I have two girls. 8 and 6.. Elf on the Shelf going strong and they totally believe Santa is real. My oldest's classmates have tried telling her that Santa isn't real but she still believes.
How did you handle this situation? I don't want them to lose that but i know its inevitable.
But what really surprises me is that they all seem to really believe in that the stupid Elf is real despite tons of evidence to the contrary. Yesterday they asked me why he had a tag on his back!!!
Every kid is different. My oldest son (9 now) really didn't believe when he was about 5. My wife responded with "You don't believe, you don't receive". That delayed a little bit but I think he was told 2 years ago. I made it clear that he was not to tell his sister (3 years younger) and any of his other friends who still believed.
He's responded to that and my daughter is none the wiser.
Sometimes it is just a matter of stopping the spread.
I was a strange kid because I remember thinking at 8 or so, 'Wait. How is this possible? How does he go to every house in one night? And one sled for all those presents? This is bogus.'
Every kid is different. My oldest son (9 now) really didn't believe when he was about 5. My wife responded with "You don't believe, you don't receive". That delayed a little bit but I think he was told 2 years ago. I made it clear that he was not to tell his sister (3 years younger) and any of his other friends who still believed.
He's responded to that and my daughter is none the wiser.
Sometimes it is just a matter of stopping the spread.
Had the same conversation with all three of my kids (now 18, 16 and 12) Just broke it down as Santa becomes an idea of joy. Spread the joy and don't ruin it for others.
Your kids will know long before they ask you. Some of them will not ask because they know the answer, but don't want you to confirm it. Let them believe as long as they want to.
parents in uproar - I think teacher was fired
Montville NJ
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Guess we didn’t sell it hard enough
We knew.. so we borrow a Santa suit from my sister in laws father in law and we have my wife and I putting out the gifts in the video and in walks my oldest as Santa...
When my youngest watched the video the next day.. he was so excited that he caught Santa on video.. that lasted about another 2 years and then it was over. He found out in school...
But it sure was priceless the expression on his face..
parents in uproar - I think teacher was fired
Montville NJ Link - ( New Window )
What a witch.
If and when I ever have kids, I'm leaning toward not feeding them the myth. Doesn't seem necessary.
Went on for a few years. They still liked putting out cookies, even when they "knew." Later they analyzed the handwriting on the little gift tags ... suspected my wife's handwriting.
They're 20 and 18 and I don't think we ever TRULY admitted the truth to them. lol
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key words here are "I don't have kids" if you did you would feel differently.
Went on for a few years. They still liked putting out cookies, even when they "knew." Later they analyzed the handwriting on the little gift tags ... suspected my wife's handwriting.
They're 20 and 18 and I don't think we ever TRULY admitted the truth to them. lol
We have four daughters... youngest is 26 and she still "believes" (she contends she is entitled to the same # of years the oldest continues to receive "from santa" gifts... so if we stop or reduce gifts, she insists she gets the "old rule" for 8 more years)