In 2019, House Method surveyed more than 4,500 families across the United States, and found the overall average age for no longer believing in Santa Claus is 8.4 years old. (But it varies by state: Kids in Mississippi generally believe until they’re 10, while kids in Oregon stop believing at 7.)
Should a 12 year old believe 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.
What grade do most kids stop believing in Santa?
Most Americans (67%) stopped expecting Santa to shimmy down their chimney by the time they entered seventh grade. Half (49%) of Americans say they stopped believing in Santa before the age of 10 – with a quarter (23%) reporting that they lost sight of him between the ages of seven (10%) and eight (13%).
Is it normal for a 13 year old to 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.
At what age should a child know that Santa isn’t real?
If you have, chances are they’re older than 8. And if you haven’t, chances are someone else did. According to a recent poll by iVillage, 51 percent of parents feel that children 8 and younger should believe in Santa, while just 6 percent said kids 8 and under should know that St. Nick is fictional.
How do I tell my 11 year old there is no Santa?
10 Ways To Tell Your Child The Truth About Santa
- 10/10 Tell Them About Everyone at Once.
- 9/10 Explain the Magic of Christmas.
- 8/10 Offer To Still Label Gifts From Santa.
- 7/10 Tell Them the Story of When You Found Out.
- 6/10 Have Older Kids in the Family Talk With Them After.
- 5/10 Find a Book or Movie First.
Is it harmful to let children believe in Santa?
Believing in Santa is not only harmless fun, it can actually help children as their brains develop, experts say.
Do 9 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.
Should a nine year old believe in Santa?
While there are many benefits to protecting children’s belief in Santa, it’s not OK to lie to children about his existence. Most children have a positive reaction to their Santa discovery. Discovering the truth about Santa is part of growing up and a sign that the child is developing critical thinking skills.
Should I tell my 16 year old about Santa?
She says that it’s likely at some point your kids will ask about Santa — or they’ll get to an age where they should know the truth. There’s no magic age for when you need to reveal the truth. Instead, take cues from your kids, and if they start asking questions, ask them questions of your own.
Why you shouldn’t tell your kids Santa is real?
Don’t use Santa as a tool for motivating your kid. Letting them grow through fantasy and imagination is positive. Manipulation and lying to them are almost always negative. They’re going to figure it out in due time and there is a risk that they’ll feel like you’ve broken your trust.
How do I deal with my child not believing in Santa?
Each family has their own special, and personal, holiday traditions that work for them. Explain to your child that it’s not okay for them to disrupt how someone else celebrates the holidays. You can also reinforce that we can enjoy Christmas movies, the holiday season and the spirit without the man in the red suit…
Does believing in Santa cause trauma?
Ironically, critics of the Santa myth base their opinions on their “beliefs” about the situation as there is no empirical data or scientific evidence that anyone has ever been harmed by believing in Santa. Conversely, most people find the myth magical as a child and charming as an adult.
Is Santa psychologically damaging?
“For the most part, I don’t think that there is any harm in holding on to the Santa myth,” says Jennifer L. Hartstein, Psy,D., a New York-based child, adolescent, and family psychologist. “Young children very often live in a magical, fantasy world. Santa is part of that.
Does lying about Santa cause trust issues?
“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.
Why should parents not lie about Santa?
Although the Santa sham is meant to bring magic to kids’ holidays, parents should not lie to their children about Santa because it improperly incentivizes good behavior while ensuring disappointment and broken trust upon discovery.
Does lying to your kids about Santa hurt them?
In a recent article in the Washington Post, the University of Texas at Austin child psychologist Jacqueline D. Woolley said, “There is no evidence that belief, and eventual disbelief in Santa, affects parental trust in any significant way.
Is it OK for Christians to believe in Santa?
But many Christian families embrace Santa while keeping the focus of the season on the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ. The key is how Santa is presented, say Christian parents who welcome Santa into their home every year.
Does lying to your kids about Santa hurt them?
In a recent article in the Washington Post, the University of Texas at Austin child psychologist Jacqueline D. Woolley said, “There is no evidence that belief, and eventual disbelief in Santa, affects parental trust in any significant way.
What happens if you don’t 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.