My daughters are just 5 and 3 and I fear that the Christmas magic (Santa and all the make believe) will be up way sooner than I ever really expected. We have been doing the elf on the shelf for 3 yrs now and they both love it. My oldest actually has one visit her school but Ive noticed that my kids, mostly my oldest, are really intuitive and notice things like the elf on the shelf box set being sold, EVERYWHERE we shop and all the swag that goes with it. They also notice labels and packaging and comment on this stuff, ie. where items are bought. We have a chimeny in our home so she has recently commented on the fact that Santa comes down the chimeny as depicted in many movies, books, shows, etc but then she asks what about the houses that dont have a chimeny like apartments, how does Santa get into those homes? I could list off many more things but Id just be rambling. Im worried that she will figure it out way sooner than I ever thought and then possibly spill the beans to her little sister. I used to hate Christmas when I was little because of horrible family drama but ever since having children of my own I have this new found love for the holiday and get beyond excited to see the joy in their eyes. So how soon do you think she figures it out, or worse, how soon before a kid ruins it fir her/them at school?
Thanks in advance
My youngest is 11 and has known who really brings the presents for a few years now. My 16 yo has obviously known for years and Christmas is still just as fun, exciting and magical in our house. BTW...we still do elf on the shelf because it is fun for all of us and gets us in the Christmas spirit. Don't let the magic die just because they figure it out.
My sons best friend has been telling him that Santa is not real since grade one and they are in grade seven now. I am sure my sons knows the truth, but he enjoys the magic so he chooses to play along. All you can do is make it fun, special, magical and worth believing in.
My son has always been way too much of a logical thinker and Santa just weirds him out. You should have seen the concern in his eyes when he was old enough for us to explain who and what Santa is. He hates the idea of some strange man creeping all over the house while he is sleeping. I have no pictures of him sitting in Santa's lap or any of those warm fuzzy moments. He has just never been interested-ever. We just don't talk about Christmas in terms of Santa with him, but we do with his sister- who loves Santa. He just goes with it.
There's so many other magical things to do in regards to Christmas outside of Santa Claus. Try not to stress about it. When that day comes, it will be fine. You'll still have your magic, just in other ways.
For me I am just letting the natural progression take place. I never told my mom I did not believe. I do not worry about it
I love the magic of Christmas both secular and religious.
What I want most for my kiddos is the love they have for the holiday to carry on to their future families.
I think in your case your children are going to have amazing memories and carry that in their lives.
Sit back and enjoy it, time flies way to fast.
Many blessings
I didn't think my oldest would even bother to see that we had wrapped her gifts with the same wrapping paper but that was what gave the whole thing away in our house. I think she started asking questions somewhere around 2nd or3rd and grade but we always told her that the truth was what you believed in your heart. I am happy to say she hasn't spilled the beans yet to her younger sister who is turning 11 next week and to be honest with you I am going along with things for as long as she believes.
Years ago my MIL told me that when her very smart and scientific-minded kids started asking if there was a santa claus, she told them that if there wasn't one, there would be no more presents under the tree from "SC". (There were gifts from Mom and Dad and gifts from SC - that helped with the understanding that people give presents in addition to Santa...) Needless to say, they stopped asking about the truth of Santa in order to keep getting SC gifts...
When my older son asked me, I said the same thing to him that my MIL said to my husband. Like his dad, he was smart enough not to push the point!
That being said, I saw the book "The Polar Express" and bought it (this was before the movie.) I bought a bell that looked like the one in the book and hung it on a hook on the frig. I read the book to them and ever so often when they were in the kitchen, I'd say to them "Can you hear the bell?" and I'd ring it for them. For years I read that book to them at Christmas time.
We still give my kids presents from "SC". They have never told me that they don't believe in Santa. Of course, as adults now, they don't believe in Santa anymore, but we enjoyed "hearing the bell" as a family for a long time!
