's societally acceptable doesn't justify the harm it can do.

Sorry to be a downer, but this has long been one of my pet peeves.

[Krikit 1,164]

Young children don't see the world the way adults do...everything is magical, non practical, glittery, new, exciting. I think it's important not to squelch that as they eventually outgrow it on their own. Santa is a symbol, a metaphor, a hero, of giving, random kindness, selflessness. He demonstrates all those qualities in a way that young children can understand.

I'm in agreement with Steven. My son was about 8 or 9 when he told me that some friends had told him that there was no such thing as Santa Claus. He looked so sad when he asked me if it was true. Since I believe that children are forced to grow up far too quickly and have so few years in which to be delighted by life, I told him that of course there is a Santa Claus. He lit up like a Christmas tree and said "I KNEW it!" Then off he went as happy as a clam, believing in the magic of Christmas for one last time.

I recall being at my friend's house one Christmas. His daughter came up to him and pretty much said the same thing as my son had. My friend was of the opinion that he should not "lie" and said "You're right honey. There's no such thing as Santa Claus. He's kind of like the Easter Bunny. Neither of them exist." His daughter just stood there with a devastated look on her face, then burst out crying "I still believed in the Easter Bunny!!!!" and ran off. We just sat there looking at each other like this before busting out laughing. Too funny.

I found out when I was 7 and promptly told my 4 year old neighbor who ran home crying. I was then frogmarched over there and had to tell him I was lying about it. I still have a problem with lying to this day. It just doesn't sit right with me.

[Amby 490]

I don't remember how old I was when I figured it out but I was younger than 8. It's so cute though my cousin is 9 and she asked Santa for world peace. I had to hold back my laughter though because she was so into telling me this story about the letter she wrote him. On the other hand, my stepbrother who is 9 told me that he isn't so sure about the whole Santa thing but the kids that believe in him get more presents so he's going to keep believing.

I asked my other cousin who is 10 on Thursday night what she wanted for Christmas and she said "Amber I know that Santa isn't real don't even give me the whole Santa BS" lol I couldn't stop laughing

[mawilson 2,133]

I believed in Satan when I was a kid, and I still do.

[caybee 21]

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Young children don't see the world the way adults do...everything is magical, non practical, glittery, new, exciting. I think it's important not to squelch that as they eventually outgrow it on their own. Santa is a symbol, a metaphor, a hero, of giving, random kindness, selflessness. He demonstrates all those qualities in a way that young children can understand.

I'm in agreement with Steven. My son was about 8 or 9 when he told me that some friends had told him that there was no such thing as Santa Claus. He looked so sad when he asked me if it was true. Since I believe that children are forced to grow up far too quickly and have so few years in which to be delighted by life, I told him that of course there is a Santa Claus. He lit up like a Christmas tree and said "I KNEW it!" Then off he went as happy as a clam, believing in the magic of Christmas for one last time.

I recall being at my friend's house one Christmas. His daughter came up to him and pretty much said the same thing as my son had. My friend was of the opinion that he should not "lie" and said "You're right honey. There's no such thing as Santa Claus. He's kind of like the Easter Bunny. Neither of them exist." His daughter just stood there with a devastated look on her face, then burst out crying "I still believed in the Easter Bunny!!!!" and ran off. We just sat there looking at each other like this before busting out laughing. Too funny.

One of the reasons why Superhero movies and tv shows are popular is because people's imaginations want to be let out of their cages of reality. There is a suspension of disbelief even for adults when we see Spiderman swinging along the cityscape as it captures our imagination. I remember hearing someone very wise once say, we should always strive to be childlike but not childish...to tap into the childlike qualities of wonderment, imagination, magic. I find it very inspiring to watch my 6 year old son express those qualities as it reminds me of how I once viewed the world that way. I hope I never fully lose touch of that.

This last weekend he wrote a letter to Santa and placed it in the mailbox.

[Marilyn. 340]

I don't remember ever believing in Santa..

[Queen Jenn 0]

There's a saying in my family "He who does not believe, does not receive." So if I want any "Santa" presents from my parents, then I BELIEVE

[sparkofcreation 0]

I was 9--I read an article in one of those women's magazines that always has stories about Christmas miracles about "How to Tell Your Kids the Truth About Santa."

My sister was 7. I don't have kids, but my best friend's kid is 5 and he believes Santa exists but wants nothing to do with him ("Why would some guy I don't know want to give me presents? And he's got so many kids to get gifts for, he'd probably just get it wrong, so maybe you'd better buy my presents instead, Mom").

[chri'stina 190]

I was 9--I read an article in one of those women's magazines that always has stories about Christmas miracles about "How to Tell Your Kids the Truth About Santa."

My sister was 7. I don't have kids, but my best friend's kid is 5 and he believes Santa exists but wants nothing to do with him ("Why would some guy I don't know want to give me presents? And he's got so many kids to get gifts for, he'd probably just get it wrong, so maybe you'd better buy my presents instead, Mom").

Did anyone see the commercial that was on, from JCPenney's or some other Dept Store, with a little boy named Kelly opening his gifts from Santa, and it was all little girl items and the little boy was so annoyed looking. The little boy writes "Dear Santa, Kelly is a boy's name too!"

[jayzar 1]

kids stop believing whenever someone older than them tels them not to believe in Santa.

me i once believed in Santa until the night i saw my dad putting a barbie doll on my socks hung in the window.

:lol:

[marklovetina 52]

oh i stopped believing in santa when i was 10 yrs. old lol!!!...

oh its my dad....

my son still beleives in santa.. he is 7 yrs. old now....