When and how did you tell your kids

[Don__SD]

Since there isn't much going on, I would like a few parents to share with us when and how or if the kids figured out that there is no Santa. My oldest is 5 and will be 6 in Janurary 02. He has herd like twice that ol Santa is really mom and dad. I was thinking of telling him sometime this spring and just casually bring up Christmas and ask him if it would be allright if there wasn't a Santa, then slowly close the deal. Does this sound good. I am 41 and most of my closest friends kids are so old they really don't remember or the responces that I got really didn't do it for me . I must say that I will miss my son's excitement about Santa coming but then again who really isn't excited about Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. (and to all hard ice.)

[Pitts]

Don I never told them I just waited until they figured it out at about age 4 :)


Pitts

[Blazeorange]

I just learned minutes ago when I read your post. Thanks a lot. I hope there's still an Easter Bunny. Blaze.

[Bob G2]

I agree with Pitts, don't tell him. Let him figure it out on his own.
When we grew up, we usually found it out from older kids anyways. Who knows, you might have a couple more years of fun with it.

[Brian_MN]

Don,

I grew up the oldest of 19 grandchildren who all got together every year at Grandma's house, complete with Santa showing up after dinner and getting all of us on his knee while he dealt out the loot.

For us, we just gradually figured it out on own, and I don't remember it being particilarly traumatic for anyone. In fact, it was fun for the older kids to play along with the adults watch the little ones with their noses pasted to the back windows and running upstairs to try to hear reindeer hooves on the roof. One year my younger brother looked the wrong window and said "Hey, Santa's driving a Pinto!".

My daughter is now 5, and I'll think I'll just let nature take it's course. She's currently bought in to the whole Santa thing, along with her 2 year old little bro'.

Merry Christmas!

[VMS]

You mean to tell me (sniffle sniffle), that Santa REALLY doesn't do the Hollydazzle Parade in Minneapolis every night ?!! (Sniffle Sniffle)..

And I was really hoping he would bring that new GPS unit for me this year...I asked him personally after the parade!!! I'M CRUSHED!!!

Steve (the poor old 30 year old who just found out santa doesn't exist).

I suppose you all are going to tell me that all of my 25 or so letters never made it to the north pole either. :-)

[T-Mac]

Don... the kid probably already knows...but sure as HECK isn't going to let YOU know that!
:-)

[FROGMAN]

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. As surely as the winter winds will bring snow, and we all grow old, there is a light and magic at this special time of year that can only be explained by Santa Claus.

My children are 12, and 15 now but in my heart Santa lives on every year. He exists in each of us, urging us to spread the wonder and joy of the Holiday season.

May God bless each of you, and keep you safe in the New Year.

Hoppy Holidays from the FROGMAN!!

[DarrenB]

I agree. Sooner or later the kids will figure it out on their own. In the meantime milk it for as long as you can. The ol' "Remember Santa's watching" routine works wonders when they are young and misbehaving. :-)

[Don__SD]

Thank you all. Not only did I get a few good smiles and laughs but I also got some good thoughts on how to handle this. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all.!!!! Be safe

[Caneye]

There is a Santa.....I know first hand because I get something from Santa every year.....and what about those radar reports every Christmas......Our military does not lie..... There are some of us who believe.

[Len]

Holy smokes.no Santa..yeah right...He comes around here every year on dec 25th..You guys must be naughty?.......LOL!..
My kids are 6 and eleven and just like most adults they beleive in the magic of the season..Rejoice the birth of our savior.A christ child was born on that day and what could be more magical!~MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

[Gary B]

I told this to my son several years ago when he said he had learned that Santa was not real. The question is not whether Santa is real, but what is his true identity. Merry Christmas.

[Backwater Eddy]

So as to not look and sound like a complete liar when he asks consider this. Bone up on the story of Saint Nick, the generous saint from the old world, the original Santa.

That way when the question does come you can tell the history behind St. Nick and how today we honor his tradition of gifts to loved ones and the needy. Maybe instill a tradition of a secret gift the he may continue the tradition in his own way.

By the time they are old enough to ask they will be old enough to understand this concept and still keep Santa Claus in there heart.

Ho-Ho!

Long live Santa!

Merry Christmas......We-we-we......><,GO-PIGGY,>

Backwater Eddy....><, ,>

[hgf]

Don't tell them, ever. My 7 year old granddaughter finally told me this year that I was Santa. I have the outfit, and every year do Santa for our small town. Last year it was close - I heard her telling her mother "Boy, Santa sure sounds like Opa" The most fun is when I go to the nursing home, and then to all the shutins in town - they have more fun and enjoy it just as much as the kids do. They all want to hug Santa! Tell the kids if the old folks believe in Santa, they have to also believe in him. Merry Xmas!!

[jim c]

Wy kids told me,I never lied to them in the first place. grow up...

[VMS]

Sorry... I will grow old, but I will NEVER Grow Up :-)

[Nofish]

I agree.

Let them work it out a while. My oldest is almost 7 and still believes. I was about 8 when I figured it out. My Mom's handwriting gave it away for me.

Let your kids believe as long as they do. It is a cherished and special deal for them. Don't force them to let go too quickly.

If they move on on their own, Christmas will still be a joy to them without forcing the no Santa down their throats.

Besides, there is a Santa. There always has been. You have kids, you are Santa. I have kids, I am Santa. I use Santa to help foster sharing, giving and joy.

I do feel however, that you can not start working Christ into Christmas too soon. As soon as they ask, tell them what the day is really all about. Santa just chose the already special day of joy to help show love and giving in the name of Jesus, is what I use and was taught.

Just my humble opinion............R

[Cangl]

Your eldest is the "next" parent, what I did was take my eldest daughter 6-7 at the time shopping with a visit to Santa. The second time you know the first was with the whole family. "The question" did arise, whereupon I explained yes he is Santa Clause...Do you know who else is Santa Clause? Why grandma and grampa are, Mom and me also. See all the people with their shopping bags. Their "Being " Santa also. Santa's are people that show their care and love for each other through the giving of gift's and each others company. You will be Santa for your little sister and others also. She held this "knowledge" and her younger sister was informed as well by her mother. In this family we all beleive in "Santa's" and Christmas.

[Honest John]

Don,

Please check out this site where the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial is printed in full.

http://www.barricksinsurance.com/virginia.html

Merry Christmas.

Honest John

[Don__SD]

Thanks for the link, I WILL make sure that this link gets past around. MERRY CHRISTMAS... be safe.

[Fish-on]

My advice is simple. Never, never lie to your kids. If they look you in the eye and ask you if there is a Santa Claus, the gig is up. Tell them the truth. I know it seems meaningless and like it's a fun game, but I believe even the small lies lay a foundation of mistrust that you will pay for as your kids grow. Kids have fragile emotions and they NEED TO TRUST YOU. Don't shatter their trust by telling them something that simply isn't true, even if it seems innocent. Santa Claus is fun, but as soon as you find yourself making up little lies to keep them believing something that's not true, you are making a big mistake. Don't violate their trust.

Sorry if I sound preachy, but take if from a guy with three teenagers. The trust you build when they are little is just about all you have to go on when they reach adolescence. Merry Christmas.

[Irish]

Come on gang....there is a Santa Claus, if you want proof look at some of the posts over the last couple of weeks, kids giving away their boat savings, others having their kids show up for Christmas from the service. Indeed, he may not exist as one you can touch or see but rather as someone or something that provides small miricles, causes strangers to smile and say Merry Christmas.

I'll be sitting around a table this evening with my brother, sister, mom and dad, all of us from different parts of the country and deep down all of us will know that he exists.



Merry Christmas

Irish

[jim c]

Well said,thats what I meant also,next there goes the Easter Bunnie,policemen are not always right,politicans strech the truth,doctors sometimes make mistakes.

[River_eye]

So did you ever say there was a Santa Claus? Even when they were young? Or did you tell them at their first christmas.

I'm in favour of not telling. My parents let me figure it out on my own. Plus, there's the issue of your kid going to school and saying, "My parents said there's no santa claus!" kind of ruining it for the rest of the kids. I don't like that.

I think Santa Claus is one of the very few things that you can lie to your kids about, although I'm not a parent.

[Fish-on]

To me, Santa was never anything more than somebody with a fake beard dressed up in a red suit at the Mall. He's never been anything more than that to my kids too. If a kid still believes in Santa by the time they go to school, the parents would be a real jerks for setting them up for the ridicule they are going to suffer. School can be brutal enough on kids's emotions without sending them in there believing in something that 99% of the other kids are going to laugh at them for. My point is that kids need to know they can trust their parents without question. Don't lie to them. I can't believe that anyone would send their kid to school believing in a Santa Claus. That's abuse in my opinion.

[Cangl]

Merry Christmas to every fisher person out there!! Irish cherish what you've got this holiday with family, after all the "boss" won't let me go fishing today either but I will spare everybody the "Ba Humbug"

To know everything is a form of control that nobodies capable of owning! Thank god ;)

[jim c]

I never told my kids that there was a santa even on their first or any other Christmas. We gave presents have a tree the whole deal, they sugested we have a big turkey dinner,sit down meal for the ocasion,that we all pich in to make. I dont treat my children like inferiors but as equals. If I treat them like children then they will act childish, they desirve better.Take a lession from the story Startreck ,how they treat their children.

[River_eye]

Well, I guess that I was an exception. I believed in Santa longer than most kids, so maybe that means I was gullable, but I wasn't upset at my parents when I found out.

When I look back on it, those christmas's were the most magical for me, and I never feel bad for believing in it so long either. It was just a lot of fun. I guess in this case, ignorance was bliss, but this ignorance wasn't harmful in the least bit. I look forward into sharing this same feeling with my kids when and if I have them.

[Dave]

I'll give you a little tip, DONT'T TELL THEM! Time will reveal the secret and believe me its harmless. The spirit of Christmas is believing. Santa is something they will naturally grow out of and they will through natural progression of fond memories pass it on to their kids. Believe me through experience of having three boys, no harm no foul.
Merry Christmas.