Community Corner

Parent Talk

What is the appropriate age to spill the beans to your children about old St. Nick?

I'm sure you might have guessed this one was coming. With Christmas just around the corner, many kids are crossing their fingers that they behaved well enough that Santa will bring their top requests this Sunday.

My kids are no different. Having just taken pictures with Santa the other day, my kids, 5 and 9, can't wait to go to bed early on Christmas Eve just so that they can wake up early (like 6 a.m.) Sunday morning to see all that lays in store for them.

I have to admit, I get excited with them, speculating on what Santa will bring and if they will get all their hearts' desire. While I know, as do my kids, that the holiday of Christmas is not about presents, it is the one time of year that I do spoil my children because they genuinely deserve it.

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A few weeks ago, my son told me that a fifth grader told him that Santa Claus is not real. So, my son asked me whether or not that's true. It took a split second before I told him that it's not true and that Santa is indeed real. Criticize all you want. I did not have the heart to tell him that Santa is fictitious.

I did tell him that Santa does stop bringing you presents when you get older, which is why adults give each other gifts for Christmas. He was concerned and asked at what age, showing me that he really does want to believe in Santa.

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The notion that this fantasy you are taught to believe in at such a young age is, in fac,t not real is something that I think a 9-year-old can do without. Having this similar conversation with another parent, I was shocked to learn that the sibling of one of my son's classmates believed in Santa until she was in the eighth grade! And the parents had to tell her.

Now, I don't think it'll go that far, but I will let my son believe in Santa for as long as he wants. After taking his pictures with Santa, which was with a different Santa than he had gone to since he was born, my son told me that St. Nick must have a lot of brothers. He noticed that Santa looked different. When he saw him, as we waited on line, my son turned to me, wide-eyed and whispered "that's not Santa!" I couldn't help but to laugh.

This showed me his desire to believe. The fact that he had a rationalization behind why this Santa looked different than the one he's been seeing all of his life only proves that he still wants to believe that Santa is real.

Say what you will, I will continue to foster his, and my daughter's belief in Santa until they decide to end the fantasy. There are worst things in the world than having your children believe that someone will reward them for being their best selves throughout the year.

For all those nurturing the belief in Santa, what is the right age to let your young ones know the truth?


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