What age does Santa stop coming?

Psychologist Chris Boyle of the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom received responses from 1,200 people from around the world and found that the average that children stopped believing in Santa was also age 8. These numbers seem to be holding steady, despite the availability of information online.


Should an 11 year old still believes in Santa?

"It's not an overnight shift in thinking," says Laura Lamminen, Ph. D., a pediatric psychologist at Children's Health℠, "and there's no set age where children should know the truth about Santa Claus." Dr. Lamminen says each family and each child within that family will be ready to talk about Santa at different ages.

Do 12 year olds still believe in Santa?

The Age Most Kids Figure It Out

In most cases, eight or nine is the age that children stop believing in Santa, but not for the reasons you'd think. While most parents would probably blame their child's peers for blowing the whistle, it actually has more to do with the normal development of a child's brain.


Do 10 year olds still believe in Santa?

A study from 1978 found that about 85 percent of young American kids believe in Santa, and researchers today confirm those numbers still hold true, with many kids believing until about age eight.

How do I tell my 12 year old about Santa?

10 Ways To Tell Your Child The Truth About Santa
  1. 10/10 Tell Them About Everyone at Once.
  2. 9/10 Explain the Magic of Christmas.
  3. 8/10 Offer To Still Label Gifts From Santa.
  4. 7/10 Tell Them the Story of When You Found Out.
  5. 6/10 Have Older Kids in the Family Talk With Them After.
  6. 5/10 Find a Book or Movie First.


What If Santa Really Delivered Presents In One Night?



Should a 14 year old still believe in Santa?

Because Santa is synonymous with childhood, the belief in him must go away at one point or another if we want our kids to grow up. There's no specific age, necessarily. No edict that at exactly 11 3/4, a child will cease to believe.

What age do you find out Santa isn't real?

As for when the shift starts to happen, it's different depending on the child, but expect the questioning to get serious somewhere between the ages of 7 and 10.

What age tell child Santa isn't real?

While everyone is different, according to a recent poll by House Method, the average age kids in the United States stop believing in Santa Claus is 8.5 years. So, chances are good that somewhere around then is the right age for your child to learn the true story about Santa Claus.


Is it OK to not believe in Santa?

The first good news is that Santa Claus does not really care about what you or your children believe, and he will not be upset and will not punish you if you don't believe in him. So there is no harm in not believing.

What to say when kid asks if Santa is real?

“Having a little bit of grief over recognizing the world is not a magical place is natural.” Instead of whipping out another lie, tell your child it's OK to be sad, and admit that it's fun to think Santa is real.

Is Santa real or is it your parents?

Santa is real in the sense that he was an actual person. Otherwise known as Saint Nicholas, his story goes all the way back to the 3rd century. He was a monk who was born in 280 A.D. in modern-day Turkey. As an only child, he was given great affection by his parents.


Should I tell my 10 year old the truth about Santa?

Adults should not lie to children about Santa. When a child asks the question as to whether Santa is real or not, they're already at a developmental stage to distinguish between reality and fictional characters.

How long should I let my kid believe in Santa?

There isn't a right or wrong age to tell kids the truth

Usually, somewhere between the ages of five and seven kids begin to think a little more critically. And it occurs to them that flying reindeer and a guy coming down the chimney might be a little far fetched.

What do you call a child who doesn't believe in Santa?

What do you call a kid who doesn't believe in Santa? A rebel without a Claus.


Should I tell my kids there is no Santa?

Research shows that kids who are lied to by their parents are more likely to lie themselves, so it is always a good idea to tell the truth if possible. Don't use Santa as a tool for motivating your kid. Letting them grow through fantasy and imagination is positive.

How do you explain Santa to a 10 year old?

Explain that Santa is a symbol
  1. …of someone who lived a long, long time ago called St. Nicholas who secretly gave money to people who needed it.”
  2. …to be kind and generous to other people in our family or even outside our family, especially people who have less than we do.”


Is the elf real yes or no?

Because the Elf on the Shelf “moves” each night, belief can sometimes be suspended into thinking that it is real. And for all intents and purposes, the Elf on the Shelf is real. It's a real doll, after all.


Do 8 year olds still believe in Santa?

If you're wondering if your kids are still expecting Santa to bring their presents this year, most have stopped believing in Old St Nick by the age of eight, according to the first international academic "Santa survey," while many parents wished that they still believed in Father Christmas even as adults.

Is it normal for a 13 year old to still believe in Santa?

"There is no such thing as being too old to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy," Kelman tells Yahoo Life. "Letting kids figure it out on their own is preferable to parents breaking the news to them.

When should I tell my 11 year old about Santa?

While there is no “right” time to talk with your child about Santa, experts agree that letting your child take the lead is usually best. Your child may be showing signs that they are ready for this conversation when they start questioning Santa's magic.


Does lying about Santa hurt kids?

“There is no evidence that belief, and eventual disbelief in Santa, affects parental trust in any significant way. Furthermore, not only do children have the tools to ferret out the truth; but engaging with the Santa story may give them a chance to exercise these abilities,” said Wooley.

Do parents hide your elf on the shelf?

Each morning, the elf chooses a new vantage point from which to keep an eye on the kids. The night before Christmas, the elf flies off one last time to spend the year with Santa until reappearing next season. Every night, a parent hides the elf in a new place.

Do kids think Santa is real?

Preschoolers likely believe that Santa has a special mind, that he may know some things that most other adults don't know but not everything. So, young children typically believe that Santa exists, but in a more mundane form than adults let on.


Is Santa a human or elf?

If you are talking about the character that came from the legend of the Saint he is both a man and an elf depending on which legend you believe in.

When did Santa born?

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey.