If you don't believe you don't receive is how we treat it. Oldest is 10. The full wrath of his mother will come down on him if he even gives an eye-roll when talking about Santa in front of his younger siblings. Today I he wouldn't get in a photo with Santa but he did go up and whisper what he would like for Christmas. I found that incredibly sweet and he will definitely have that under the tree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a clinical psychologist, and this is one of the hallmarks of diminished cognitive functioning.

...or maye the kid doesn't *want* to critically analyze Santa, you know? Leave the poor kid alone.

Sorry, disagree. A sign of immaturity but not diminished cognitive function. Many immature eleven year still believe in magical thinking. Many 12 and 13 years olds do as well.

Sarcasm, people. Learn to recognize the signs.

Thank you. I'm actually about as far from a psychologist as you can be.

It's kind of funny, given that these posters are analyzing the gullibility of an 11 year old.

My 9 year old DS came to me the other day and asked me about Santa. I said "what do you think" he said "I don't know". Then I asked him if he really believes that a man delivers presents to the entire world in one night. He said no, but he still thought that maybe there was a real Santa. I guess my DH will handle it. I don't mind him being so innocent that he believes in Santa a little bit. I told him Santa is in our heart, and that is all that matters. I remember when I found out the Superman was not real. I was three and had just seen Superman 2. I was crushed. I never truly believed in Santa though. We don't push Santa, but my kids take things pretty seriously.

Lots of kids learn the "truth" about Santa from other kids. My kid was told at about age 6 by the counselors at a summer camp. (He also came home from the same camp asking what "sexing" was. As a self-defense measure before some jerk slams me, you've probably heard of this camp, it has a good reputation locally and, no, we didn't send him back next year. )

My point is, maybe OP's kid doesn't have "this" type of friend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a clinical psychologist, and this is one of the hallmarks of diminished cognitive functioning.

...or maye the kid doesn't *want* to critically analyze Santa, you know? Leave the poor kid alone.

Sorry, disagree. A sign of immaturity but not diminished cognitive function. Many immature eleven year still believe in magical thinking. Many 12 and 13 years olds do as well.

Sarcasm, people. Learn to recognize the signs.

Thank you. I'm actually about as far from a psychologist as you can be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a clinical psychologist, and this is one of the hallmarks of diminished cognitive functioning.

...or maye the kid doesn't *want* to critically analyze Santa, you know? Leave the poor kid alone.

Sorry, disagree. A sign of immaturity but not diminished cognitive function. Many immature eleven year still believe in magical thinking. Many 12 and 13 years olds do as well.

Sarcasm, people. Learn to recognize the signs.

My ten year old is incredibly bright. She "believes" in Santa -- but not really. Intellectually she has known he is a fictional character -- she's known that for years -- but she believes in him the same way she attributes human traits to her beloved stuffed animals.

OP, by "science principals" do you mean "scientific principles"? Because I think that having a firm grasp of the English language should come before bashing some kid's imagination.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 41. If I told my mother I didn't believe in Santa, I would never receive another Christmas present ever again. Mine is 9 and is in the 4th grade. I want her to believe in Santa for as long as I can possibly sustain it. No, there is nothing "wrong" with an 11 year old who still believes in Santa.

There is a lot wrong if an 11.5 yr old believes a fat, jolly elf lives in the North Pole with lots of other elfs and they make Christmas presents year round and he has a sleigh with eight reindeer, plus one with a bright shiny nose that is the leader on foggy Christmas Eves. Yes, in my house, we all still get presents from Santa but I don't think any of believe the above. My youngest is 11 and he had doubts as early as six but by eight, he knew the truth.

Speaking of not being the sharpest tool in the woodshed....

most of us know what how to make words plural. Please don't come back and blame it on a typo, we all know that's BS. Your grammatical constructs are abysmal at best.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a clinical psychologist, and this is one of the hallmarks of diminished cognitive functioning.

...or maye the kid doesn't *want* to critically analyze Santa, you know? Leave the poor kid alone.

Sorry, disagree. A sign of immaturity but not diminished cognitive function. Many immature eleven year still believe in magical thinking. Many 12 and 13 years olds do as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 41. If I told my mother I didn't believe in Santa, I would never receive another Christmas present ever again. Mine is 9 and is in the 4th grade. I want her to believe in Santa for as long as I can possibly sustain it. No, there is nothing "wrong" with an 11 year old who still believes in Santa.

And it's a problem that your mom isn't going to buy you a Christmas gift at the age of 41? Geez lady...

As far as the original question - my kid is in first grade - I have never told her santa is "real" and I wish the kids would just drop the whole santa thing and get a clue and realize it's not true. It's so annoying to me to have to play along for my kid's friends and then my daughter starts in on wanting to do that whole santa thing and meh, I don't care.

I stopped believing when I was @4 - but I pretended for several years after for the sake of my much older siblings.

Who emotionally abused you as a kid?

I'll get you the name of a good therapist.

Anonymous wrote:I am 41. If I told my mother I didn't believe in Santa, I would never receive another Christmas present ever again. Mine is 9 and is in the 4th grade. I want her to believe in Santa for as long as I can possibly sustain it. No, there is nothing "wrong" with an 11 year old who still believes in Santa.

And it's a problem that your mom isn't going to buy you a Christmas gift at the age of 41? Geez lady...

As far as the original question - my kid is in first grade - I have never told her santa is "real" and I wish the kids would just drop the whole santa thing and get a clue and realize it's not true. It's so annoying to me to have to play along for my kid's friends and then my daughter starts in on wanting to do that whole santa thing and meh, I don't care.

I stopped believing when I was @4 - but I pretended for several years after for the sake of my much older siblings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that believing in Santa is no more stupid than believing in God. Yes, it does indicate the child is not the sharpest tool in the woodshed, but on the plus side, one day they may be able to run in the republican primary for president.

Wow - you're nasty.

I agree. Some people just can't help themselves from being sharp-tongued and negative, even in as non-threatening a forum discussion as children believing in Santa.

Anonymous wrote:I am 41. If I told my mother I didn't believe in Santa, I would never receive another Christmas present ever again. Mine is 9 and is in the 4th grade. I want her to believe in Santa for as long as I can possibly sustain it. No, there is nothing "wrong" with an 11 year old who still believes in Santa.

There is a lot wrong if an 11.5 yr old believes a fat, jolly elf lives in the North Pole with lots of other elfs and they make Christmas presents year round and he has a sleigh with eight reindeer, plus one with a bright shiny nose that is the leader on foggy Christmas Eves. Yes, in my house, we all still get presents from Santa but I don't think any of believe the above. My youngest is 11 and he had doubts as early as six but by eight, he knew the truth.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a clinical psychologist, and this is one of the hallmarks of diminished cognitive functioning.

...or maye the kid doesn't *want* to critically analyze Santa, you know? Leave the poor kid alone.

I'll leave her alone -- but you seem to be agreeing with me on the cognitive issue. I'm not planning on ruining her Xmas dreams.