Be there for them as they process this information, and be open to answering any questions they may have. reassure them that even though Santa isn't real, Christmas is still a special time of year. And most importantly, remind them that you love them no matter what! Happy Holidays!
"It's not an overnight shift in thinking," says Laura Lamminen, Ph. D., a pediatric psychologist at Children's Health℠, "and there's no set age where children should know the truth about Santa Claus." Dr. Lamminen says each family and each child within that family will be ready to talk about Santa at different ages.
If your children still aren't convinced, why not send them some post from Santa? Pop a reply to their wish list in the mail, thanking them for their lovely letter and telling them you'll do your best to bring them the things they would like.
As for when the shift starts to happen, it's different depending on the child, but expect the questioning to get serious somewhere between the ages of 7 and 10.
While there are many benefits to protecting children's belief in Santa, it's not OK to lie to children about his existence. Most children have a positive reaction to their Santa discovery. Discovering the truth about Santa is part of growing up and a sign that the child is developing critical thinking skills.
Explain that you actually bought those yourself and that Santa Claus is the idea of giving for the sake of giving, without thanks or acknowledgement. Tell them that now they know the truth, they're part of it, too, and can never tell a younger child the secret.
"There is no such thing as being too old to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy," Kelman tells Yahoo Life. "Letting kids figure it out on their own is preferable to parents breaking the news to them.
Some tweens hold onto their childhood beliefs for as long as they possibly can. The truth is that if your children are asking questions like "Is Santa real?", they probably already know the truth or have an idea about the reality of the tradition. They may just be looking for validation from you.
If you're wondering if your kids are still expecting Santa to bring their presents this year, most have stopped believing in Old St Nick by the age of eight, according to the first international academic "Santa survey," while many parents wished that they still believed in Father Christmas even as adults.
The answer is no. We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa. We are the people who fill your stocking and choose and wrap the presents under the tree-just as our parents did for us, their parents did for them, and you will do for your kids someday.
Research suggests it's bad practice to lie to children. Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia's leading parenting experts, – "If you want to do Santa that's fine, but let the kids know Santa was based on a historical figure who may or may not have done the things that we think he did".
“If I cry, will Santa not bring me presents on Christmas?” “You will get presents every Christmas because gifts are a joy to give and receive. You know that all feelings are welcome in our family and our home will always be a safe space for us to cry.”
Instead, you might ask a few questions back. Ask, "What makes you ask that?" or "What do you think about that?" It's okay to let kids form their own conclusions. When confronted with, "Just tell me. Is there really a Santa?" be honest, and explain that you're behind the presents from Santa.
While everyone is different, according to a recent poll by House Method, the average age kids in the United States stop believing in Santa Claus is 8.5 years. So, chances are good that somewhere around then is the right age for your child to learn the true story about Santa Claus.
"There is no such thing as being too old to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy," Kelman tells Yahoo Life. "Letting kids figure it out on their own is preferable to parents breaking the news to them.
Say something like this, “The Santa that you see in books, movies, and in stores is a person in a costume. People dress up in Santa costumes to remind us… …of someone who lived a long, long time ago called St. Nicholas who secretly gave money to people who needed it.”
It's around three years old that kids start to believe in these characters. One study found the average kid stops believing Santa Claus between six and a half and seven years old. So you've only got three, four, maybe five years of actual misguided belief, if you're lucky.
Beliefs in Santa are incredibly prevalent among children in many Western countries. One study by Jacqueline Woolley at the University of Texas at Austin (UTA) found that more than 80 per cent of 5-year-olds in the US are convinced of his existence.
A new, ongoing international study reveals that the average child discovered Santa Claus wasn't real at age 8. In fact, about one in seven kids felt betrayed by their parents after finding out that the guy at the mall was really a fake.
Talk about Santa in a way your child can understand.
To reassure your him or her, express how Mr. Claus is a kind person who brings presents to all the boys and girls. Take it little by little, and if this is as far as you get this year, that's ok too.
Key points. Many children believe wholeheartedly in the Santa Claus myth. Research suggests that a combination of testimony and evidence keep the belief alive. At some point, cognitive development leads most kids to grow out of the belief naturally.