This is probably the last year DD will believe in Santa. How do I make it special?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's only in 3rd grade it won't be the last year.

I was going to say the opposite... Very unusual for a 3rd grader to still believe in Santa. Would assume there's a decent chance someone ruins it pre-this Xmas.

I’m suspicious that a kid in 3rd grade actually believes and isn’t just pretending b/c they are worried that if they “don’t believe they won’t receive” because they don’t really get how it works. And this isn’t about the poster who won’t write “from Santa” on the gift tag for the non believer.

My 8 yo third grader still believes. He found the elf a few weeks ago when we were in the basement looking for an extra baseball glove and I had to tell him the elf was pretend and now he is a big boy and can help make it special for his younger brother. He still 1000% believes in Santa. His older brother now 13, never stopped beleiving, I had to tell him when he was in 6th grade so he didn't get made fun of. I think everyone is really underestimating how much Covid and remote learning has delayed certain rights of passage for kids.

[Anonymous]

Let it evolve organically, so don't do anything special. If at some point she comes to you and says that her friends say that there isn't a Santa Claus and that parents are Santa Claus then deal with it. I remember telling my oldest that there is a spirit of Santa Claus that is very special and that moms and dads embrace it and share it with their children and that brings joy and happiness to the children and their parents.

[Anonymous]

We host a Christmas party every year and hire someone to come dressed as Santa. All the parents provide him with pre-wrapped and labeled gifts so each child gets a present from him out of his big bag. Even the older kids who don't believe anymore love it and I swear it makes the Christmas magic come alive even for adults. Like, I hire the guy and I've met him when he's not dressed as Santa (his beard is real, as is his belly), but even I get a flutter of excitement when he comes jingling up the walkway to our house. We still have some really little kids in our friend group (newborn through 7th grade in all), so I imagine we'll keep doing this for a few more years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We never pretended Santa was real. But we still do it and enjoy it. It’s a game. Pageantry. Theater. It’s fun.

We've always said Santa is real if you believe in him. Our kids know he's not real but they choose to believe for the holiday and enjoy it. We all do, honestly. It is way more fun that way! And no, we don't believe that the purpose of Christmas is Santa, but he's a fun way to handle the gift part. I'm not sure my kids would enjoy as much seeing people dressed like the Magi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The lies have become so elaborate there are fourth graders that still believe in Santa, flying reindeer and magical stuffed elves. Lol, it isn’t for the kids at that point.

And? Who does it hurt for fourth graders to believe in magic? I never told my kids any “elaborate lies,” and answered their questions with things like, “hmm, what do you think?” Most kids will gradually figure it out over time, but many still like to play along and pretend. I certainly never told my parents I knew, but at some point of course they knew I did. But it was still fun.

+1

Our twins provided us with "evidence" the Christmas they were in fourth grade that they knew the elves weren't real. They gave us exhibits and everything, it was hysterical. We laughed so hard and answered all the questions truthfully and they decided they wanted the elves to come back the next year anyway because they were so much fun and they wanted to believe. That was last year and at some point I'm sure they'll be done with them, but what harm is it to have a little fun one season a year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the parents who think their kid is absolutely brilliant…yet they still believe in Santa, the Easter bunny and tooth fairy at 10.

Those kids are smart enough to say they believe in things that bring them gifts and money. So I'd argue those kids are brilliant.

[Anonymous]

My teen revealed to me recently that he knew Santa wasn’t real when he secretly wished for something as a test and didn’t get it for Christmas. Which, sad, I know. I don’t know what his secret wish was but I don’t know exactly what year that happened because he never let on. I also didn’t tell my parents that I knew Santa wasn’t real when I was 5 and heard them rustling and moving around a lot on Christmas Eve because I couldn’t sleep. So you may not know if they really believe or are playing along. Not that it matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the parents who think their kid is absolutely brilliant…yet they still believe in Santa, the Easter bunny and tooth fairy at 10.

Those kids are smart enough to say they believe in things that bring them gifts and money. So I'd argue those kids are brilliant.

Sure. I'm sure if they told their parents they didn't believe they wouldn't be getting any gifts right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the parents who think their kid is absolutely brilliant…yet they still believe in Santa, the Easter bunny and tooth fairy at 10.

Those kids are smart enough to say they believe in things that bring them gifts and money. So I'd argue those kids are brilliant.

Sure. I'm sure if they told their parents they didn't believe they wouldn't be getting any gifts right?

That’s when they start winking at their parents. Santa’s coming! Wink. I do the wink now with my kids when they start asking for things near Christmas. I tell them to ask Santa for it and wink at them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's only in 3rd grade it won't be the last year.

Parents who think their 3rd grader still believes are delusional

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's only in 3rd grade it won't be the last year.

I was going to say the opposite... Very unusual for a 3rd grader to still believe in Santa. Would assume there's a decent chance someone ruins it pre-this Xmas.

I’m suspicious that a kid in 3rd grade actually believes and isn’t just pretending b/c they are worried that if they “don’t believe they won’t receive” because they don’t really get how it works. And this isn’t about the poster who won’t write “from Santa” on the gift tag for the non believer.

My 8 yo third grader still believes. He found the elf a few weeks ago when we were in the basement looking for an extra baseball glove and I had to tell him the elf was pretend and now he is a big boy and can help make it special for his younger brother. He still 1000% believes in Santa. His older brother now 13, never stopped beleiving, I had to tell him when he was in 6th grade so he didn't get made fun of. I think everyone is really underestimating how much Covid and remote learning has delayed certain rights of passage for kids.

6th grade?! My 1st grader was smart enough to Google if Santa was real. At 6th grade he definitely knows from at least the internet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The lies have become so elaborate there are fourth graders that still believe in Santa, flying reindeer and magical stuffed elves. Lol, it isn’t for the kids at that point.

And? Who does it hurt for fourth graders to believe in magic? I never told my kids any “elaborate lies,” and answered their questions with things like, “hmm, what do you think?” Most kids will gradually figure it out over time, but many still like to play along and pretend. I certainly never told my parents I knew, but at some point of course they knew I did. But it was still fun.

This is similar to what my parents did and what I have done. We are a “if you don’t believe you don’t receive” family. Instead of this big sad moment of finding out Santa is not “real,” there’s just a gradual transition. Everyone still enjoys the rituals, cookies and notes for Santa, magic carrots and oats for the reindeer. It’s very sweet to find that your YA or teen has filled a stocking or snuck a Santa gift for you.

that's so messed up

I have a feeling you just want to be ugly, but to clarify, if you don’t believe, yiou don’t receive from Santa. You’re not excluded from anything and still receive gifts from everyone else. This has only happened once with a teen who noped out one year.

That still doesn't seem very fun and kind-spirited to me. But I didn't grow up with Santa my only knowledge of Santa is from TV and movies and it always seemed fun, the reality seems less so it seems toxic and competitive

There’s nothing toxic or competitive with Santa at our house. It’s ok not to post when you don’t know what you’re talking about.

WTF with the racist jerks? Go away and shut up.

Jewish isn’t a race. Go away and shut up.

[Anonymous]

3rd grade girl still going strong. Not going to bring it up unless she does. We also have a just turned 3 year old that is INTO IT this year so happy we get one year where both are 100% in with the magic of Santa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's only in 3rd grade it won't be the last year.

Parents who think their 3rd grader still believes are delusional

Or the kid is a bit slow, it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's only in 3rd grade it won't be the last year.

Parents who think their 3rd grader still believes are delusional

Or the kid is a bit slow, it happens.[/quote

Why is every kid who is slightly older, 3rd grade isn't old, who still wants to do kid stuff always labeled slow? It's a bit offensive.