My 8 year old chooses to believe. Like this year he said he decided he is going to still believe in Santa. He's all about fantasy and imagination. Dd 11 has a friend who still believes. DD and her other friends laugh about it but this friend genuinely believes. Dd told friend we got our elf on a shelf at a book store and dd said the friend stared at her accusingly and said 'well we got ours from the north pole'. This friend gets mindblown over simple things though and is a touch immature.

My 10.5yo dd still believes. We are really good at making it believable. I love that she thinks there is magic in the world. I only wish I could make more of her dreams come true as corny as that sounds. I still remember when I thought anything was possible with a wish.

Anonymous wrote:My grandchildren have no religious background. They told me Jesus brings them Christmas presents. It's all a plot by Macy's anyway. I think greedy children keep up the pretense.

You sound like a delight! It is possible to believe in both Santa and God - I did as a child and so did my kids. If your own adult children are non religious then I guess your teachings must not have sunk in?

Just make sure you are not saying anything to her that is a flat out lie. Become more nuanced in your discussions, focusing on the spirit of Christmas, the tradition of St. Nicholas, and how social mythology is created and becomes its own fiction, but doesn't take away from the beauty of its origins. Make her aware that she is maturing and along with her growing mind, she is coming into a deeper understanding of traditions, shedding childish stories and understanding the needs of the world better. Using holiday charitable giving is a great way to approach this. She should instinctively begin to understand that if Santa is real you shouldn't need a toy drive.

It is important that she have the adult explanation of her "belief" to ward off the teasing kids and save face.

I think these kids are faking it. They don't really believe. I faked it for years, as did my DD. I knew she was faking. It takes one to know one, I guess.

Anonymous wrote:My nephew is in 7th grade and still believes. I think this is way outside the range of normal.

10 year old is probably in her last year. Just enjoy it.

My sisters rule of thumb (different parent than above child) - no child should enter middle school believing in Santa. I tend to agree with this sister, not the one with the 7th grader.

Love Santa! But ITA that by the time they are in late elementary school (5th/6th grade) they really do know. They might not be ready to give Santa up quite yet at home and that's o.k.

But 10 is probably the oldest that I would take a kid to sit on Santa's lap at the mall. Generally when they start feeling a little embarrassed to be seen standing in the Santa line, they know...

I doubt she truly still believes. America is filled with ten yen year olds who PRETEND they believe.

WAIT! What??? There’s NO SANTA?!

I think 10 is too old to still believe. But it’s also the perfect time to find out the truth. But I would break it gently.

My grandchildren have no religious background. They told me Jesus brings them Christmas presents. It's all a plot by Macy's anyway. I think greedy children keep up the pretense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nephew is in 7th grade and still believes. I think this is way outside the range of normal.

10 year old is probably in her last year. Just enjoy it.

My sisters rule of thumb (different parent than above child) - no child should enter middle school believing in Santa. I tend to agree with this sister, not the one with the 7th grader.

I'm 52 and those of you non-believers are simply heathens.

Middle school is filled with heathens who are ready and willing to tease the heck out of the believers.

Santa doesn't visit bad kids.

What is wrong with you?
Namecalling people who don't think like you is pathetic.

Huh? PP is saying that kids who would "tease the heck" out of other kids are bad kids.

Anonymous wrote:My first-year non-believer said the other day, "Can you still put 'From Santa' on some of the gift tags?"

Made me teary-eyed. It's hard to give it up!

Awwww!!

My 7 & 9 definitely still believe. I love it.

she knows

OP, I believed until I was 10 or 11 too. I don't think I was devastated, but just kind of sad that there wasn't magic. I will say, however, it certainly helped me become an atheist... which I'm grateful for.

Once you stop believing in Santa, you become Santa.