To Tell or Not to Tell - Sherman,IL

My son is 10 and in fifth grade. I know he knows the real truth but we still pretend and he still pretends for us. It is a still very fun. He has mailed and addressed his letter to Santa and rode his own bike to the post office to mail it. In reality it seems silly but it is the fun of the season. I would NEVER come right out and admit it and I don't think he would either. partly I think because he is an only child if he admits it the presents will stop coming :) But I love that innocent part of the season. Do you really want that to end?

Hello, Personally I think as well you should Beleive In Magic. I really think they can beleive in Santa until someone tell them different. I have an 12 year old he knows there is no Santa but my 8year old doesn't. She have came to me serveral times tellimg me what the kids said about Santa. I asked her do she thinks Santa comes she said yes. So this year for Christmas Santa will be coming to my house:)

If you think they still belive then don't tell! You'll regret it. You can't go back.

The 11 year old probably knows that Santa isn't realistically possible, but I wouldn't 'tell' him- no need to. Especially because your 4 year old is still a believer. If anything, I would encourage the older one to play along for the sake of his little sister! My son is 10 and I think he knows there is no Santa, but he doesn't say so, and he is a total, enthusiastic 'believer' when his younger cousins are around. I don't think your son will get made fun of- lots of kids that age still believe in more magic and wonder than they will admit to publicaly! Unless your son is walking around school with a sign on that says " I still believe in Santa!' who is to know or care? Your husband should keep his big mouth closed :)

This is a tough call! I teach fourth graders, and most of them still believe in Santa. I think 11 is still young enough to believe, and I don't think he will get made fun of for it. I would wait until he starts to ask questions, which will most likely happen within the next year or so.

I have a 12 year old and we have not had that discussion. She has questioned it in the past but never came out and asked me. To me, my daughter still wants to believe and telling her without her even asking seems like it would take away some of the magic. I'm not naive to think at age 12 she still believes, but it is fun for us to keep the spirit of Santa alive. I do feel, however, that if she were to come to me and flat out ask me, I would tell her. (At her age, there is a fine line between lying and keeping the magic alive!)
Good luck and enjoy Santa!

NO! Do not tell them. Let them believe as long as possible. I beleived until I was 12, and I have the greatest memories of Christmas.

I can only tell you that I would have prefered my parents not telling me when I was in 5th grade. They thought I would have been made fun of and they wanted to prevent that from happening. However, I can totally remember that day we sat and had the conversation on the living room couch. I was devasted! I cried and I was angry at them. My older brothers did such a great job about not telling me and they even helped my mom with Santa's job. I thought... how could this be true and if it is... then I'm upset with them for making all of this up.

I wasn't even questioning it, yet. I also have a brother 3 yrs. younger than me, so it was always fun to share the whole Santa experience with him.

I really don't think I'll say anything to my kids until they confront me. I wish I was able to believe in Santa until I questioned it.

Good luck,

J.

I have been trying to remember when I "found out" that Santa was not real. My mind is mush haha so I have no idea BUT I am pretty sure that no one ever told me. I think I just figured it out. I liked it that way. I had a sister who was 4 years older than me and she never told me either. I say let your kids be kids for as long as they can be. There is so much hate and bad in this world, why not let them believe in some good?

I would not make a point of telling, although we also keep it pretty vague at our house. My 9yo probably knows deep down (he's said some things that make me think that) but I think he wants to keep on believing because it's fun. Of course 11 is a different stage, but he's also old enough to get that information if he really wants to, either by asking you point-blank or by typing the question into Google.

At 11 it can go either way. I am sure lots of kids are talking at school right now, and it is probaby the big debate. I know my 10 almost 11 year old nephew still believes in Santa, we just talked his Christmas list, ect.

If you think your 11 year old will ruin it for his siblings by questioning the situation without dissrection I would tell him...but make sure he understands that he can not ruin this belief for his brother and sister.
I would not tell the 8 year old again unless he is openly questioning the whole idea.

Good Luck!