What age do you tell kids 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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Should I tell my 10 year old that 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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Should I tell my 12 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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At what age should my child stop believing in Santa?

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.
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Is 13 years old 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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Parents Explain to Their Kids Santa Isn't Real | Cut



Do 11 year olds believe in Santa?

Most Americans (67%) stopped expecting Santa to shimmy down their chimney by the time they entered seventh grade. Half (49%) of Americans say they stopped believing in Santa before the age of 10 – with a quarter (23%) reporting that they lost sight of him between the ages of seven (10%) and eight (13%).
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How do you tell your 11 year old there is no Santa?

10 Ways To Tell Your Child The Truth About Santa
  1. 1 Take Them Somewhere to Celebrate the Milestone.
  2. 2 Wait Until They Come To You. ...
  3. 3 Make Sure They Don't Tell Younger Siblings. ...
  4. 4 Write Down a List of Reasons Why Kids Believe in Santa. ...
  5. 5 Find a Book or Movie First. ...
  6. 6 Have Older Kids in the Family Talk With Them After. ...
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Do most 8 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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Should I tell my 7 year old about Santa?

There isn't a right or wrong age to tell kids the truth

Take cues from them and their understanding of the world. Usually, somewhere between the ages of five and seven kids begin to think a little more critically.
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Is Santa real for 10 year olds?

While kids may no longer look for reindeer on Christmas Eve, your tween might be ready to embrace the spirit of Santa Claus and spread the joy of giving in their own special way. Helping do so guarantees that in your child's heart, Santa will live forever and that he is, in fact, very real.
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What age should I tell my daughter 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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How do I tell my 13 year old about Santa?

Be Honest
  1. Simply explain to your child that the gifts are purchased and wrapped by mom and dad, and that you share in the magic of Christmas as a family by spreading joy.
  2. Let them know that the Santa they see in the store is someone paid to sit and give children the joy of believing in something magical.
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Is 15 too old to believe in Santa?

Because Santa is synonymous with childhood, the belief in him must go away at one point or another if we want our kids to grow up. There's no specific age, necessarily. No edict that at exactly 11 3/4, a child will cease to believe.
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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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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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What age do girls stop believing in Santa?

Multiple surveys and studies from the United States and around the Western world show that the typical age that kids stop believing in Santa Claus is age 8.
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Should a nine year old 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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At what age do kids start believing in Santa?

“Children's belief in Santa starts when they're between 3 and 4 years old. It's very strong when they're between about 4 and 8,” she said. “Then, at 8 years old is when we start to see the drop-off in belief, when children start to understand the reality of Santa Claus.”
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Does a 12 year old believe in 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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Is it harmful to let children believe in Santa?

Believing in Santa is not only harmless fun, it can actually help children as their brains develop, experts say.
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How do you prove Santa is real for kids?

If you want to keep the magic going a little longer – here are some brilliant way to prove Santa exists:
  1. Santa Caught In The Act. ...
  2. Mail Your Wish List To The North Pole. ...
  3. Track Santa. ...
  4. Personal Video Message. ...
  5. Leave A Thank You Note. ...
  6. Hide The Wrapping paper. ...
  7. Hide The Santa Gifts. ...
  8. Elf On The Shelf.
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How do you explain Santa without lying?

5 Brilliant Ways To Explain Santa Without Lying
  1. IS IT WRONG TO LIE ABOUT SANTA? ...
  2. 5 WAYS TO EXPLAIN SANTA WITHOUT LYING.
  3. OPTION 1: WAIT UNTIL THEY STOP BELIEVING ON THEIR OWN. ...
  4. OPTION 2: THROW THE QUESTION BACK TO THEM. ...
  5. OPTION 3: GIVE OR READ THEM THIS PRINTABLE SCRIPT. ...
  6. OPTION 4: LET THEM IN ON THE SECRET.
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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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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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How do I tell my child father Christmas isn't real?

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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