I told my kids that Santa is real; that he is a man with a wonderful giving heart that truly lived and that he became a Saint after he died and that we live in his spirit when we give each other presents and share his generousity.

Apparently the first time I asked my Mum is Santa was real, my Mum’s reply was “what do you think?” The next year I mentioned it again which much more certainty and said I had been told at school so she told me the truth, but not to tell my sister as she is a few years younger than me.
Mum got away with it with her for an extra year too. When it came to our kids and they started asking for outlandishly expensive presents we told the kids Santa might run out of them and they might have to ask him for something else just in case!!! (Like a big car like you’ve got – that one stunned us) They weren’t old enough to understand that you have to grown up to have one)) They got given good toy ones though and they haven’t scratched them yet. One wanted a dog. We already have one – no more that this stage. Fluffy toy one came to the rescue. Besides we were going away, a late decision and it wasn’t fair to expect somebody to look after a new puppy. We always adopt animals from a shelter so it wouldn’t be fair to disrupt a new puppy’s routine so soon.

my! yeah just say that maybe that kid was naughty so they didn’t get presents, obviously 🙂

Oh dear. My oldest child is 28 and the family joke is that she never asked and I never told her, although she figured it out at about age 11. She still says, “If you don’t believe, you don’t receive.”

keep the fantasy going as long as possible, kids grow up too fast these days and there is something magical about these things.

In our house miss 7 suspects the truth but isnt sure. We tell her santa is a magical ninja, he uses shadow clone jutsu to be in so many places at once (we watch a lot of naruto) and he has lots of helpers
If she outright asked i would ask who she thinks puts the present under the tree in the middle of the night before Christmas since our family presents we buy are already there wsy before. Then i would also point out if he wasnt real why do so many people know about him?

I had the same thing happen last week. I wasn’t sure how to handle it either, but I asked my son if he believed what the other kids said all the time. He said ‘no’ and his older brother told him that santa had to be real because ‘mum and dad couldn’t have left the snow prints through the house a few years ago’ – so I was lucky and didn’t have to say much, but I didn’t want to lie either. I would like my children to be able to be children as long as they can. This probably isn’t very helpful though, sorry!

My kids are 4 and 7. I have been asked, the answer is YES, he’s real. When asked about how he can be at ever shopping centre at the same time, my answer is ‘those are santas brothers, they help him by getting everyone’s Christmas wishes and taking them to santa’

I like keeping the magic of Christmas alive for as long as possible!

Ask the child “what do you believe?” They will come up with the answer and they want to believe!

My cousin spoilt it for her child by telling her the truth at a really young age. Turns out she wanted to be the centre of attention and didnt like santa getting all the thanks for the cool gifts ( she has some issues). But with my kids they know all the ones in the shops that you have your photos with are Helpers which report directly back to santa. I would say santa is true for thoose who truely believe in him and in good will and happiness for all at christmas time. preschool is to young to have that dream spoilt.

Keep things pretty abstract, ask what they think, and then discuss around the real meaning of Christmas. We have said Santa is not so much about presents (that is done with lots of helpers), but about bringing people together. It’s quite confusing though. Best to avoid saying he is real, if you can.

Well, that would be very confusing for your child isn’t it !. I remembered when my daughter were small , my friend told me to tell them that he is real and play the “cookies and milk” for Santa the night before and he will eat it and leave you with a present . My daughter was so excited and she left some on the balcony and we were so busy during that week , we forgot what she did . Next day she bawled her eyes out and said Santa forgot about her and I quickly told her he had a lot of people to go to and possibly he was running late. In a panic that night we took the cookies and made it into mess , then left with a small gift and then she was very happy and believed he was running late . Few years later down the track she told everyone Santa is not real it was all make-believe. Moral of the story- kids will work it out themselves anyway lol !

When my daughter was about five I decided to tell her that a long time ago there was a real Santa named St. Nicholas, and he would distribute toys to all the boys and girls who had been good. All the Santas she sees now are Santa’s helpers who are continuing to do Santa’s work, and that sometimes even mummies and daddies help Santa with his work by buying presents.