How old were your children when they found out Father Christmas wasn't real?

Oh no, I'm so out of the habit, I never thought of that for this year 😲

I'll send FC a note.

Callistemon21

^As far as mine are concerned they still do believe in Father Christmaa. One is 51, the other 49^.
😂

Father Christmas couldn't find my DC once they left home.

Same here - funny how he can find them if they’re staying here on Christmas Eve, though.

Our daughters, GC, GGC still believe, eldest over 60. Lovely, and it makes pressies quite easy to accomplish.

Who else but FC would give your list consideration?

This has bought back the lovely memory of my dad, having been to midnight service he would come into see me lying awake waiting for Christmas morning and say you had better go to sleep I have seen Father Christmas near your school, he will be hear soon. It worked every time!

The age of innocence my two were very disappointed to hear FC didn’t exist their friends told them. It most certainly wasn’t me because I know he does exist!

Mine return home at Christmas and when they are at their own homes, their children still insist in believing in Father Christmas.

As far as mine are concerned they still do believe in Father Christmaa. One is 51, the other 49.
😂

Father Christmas couldn't find my DC once they left home.

DS was 12. He knew that he had to be real as his mum wouldn't tell a lie. Bless.

As far as mine are concerned they still do believe in Father Christmaa. One is 51, the other 49. Father Christmas has always only been responsible for what is found in their stockings in other words trivia and inexpensive items.

All the main presents come from family and friends and have labels saying who everything is from. DGC (15,12) are also devout believers.

I don't remember feeling lied to at all. It was all a bit of fantasy for young children like the tooth fairy, Easter Bunny, Disney characters, that you grew out of as you aged. My DD says she just felt a bit disappointed at first that there was no man in a red suit and elves and reindeer but she enjoyed it while it lasted. Eldest GD says she doesn't remember ever believing in Santa Claus but she enjoys the pressies and Christmas in general so she's willing to join in 'with all the nonsense' if it makes everyone else happy 🙂

Mine have never admitted that they don't believe in Father Christmas

I can remember arguing quite strongly with girls at school who told me FC was your parents.
Of course he wasn’t!

I was probably 7 or 8, certainly no more than 9, since we moved area. The reason I was so sure was that I was well aware from a very early age that money was seriously tight - how on earth would my folks have been able to afford all the (admittedly relatively little) things in our stockings or pillow cases?
They’re both long gone now, but I’m still very grateful to them for making that effort to create the magical excitement of FC coming.

Mine have never believed in Santa.

Frankly, I always felt uncomfortable with the fantasy as I didn't like telling what I felt were lies. DS had a pal with an older brother, and said pal loudly sneered when they were discussing Xmas one year (aged about 6 or 7), and said that it was parents who bought presents, not FC. DS didn't say anything, but then a few days later, alone in the car without his younger sister, he asked me if FC was real. I said that I wouldn't lie to him, it was all just a nice story for small children, and would he please not spoil it for his little sister. He was quite happy to be told, and delighted to be included in the secret.

Travelling down to Austria for an unexpected Xmas skiing holiday my 5year son said in the car, 'Mam how will Santa know where to bring our presents?'
'Don't be silly ' my 7 year daughter said, Mam and Dad buy the presents and they are in the back of the car.
He wasn't happy and it took years for him to enjoy Xmas.

Always thought the idea that someone else (F.Christmas),was able to supply expensive pressies rather worrying. So, when my children were small we explained that whereas FC definitely visited (or not if they had been incredibly bad that year), we, as parents had to pay them to supply the pressies. AND...that part of our payments had to be kept back so that children without parents who could pay would still get some.

Worked well, I think all my children knew before secondary school. Worked hard on the older ones NOT to disillusion the younger ones.

Myself, I realised when my I saw my Dad bringing in the pressies after he got fed up with me not going to sleep. He did make a lame excuse about FC not knowing which door was my bedroom, but it was enough for me to fathom it out - I was 8and a half years of age.

Loveliest comment was from my youngest, when he was about 6 years old, always a very deep sleeper. Christmas morning, he told me how he had watched vfrom his bedroom window FC and the sleigh, etc fly across the sky - and he really beleived he had done so.

I really can't remember regarding DDs, but as a child I didn't take at all to the idea of his sneaking around our house at the dead of night. So for several years my presents came from Eeyore.

My older two were quite young, under 8, but didn't let on because they thought it would spoil the fun for me 😁 I'm glad they didn't because they had a younger brother. He found out from school friends by the time he was 5 anyway, and happily let everyone know there was no such thing. When asked where his presents came from then he was a bit flummoxed but thought probably the elves brought them.

Daddima, it would certainly have spoiled the magic for me as a child to know FC wasn’t real. The excitement on Christmas Eve was huge and I well remember desperately trying to stay awake to see him - unlike some, I was never afraid - despite being told that he wouldn’t come to children who weren’t fast asleep!

Think my kids were around 8 yrs when they found out
They weren’t all that fussed about it.
Up to that point they had loved the whole FC vibe tho.

mumofmadboys

We never told our boys about Father Christmas. They had sacks of presents and knew about the myth of FC. We feel the story of Jesus' birth is special enough . I don't ever feel they got a raw deal and I always hated the idea of parents lying to children.

I agree you MOMB.

We did mention Father Christmas - but only in relation to things like 'The Night Before Christmas' which they had as a book -so they were aware. It was never a big deal in our house. They knew the presents they got were from us. They were all smart children and I wouldn't have wanted to lie to them anyway.

My boys never wrote letters to FC or all the other things that reinforce the myth. They might have done it at school though.

As a child I was frightened of going to see FC and having to sit on his knee etc. I find it a bit weird that we encourage this whilst all the while telling children to beware of strangers ...

One of my children was a nervous child and would never have slept if he thought FC was coming down the chimney and into his room. Quite understandable in my opinion.

Sorry if this is a bit bah humbug but I don't think my children missed out on anything

I don't remember how old my bairns were. I know I was seven when I worked it out but kept quiet as I knew my mother liked playing Santa Claus and my little sister still thought Santa was real.

Of course he is real I never doubted it until my 15 year old granddaughter told me the truth.

My just turned 8 yr old GS is asking is he real! trouble is he has adhd and he will go balistic at his mum for lying!

Oi!! What do you mean he isn't real? Of course he's real, just ask Rudolph & his other reindeer friends, they'll tell you!

Awww, bless the poor lad, Foxglove77.
He was trying to save his parents money, too!

My granddaughter recently asked me to tell her the truth about Santa, so I did. I told her that he was originally a real person called Saint Nicholas. Unfortunately he didn't have reindeer and couldn't give billions of children gifts, but he did help children who lived nearby.
I told her that Christmas is a 'fantasy' time of year for little children and she shouldn't let this upset her Christmas, as it is still a special time of year. She accepted this, as I suspect she had known for some time!
Anyway, she has a new baby brother due any day now, so she can share the fantasy with him!!

Btw, don't tell Santa I don't believe anymore, as I'd still love a surprise gift from him....and I don't want to upset the elves!