Father Christmas. At what age "should" kids stop believing in him?

[Supersuperleeds]

The longer they believe the better in my opinion. Aged 8 or 9 the whole neighbourhood got together and chose that years Santa Clause. He would go round to all the houses on the street bringing small toys and talking to all of us. It was magical.

This, the longer kids stay kids the better

 

[ColinJ]

This, the longer kids stay kids the better

My last girlfriend dumped me when I was aged 44. She said that I was too childish...

 

[Electric_Andy]

Yes I think let them believe for as long as they want, but I've found they usually find out from school friends anyway. But I do draw the line at this naughty Elf stuff. My ex wife did it with my son and I didn't agree with it; it certainly wasn't entertained when he was with me! We spend many hours telling them that monsters aren't under the bed, and the bogeyman isn't going to kidnap them in their sleep. And then some parents go and pretend that an Elf comes to life at night and moves things! Utterly ridiculous

 

[Punkawallah]

Yes I think let them believe for as long as they want, but I've found they usually find out from school friends anyway. But I do draw the line at this naughty Elf stuff. My ex wife did it with my son and I didn't agree with it; it certainly wasn't entertained when he was with me! We spend many hours telling them that monsters aren't under the bed, and the bogeyman isn't going to kidnap them in their sleep. And then some parents go and pretend that an Elf comes to life at night and moves things! Utterly ridiculous

You think that’s an issue? You’ll spend time telling them that they should stay away from strange men, and then once a year announce a strange man will be creeping into their bedroom (while they’re asleep)to leave them presents!
:-)

 

[fossyant]

You lot aren't getting any presents if you don't believe.

 

[Dave7]

You lot aren't getting any presents if you don't believe.

I believe, I do honestly.
Now what can I wish for

 

[Time Waster]

I think it was clear to me that from an age that my parents started to ask my older sister what she wanted I kind of twigged I had to keep preeteending for her sake though for a good few years. Also for my parents sake as I think they liked the idea of presents from them and some from Santa. I would say from about thee first year of primary school. I can not say for sure because I was never that enthusiastic about the santa claus idea. I do not know if that was down to that POV or that I didn't believe. I just had this feeling that sitting on a rough coated man's knee who was wearing a fake beard was somehome wrong. Still I did it for the present and kept my mouth shut. Also at home I means I got some pressies from "Santa" but if I said I did not believe that might stop and I would get less than my sister who so did believe possibly into high school. Indeed I suspect she lasted longer with the doubt over it held at bay by the hope of it being true.

My son let us know quite young that he knew it was not real. Same with the tooth fairy but he still expects the tooth fairy to pay up (currently a fiver but he keeps negotiating for more with us for some reason). hee is now 12 yo!! It is about joining in the consumerist season of goodwill, arguments and presents like the rest of us. The jolly fat man is just the price a kid pays for that.

 

[fossyant]

Krampus anyone. Now that's scary folk law from Europe.

 

[Aescott]

We never went big on Santa with our two. Wife’s family never had a lot of money growing up and parents objected to Santa getting all the credit for the gifts that they bought. Our two didn’t suffer, they just appreciated where the presents came from.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

You think that’s an issue? You’ll spend time telling them that they should stay away from strange men, and then once a year announce a strange man will be creeping into their bedroom (while they’re asleep)to leave them presents!
:-)

I have heard of kids who have to have Santa deliver the presents to their Grandparent's house because the idea of a strange man getting into their bedroom scares them so much

WHich does make you wonder what has happened to them - or what they have been told - that scared them so much

 

[DRM]

I still believe Santa comes once a year

And when he does, Mrs Claus has Xmas pudding club fear!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

At about five or six I was suspicious about Father Christmas. We only had a gas fire and a tiny flue. 😉

 

[DRM]

Hampshire pupils 'sob' as vicar discusses existence of Santa - BBC NEWS!

So he spoils Xmas for the kids that believe, yet I'll bet he didn't tell them Mary was an unmarried mum, who it's believed got up the duff to a Roman soldier, and that Xmas can't have been in December as 1, that's not lambing time, 2, the church pinched the Yule festival off the Pagan people of Britain as it suited the narrative, I mean if you want to tell the truth, go the whole hog

 

[Chris S]

Children in the Far East don't believe in Father Christmas because they're the ones making the presents.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

First rule of Christmas Club …