Believing in Santa usually ends by age 10 or 11 years old. It is very okay for your kids to believe in Santa Claus. It is not lying to your kids. When they start asking about if he is real, you can leave it as an open-ended question. It has actually been proven by several psychologist and clinical psychiatrist that it is part of a child’s development to have them work this out for themselves.
That being said, I have a story of a Dad who wanted his daughter to still believe after his son had worked it out. He did not want his daughter to “be told” and ruin the magic of Christmas.
I got a phone call from a father who wanted a way to stop his then 13yr old son from telling his 6yr daughter that Santa was not real. He was looking for any ideas to “prove” his son wrong for his daughter’s sake.
I have known this father for a very long time. He is a very avid hunter. I asked him if he still had his trail cameras that we can do something to make his son question what he thinks he believes. I told the Dad that on Christmas Eve, set up the cameras, leave some presents that would be from Santa on the front porch and leave the door unlocked. I would come in and place the presents around the tree and let the camera “catch me in the act”. I also told him to bet something his son is really wanting but the he would never consider buying at his age.
The father told the son that Santa was real and he would bet him a motorcycle that he wants if Santa is not real. The son of course agreed and was just beside himself with excitement because he was sure he had his Dad this time.
Christmas Eve comes, I come in the house with my red bag full of presents, start placing the presents under the tree. I stand in front of the cameras eating a cookie and drinking a half glass of milk. Dad comes down and we have a conversation again in front of the cameras We shake hands and I go out the door.
Christmas morning, the son comes down the stairs, goes straight to the cameras and pulls the SD cards. He puts them in the laptop and brings up the images. His Dad later told me he just stood there in shock. He started saying it was Dad, then he got to the pictures of his father and I having a conversation and shaking hands. He was in complete shock and awe.
Then the most precious thing happened according to the Dad. His daughter was standing looking at the photos over her brother’s shoulder. When he reached the end of the sequence of images and sees me go out the door. She slaps her brother in the back of the head and yells, “I TOLD YOU HE WAS REAL! NOW MAYBE YOU’LL LISTEN TO ME.”
The son is now 16 years old. He very much knows the truth, but if you ask him he will tell you that he is a stout believer in Santa because he has the proof.
So instead of stealing part of your child’s magic of Christmas. Just let them figure it out for themselves. Don’t lie to them, but let them start asking the questions.
Merry Christmas, you never know where you will see me.
