What to say if your 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.


At what age should kids be told Santa isnt 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.

Should I tell my 7 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.


Should an 11 year old still 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.

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.


What to Say When Your Child Asks 'Is Santa Real?'



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.

Is Santa real or is it my parents?

Santa is real in the sense that he was an actual person. Otherwise known as Saint Nicholas, his story goes all the way back to the 3rd century. He was a monk who was born in 280 A.D. in modern-day Turkey. As an only child, he was given great affection by his parents.

How do I tell my 13 year old about Santa?

10 Ways To Tell Your Child The Truth About Santa
  1. 10/10 Tell Them About Everyone at Once.
  2. 9/10 Explain the Magic of Christmas.
  3. 8/10 Offer To Still Label Gifts From Santa.
  4. 7/10 Tell Them the Story of When You Found Out.
  5. 6/10 Have Older Kids in the Family Talk With Them After.
  6. 5/10 Find a Book or Movie First.


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.

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.

Do most 8 year olds believe in Santa?

A study published in 1978 in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry found that the number of children believing in Jolly Saint Nick sharply dropped at age 8. At age 4, 85% believed. At age 6, 65% still believed. At age 8, only 25% still believed.


Is elf on the shelf real?

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.

What age do most kids stop believing in Santa?

In 2019, House Method surveyed more than 4,500 families across the United States, and found the overall average age for no longer believing in Santa Claus is 8.4 years old. (But it varies by state: Kids in Mississippi generally believe until they're 10, while kids in Oregon stop believing at 7.)

What grade do kids stop believing in Santa?

Research shows kids usually stop believing in Santa between 6 and 9 years of age.


Does Santa come at 12?

When will Santa arrive? According to NORAD, Kris Kringle is expected to take off at 3 a.m. Christmas Eve morning. If you're wondering when Santa will stop at your house, NORAD said he usually arrives between 9 p.m. and midnight on Christmas Eve in most countries.

Should I tell my 9 year old about Santa?

While there is no “right” time to talk with your child about Santa, experts agree that letting your child take the lead is usually best. Your child may be showing signs that they are ready for this conversation when they start questioning Santa's magic.

Is it normal for a 14 year 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.


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.”


Is Santa still alive Yes or no?

Nicholas died in A.D. 343 and was interred at St. Nicholas church in Demre, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. In 1087, apparently, merchants dug up his bones and smuggled them to the Italian city of Bari, the Telegraph reported. It's still a holy site, visited by Christians paying homage to St.

Do kids believe Santa is real?

Preschoolers likely believe that Santa has a special mind, that he may know some things that most other adults don't know but not everything. So, young children typically believe that Santa exists, but in a more mundane form than adults let on.


How do you prove Santa is real?

Proof Santa is Real: 5 Ideas to Prove Santa Was Here
  1. Santa Footprints by the Fireplace or in the Snow.
  2. Prove Santa is real by making gifts stand out.
  3. Milk & Cookies and Something Left Behind by Santa.
  4. Reindeer Evidence as Proof of Santa.
  5. A Note from Santa Himself.


Do parents move the elf on the shelf?

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.

What do you call a child who doesn't believe in Santa?

What do you call a kid who doesn't believe in Santa? A rebel without a Claus.


How do I deal with my child not believing in Santa?

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.


Why can't we touch Elf on the Shelf?

The official Elf on the Shelf website details the three rules to follow. The first and most important rule is that you must NOT touch your Elf. If you do, they will lose all their magic - and nobody wants that to happen. When scout elves lose their magic, they can't go about their Christmas duties.