Should I tell my 10 year old there is no Santa?

"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.
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Should I tell my 10 year old Santa isn't real?

Adults should not lie to children about Santa. When a child asks the question as to whether Santa is real or not, they're already at a developmental stage to distinguish between reality and fictional characters.
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How do you tell your 10 year old there is no Santa?

10 Ways To Tell Your Child The Truth About Santa
  1. 5 Find a Book or Movie First.
  2. 6 Have Older Kids in the Family Talk With Them After. ...
  3. 7 Tell Them the Story of When You Found Out. ...
  4. 8 Offer To Still Label Gifts From Santa. ...
  5. 9 Explain the Magic of Christmas. ...
  6. 10 Tell Them About Everyone at Once. ...
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What age should you tell your kid Santa isn't real?

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.
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What is the average age a child stops believing in Santa?

A study from 1978 found that about 85 percent of young American kids believe in Santa, and researchers today confirm those numbers still hold true, with many kids believing until about age eight.
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Should I tell my kid about SANTA?



Is 10 too old to believe in Santa?

"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.
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Do most 10 year olds believe in Santa?

A study from 1978 found that about 85 percent of young American kids believe in Santa, and researchers today confirm those numbers still hold true, with many kids believing until about age eight.
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Is 13 too old to believe in Santa?

"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.
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Why parents shouldn't lie about Santa?

While there are many benefits to protecting children's belief in Santa, it's not OK to lie to children about his existence. Discovering the truth about Santa is part of growing up and a sign that the child is developing critical thinking skills.
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Is Santa real for parents yes or no?

Santa Claus is real in a sense, but if your kids are starting to ask questions about their Elf on the Shelf and the presents under the tree, then it might be time to address the topic head-on. The first step: Put yourself in their shoes. "Children may feel sad, confused, disappointed, or angry," Navsaria says.
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How do you explain Santa to a 10 year old?

Explain that Santa is a symbol
  1. …of someone who lived a long, long time ago called St. Nicholas who secretly gave money to people who needed it.”
  2. …to be kind and generous to other people in our family or even outside our family, especially people who have less than we do.”
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Do 12 year olds still believe Santa?

The Age Most Kids Figure It Out

In most cases, eight or nine is the age that children stop believing in Santa, but not for the reasons you'd think. While most parents would probably blame their child's peers for blowing the whistle, it actually has more to do with the normal development of a child's brain.
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How do I talk to my 11 year old about Santa?

Get curious and ask them things like, 'I notice that you've been thinking a lot about Santa lately; what's going on?' If they ask you, 'Is Santa real??' ask them what they think. Believing in Santa is a magical and fun tradition for many families.
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Should I tell my 11 year old Santa isn't real?

Research shows that kids who are lied to by their parents are more likely to lie themselves, so it is always a good idea to tell the truth if possible. Don't use Santa as a tool for motivating your kid. Letting them grow through fantasy and imagination is positive.
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Does lying about Santa hurt kids?

“There is no evidence that belief, and eventual disbelief in Santa, affects parental trust in any significant way. Furthermore, not only do children have the tools to ferret out the truth; but engaging with the Santa story may give them a chance to exercise these abilities,” said Wooley.
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Should I raise my kids to believe in Santa?

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.
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Is believing in Santa harmful to children?

Believing in Santa is not only harmless fun, it can actually help children as their brains develop, experts say.
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What to say when your kid stops believing in Santa?

Here are a few things you can say to help explain Santa's not-so-real existence: "Some people believe in Santa, and some people don't. I believe in Santa, but I also know that he is not real." "Santa is a symbol of Christmas.
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How do you handle a child asking if Santa is real?

What to do when kids ask “Is Santa real?”
  1. Ask why they're asking. ...
  2. Ask what it would mean to them if he were real or not. ...
  3. Let the child lead. ...
  4. Talk about the spirit of Santa. ...
  5. Advise them to be kind to other believers. ...
  6. Lie to prevent tears. ...
  7. Lie again to avoid feeling like a liar. ...
  8. Give kids too much information.
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What to say if Kid asks if Santa is real?

If you think your child has it all figured out, it's a good idea to be truthful. For instance, you could explain that Saint Nicholas was, in fact, a real person from long ago. He was known for leaving presents for the children in his village and for caring for the less fortunate.
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How do you tell your child father Christmas doesn't exist?

Instead of making your child feel as if they have been lied to, you effectively let them into the grown-up secret, telling them they are now a Santa Claus in their own right and ready to share some festive joy by giving their own presents to someone special.
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Is Elf on the Shelf real yes or no?

And for all intents and purposes, the Elf on the Shelf is real. It's a real doll, after all. The real question is, though, do you think the Elf on the Shelf is real? And I'm here to tell you that, yes, it is.
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Do parents move the Elf on the Shelf yes or no?

Santa advises that no family member touch their Elf on the Shelf, but he does describe a few rare instances when an adult may use tongs or potholders to help an elf in an urgent situation. Parents: read on to learn about special, few and far between cases where emergency help will be required.
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Why did they ban Elf on the Shelf?

“This Court finds 'The Elf on the Shelf,' hereinafter 'Elves' represent a distraction to school students and a risk to the emotional health and well being of Cobb's young children,” the legal notice read. “Inexplicably, Elves sometimes move and don't move overnight. “
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Do parents move elf on Shelf every night?

Hide Your Elf

The night before Christmas, the elf flies off one last time to spend the year with Santa until reappearing next season. Every night, a parent hides the elf in a new place.
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