Boy are you going to get some responses on this.

A lot of the stepmoms here think that skids should be told that Santa is not real, around the age of 5. But think nothing of letting their own bios believe much longer.

I would wait a little while longer. Why rush it? I think around 11 at the latest. And usually they find out on their own way before that but they milk it anyway. lol

My son didn't want to admit he didn't believe because he thought he would get less presents. I think in today's world kids probably find out a lot sooner than in the past.

I agree that if a child is questioning, it's time to tell them.

Just see what your BS says this year.

My BS stopped believing last year when he was 8 but started to wonder about Santa the year before.

My co workers son is older then my BS and still believes. I think he is 11?

I definetly think by about age 11/12, the kid should have caught on by then.

i learned around age 7 or 8.

my SD and her cousin both knew for YEARS before they let on to their parents. when asked why they didnt let on that they knew, they selfishly replied that they wanted more gifts.

honestly, if i had a child i wouldnt even do Santa.

My SD11 (9 at the time of this event) found out about santa after our cat was curious about her "Santa Gift".

SD asked for a fish for Christmas (a red one) and I found the prettiest Betta fish and did massive amounts of research (I'm a total nerd) on how to make sure the betta fish was happy, healthy, etc. I bought an aquarium, plants, food, a "fish hammok" and kept the little fishy hidden in my closet for about 10 days. I felt bad for the little fishy being hidden away so I would sit on a stool in the closet and chat with him.

Christmas Eve I wrote a letter to SD from Santa about how to care for "Mr. Twinklepuff" and put the fish in a cute little fish bowl covered with red plastic wrap (with holes for air) and a beauitful bow.

6 a.m. Christmas monring - DH and I are startled straight out of a deep sleep to awake to cries of "Cleo ate the fish!!"

Add insult to injury, I had wrapped the aquarium from Cleo....

I found out Santa wasn't real when I was about 9 I think. I just woke up one day & realized how silly the whole idea was lol. My sister, however, believed at least a little until she was like 13.

Let them believe as long as they want. You're only young once. At least that's how I feel.

However, when SD makes a christmas list we usually put 7 things on it, & 'santa' will get her most of the smaller things. The big ticket items, we put our name on. I know it probably sounds silly, but I think it's weird for kids to think that some random stranger is dropping off $200 gifts on Christmast every year. lol. Last year most of her things were from 'Santa' except her doll house. This year she may get an ipad, if she does it'll be from us. It isn't even on her list so it works out.

My house... you don't believe you don't receive and Santa is a nice guy here. Kids have such a short time to believe this, why ruin it for them? The kids on the playground will do that. My kids don't discuss it with me if they do, they get nothing.

I think a lot of parents make too big a deal of telling their kids "the truth" about Santa. When my oldest came to me ~9, I sat him down and explained that of course there wasn't some guy coming to every house on the 24th. BUT, that is not really what Santa is about. Santa is about believing in something magical, and giving from the heart. The spirit of the season. Being a little bit nicer, a bit more thoughtful and thinking about things that would make the people you love (and who love you) feel special. Not about "stuff", but making people feel good. And I asked him not to ruin that for his little sister by telling her "the truth". He took that to heart and started leaving her little treats., and gave her the gift of his time.

In *my* home when my kids were young, Santa always brought the one thing they really, really wanted, but I refused to buy - too loud, too expensive, useless. I'd say no, but Santa would bring it. They know now that I would save all year to make that magic happen. And they carry that with them - *I* get Santa gifts from them, now.

Don't ruin it for your kid - share the magic.

My thing is if they are at an age where they would look ridiculous in a Santa pic at the mall, it's time to tell them. SS age 8 still believes in Santa but doesn't want to pose in a pic with him...I would say it's time, but thats not my decision!

BM never played Santa for my 2 SD's. Sad actually. She wanted the credit for getting them gifts instead of letting "Santa" have credit. Idiot.

My kids are 15,14,13 and 9...they all know
But we don't speak of it...
Yes, my kids will be getting gifts well into their 50's from Santa if I'm still alive, in our family its more fun that way.

My favorite part is when they open it and I'm all
"OH MY! let me see that, wow, that is SO neat" and they are looking at me like I'm the worst actress in the world because they know I picked it out...
LMAO
Happy Holidays no matter what you believe

SD11 still claims to believe in Santa... And last year she even asked to have her picture taken with him, so I obliged. Personally I think she knows, but doesn't want to admit it to her father or I. I say what's the harm.

What's great is to see her with her much younger cousins and helping to spread the magic of the (hectic) season

I think the right age is when the child starts to ask questions. I was 5 or 6 when I discovered that Santa wasn't real. I don't have my own kids yet, just the 6-year-old SS. He'll probably believe in Santa until he's 26, and we'll all have to pretend that Santa exists because the BM tells us to. But what's worse is the stupid f'ing Elf on a Shelf. The thing is just so hideously evil looking, like an anorexic Chucky wearing a Santa suit and of course the BM calls or text DH to remind him to put out the stupid thing when the skid is at our house. And the skid chortles and jumps up and down everytime he sees it like he doesn't realize it's just this stupid-looking doll.

I have no problem counting down the days until Xmas with something like an Advent calendar, but I find the Elf on the Shelf just ridiculous. I'd get rid of the piece of junk, but I'd probably wake up to find it wrapping it's creepy plastic hands around my throat one night or my brainwashed DH would just go and shell out $30 for another one.

What I resent the most is that the BM thought she could impose that ridiculous nonsense on my household. I'm 4 months pregnant with my first child and I don't want anything like that in the house for my child's holidays. So I've put down my foot this year and said no way. It's up to my DH to explain to the skid that the Elf on the Shelf decided to stay at BM's house baking cookies or some such crap when the skid is staying with us in December.