My son just turned 10 and has his doubts about Santa Clause.... what is the best way to break it to him?

Question

My son just turned 10 and has his doubts about Santa Clause.... what is the best way to break it to him?

Answer 1

They've got books you can read, it tells the story of how St. Nicolas was once a real person and helped bring gifts to children, and that parents today 'help' by continuing the tradition... I'd read it to him then just be totally honest.  Even once my sister and I knew there was no Santa Claus, my mom still had Santa gifts... and if he has younger siblings, you can have him help with Santa gifts too... but be sure he knows not to spill the beans!  :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0758613...

Answer 2

   I think it's beautiful that he's kept his innocence and the power to believe.(: Assuming that he knows that the birth of Jesus is the [real] reason to celebrate the season, I think breaking the news about Santa Claus will be relatively easy. Tell him that believing in Santa is a part of the magic parents want to create for their children. Tell him stories from your childhood....how you left cookies out for him, etc.

Most of all, tell him that the toys he received were from a heart of love from his parents. Explain that every child grows up to realize that Santa may just be a figment of their imagination, but tell him, in your own words, that Santa is all about love.

Answer 3

tell him that your a big fat liar that has deceived him for all these years.

gosh darn - some parents really get to me.

Answer 4

Leave him alone, if he has "doubts" he already knows the truth.  I have never heard of it being necessary for a parent to "break it to" their kids about Santa.  Kid's aren't stupid.

Answer 5

lmao he is 10 and still thinks there is a Santa?? See, this is why I don't lie to my children. Then I won't have to see that devastation in their little faces later in life when they find out the truth. You should of told him a while ago!  

Answer 6

for gods sake, quit lying to the kid.  might as well give it up about the tooth fairy, easter bunny & god too.

Answer 7

I think honesty is always best. Always.

So what should an honest parent do when a child learns about Santa/Tooth fairy/other collective fictions, either at school or at day care? It's bound to happen.

Not wanting to be the killjoy who told the entire kindergarten there is no white-haired man in the sky, toys don't fall from heaven, etc., I decided the best thing was to explain that we All Pretend Together. This way Santa can still be real, like a character in a book. And this way my son can still play along with the fantasy while knowing the truth.

Answer 8

!0?

Santa Clause?

Wow!

I knew when I was 5 and never taught my daughters such things.

I would know that they would feel betrayed and lied to, I know because I never completely trusted my parents to tell the truth again once I found out.

Answer 9

My answer to my kids was "when you stop believing in him, he will stop coming".   So when they 'really' knew (usually the next Christmas), the older ones became my elves.   You will know when the time is right.

The two oldest even created the illusion (noises) that Santa was coming about 5am one time.   The oldest one cupped his hands and they became the feet on the walls, while the next one down had 'santa sleigh bells'.   Well, at 5am and you are dead asleep.....it sounds real to a little kid!   She came running out of her room into my room (where I had my pillow over my head trying not to bust out laughing)....then down the hall...where the tree was already lit, the cookies/milk were gone....then we all 'sleepily' came in -- even though we had been up for 1/2 hr already.

Good times and wonderful memories!!

Answer 10

with my kids i tell them that if you believe he exists than he does for you.  if you don't believe than he doesn't but he will still give you gifts if you are good

Answer 11

You don't need to come right out with it.  This Christmas, don't do so much of the big "Santa Hoopla" but still write that the gifts are from Santa.  He may ask you, if he does, be honest, but add that there's a magic at Christmas time, and some people think that is what Santa is.  He may not ask you and just play along.  He may continue to do that all of his life.  I'm 30 and my gifts are still "from Santa".  I like it that way.

Answer 12

What I told my son when he told me one day that he didn't think that there was a santa clause was that there was no person names santa clause but santa clause was a spirit and he shows himself through other people.  That any one who shows christmas spirit then they have the spirit of santa clause in them and he really liked that so every christmas now he tells every one that he made cookies or a pie for them because he has the spirit of santa clause in him.  It is really cute.

Answer 13

Why tell him anything? I agree with the other responder who said it is important to tell him the true Christmas story about Jesus, but Santa Claus is a fun tradition.

I'm glad I got to believe in him, I wouldn't want anyone to have denied me that. It was so fun  and exciting. It is still fun with my kids. Why we even made magic reindeer food (a combination of Quaker oats and glitter that you sprinkle on the snow that the reindeer can see).

Plus my dad told me that once he started going around saying Santa didn't exist he didn't get another gift from Santa just from his folks. You just don't know about that Santa.

Answer 14

He is 10 and it is very surprising he still actually believes in Santa Clause.  Just tell him that it is just a nice fantasy for young kids but let him know that he will still get presents from "Santa" even though he knows he isn't real.

Answer 15

Don't - just tell him the more you believe in Santa the more you get at Christmas.

If he believes in Santa than it is  real to him.

Same goes for the Easter Bunny.

Let kids believe, don't tell them anything that will break that spirit.

Answer 16

There is no need to break anything to him.  Children naturally figure it out on their own.