When do you break the news to your kids? (Spoiler alert)

Trail_Addict
Trail_Addict Posts: 1,340 Member
edited December 17 in Chit-Chat
When do you break the news to your kids that there is no Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, or Easter Bunny? (And don't even get me started about Christopher Columbus, and the true story of Thanksgiving (US) and the Pilgrims)

I've got a toddler, and these things cross my mind.
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Replies

  • tmarie2715
    tmarie2715 Posts: 1,111 Member
    When they start asking questions, soul crusher. Geez!
  • Oliver_Cat_13
    Oliver_Cat_13 Posts: 51 Member
    My mom told me when I was 10, I think.
  • katemme
    katemme Posts: 191
    I think growing up and going to school, their friends will probably tell them and they can figure it out on their own. My parents never had 'the talk' with me about fictional holiday characters not being real.
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    I never taught my son to believe in those things, so I never had to "break the news" to him - I told him they were all fun things that were done for different holidays/events, but that they weren't real and not to ruin it for any other kids.

    It probably helped that he was terrified of mascots or anything in costume when he was little - he liked knowing they weren't real.
  • hanna6774
    hanna6774 Posts: 225
    WHAT???????!!!!!!!WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUSE???!!!!! NO EASTER BUNNY????!!!!!! NO TOOTH FAIRY?????!!!!! You must have had a moment of temporary insanity.......I forgive you LOL
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    I don't. They usually figure it out on their own. My 11 year old hasn't told me yet that she knows better, so we just keep pretending. Its fun :)
  • Minnie92x
    Minnie92x Posts: 107
    My brother told me at about 6 :frown:
  • foremant86
    foremant86 Posts: 1,115 Member
    you could be like my sister and just crush their imagination from day 1. She never let them believe in santa clause or tooth fairy or easter bunny or anything else like that.....and she wonders why they have no imagination.


    Seriously don't worry about it, kids figure it out on their own in due time. Just let them be kids.
  • Cooriander
    Cooriander Posts: 2,848 Member
    Why tell them?
  • Jade17694
    Jade17694 Posts: 584 Member
    My mum just let us find out on our own - why upset them when there's no need to. They'll hear it around school etc anyway so you won't need to :)
  • Jade17694
    Jade17694 Posts: 584 Member
    you could be like my sister and just crush their imagination from day 1. She never let them believe in santa clause or tooth fairy or easter bunny or anything else like that.....and she wonders why they have no imagination.


    Seriously don't worry about it, kids figure it out on their own in due time. Just let them be kids.

    agreed.
  • jankleberry
    jankleberry Posts: 508
    I remember my mum telling me. I had already figured out Santa and had my suspicions on the tooth fairy.

    The easter bunny on the other hand... That was devastating news!

    I loved it. A bunny that brought chocolate!!! Probably why I'm here now...
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    My kids figured it out when they were able to read - they recognized my handwriting and their dad's handwriting on presents.

    I tried to make it look different, but I'm just not very creative I guess.

    They were probably around 5 and said to us "We know you guys are Santa, the Easter Bunny, but we've decided to pretend we don't know yet".

    They're 13 and 16 and still "pretend". LOL
  • Super_mom
    Super_mom Posts: 185
    I told my kids at age 3
  • sixisCHANGEDjk
    sixisCHANGEDjk Posts: 243
    I figured out Santa Clause for myself. Playing with my sister one day and uncovered a pile of toys in the spare bedroom closet. Wouldn't you know it was the same pile of toys I got Christmas morning. I never have really used any of those with my kids but always made sure they respected other peoples wished to do so and not spoil it for other kids.

    Back to your original question, I really don't know. You don't want the other kids at school laughing at them for believing in my opinion. Happened to me about 2nd or 3rd grade (same year I found the toys). So if I had to guess it might be best to get it out of the way by the time school starts.
  • polrbear
    polrbear Posts: 31 Member
    I never did. My kids, who are now 16 and 19, know that Santa Claus lives in all of us and it is the spirit of giving that makes Christmas special...not what you receive. So, we do not speak such words in our house. My parents never did either and now that I am an adult, I appreciate their silence on the matter. Trust me. Kids will tell them. Because obviously it was in their parents best interest to take the magic out of the holiday.
  • stuey39
    stuey39 Posts: 159
    My daughter started high school in September and still believed in all 3....11 years old and still believed?..Yes it's sweet but not good!
    I'm no longer with my kids mother but she decided I had to be the 'breaker of bad news'....

    Strangely though it was me tha ended up in tears while my daughter just said "oh..ok"
  • hennyben
    hennyben Posts: 313 Member
    My 8 year old informed me that there was no Easter Bunny or Santa just the other day. (saves me a job lol)
    My husband works with a guy who never had the conversation with his kids. They range in age from 21 to 7 and they all still get a Christmas stocking from Santa!
  • HelloSweetie4
    HelloSweetie4 Posts: 1,214 Member
    Kids will usually figure it out on their own once they get into elementary school
  • demeter_42
    demeter_42 Posts: 2
    I'm religious on one side and agnostic on the other side, and I'm pretty sure it was never a matter of me "not knowing," but rather me "accepting." I still wish Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy were real sometimes, but in the same way that I wish I could be an astronaut, you know?

    I find that kids who are raised with very strong beliefs of any kind are the ones who have the least trouble with this. It's the ambiguity - let's all pretend Santa is real, and that's all Christmas is about, etc. - that leads you down the path to "crap my kid is six years old and really truly thinks the Easter Bunny is real."
  • chris23tine
    chris23tine Posts: 13 Member
    I don't remember how old they were but when they really started questioning and I knew that they really knew the truth (in there heart) I told them. But what I told them was that even though what they believed wasn't true, Everyone has a Santa, easter bunny ...etc. and I was just lucky enough to be theirs. I also told them that someday they would be able to do it for someone else. It actually turned out to be a great memory for us. :smile:
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    M mom never told me. Eventually your kids reach an age when they realize that it it physically impossible for a man to fly in a sleigh and go to every single house in the world in six hours.
  • theoriginaljayne
    theoriginaljayne Posts: 559 Member
    WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO EASTER BUNNY OR SANTA CLAUS

    Edit: I found out when I was quite young -- I thought it strange that "Santa" and my mother had the same handwriting. I wasn't too upset, actually; I don't think I ever really believed it. My parents never even bothered to try to convince me that the Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy were real. I was a cynical little kid.
  • kb455
    kb455 Posts: 679 Member
    I haven't yet!! My kids' ages range from 1 to 7. I'm not ready for them to know yet, even my oldest. I actually remember finding out about Santa and I was devastated. I'm hoping to keep my kids believing for as long as possible.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,027 Member
    When do you break the news to your kids that there is no Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, or Easter Bunny? (And don't even get me started about Christopher Columbus, and the true story of Thanksgiving (US) and the Pilgrims)

    I've got a toddler, and these things cross my mind.
    Just dress up as all them each year. They'll figure it out without you having to tell them.


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  • Justacoffeenut
    Justacoffeenut Posts: 3,749 Member
    right from the start. We don't want our kids to lie to us and we want to trust them. Same here. So I set the example I don't lie to them so they shouldn't lie to me
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    My daughter started high school in September and still believed in all 3....11 years old and still believed?..Yes it's sweet but not good!
    I'm no longer with my kids mother but she decided I had to be the 'breaker of bad news'....

    Strangely though it was me tha ended up in tears while my daughter just said "oh..ok"


    She probably knew but was just milking it......we all did that in my family LOL
  • liftandcycle
    liftandcycle Posts: 209
    dont tell them.. I believed in santa clause till I was 12... and I found out on my own... I had the greatest childhood ever... I was sooooo curious and intriged with santa clause.. dont ruin it for them.. their own classmates and TV and the internet will tell them... Idk thats how it happened with me and I wouldnt have it any other way..
  • arleylange
    arleylange Posts: 24
    you could be like my sister and just crush their imagination from day 1. She never let them believe in santa clause or tooth fairy or easter bunny or anything else like that.....and she wonders why they have no imagination.


    Seriously don't worry about it, kids figure it out on their own in due time. Just let them be kids.


    I told my children from day one that those things aren't real and they have wonderful imaginations. Of course, we don't have cable or any of those game station things and we read all the time so they don't have to worry about all the other stuff that actually DOES kill imagination.
  • princesspeach577
    princesspeach577 Posts: 56 Member
    I never taught my son to believe in those things, so I never had to "break the news" to him - I told him they were all fun things that were done for different holidays/events, but that they weren't real and not to ruin it for any other kids.

    This is how my husband's parents handled holiday characters. It didn't seem to do him any harm.

    I think that your kids will find out through their friends or just start figuring it out for themselves.
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