Age to tell kids the truth about Father Christmas?

[RED-DOG]

My lad is 8, and figured it out last year, aged 7.
Think my daughter was about the same age when she cracked it.
I never told them outright, I just helped them to ask the right questions and figure out it made no sense at all.
Both were initially a little upset, but when they realised they would still be getting presents without the fat red anti-burglar, they were fine.

I used Santa and the Tooth Fairy to help develop their critical thinking skills, then have them apply it to religions too.
works a treat.
Two happy little atheist

If you could just flick a switch and suddenly believe there was a God and a Heaven, and that when you die you would go there to spend all eternity with your loved ones, living in peace and being happy, would you flick it?

[Doobs]

I am not sure if my 6 year old believes any of it.  I think it doesn't help that she picks up presents from 3 different places.  My wife happily walked in last year and asked her if my daughter liked the present that she had bought her.

We went to a grotto last week.  They had a picture of a real reindeer with Rudolph written underneath.  "Why hasn't Rudolph got a red nose?".   

It is odds on we don't get through Christmas.

When do we start giving the fuller answer to where do babies come from?   

 

[verndog158]

im confused... what do you mean the truth about santa?

[Woodsey]

There's no Santa? Bastards......... 

[verndog158]

There's no Santa? Bastards......... 

 

[BorntoBubble]

With the age gap between me and my brothers (4 Years to my older brother and 6 years to my younger) we were the key in keeping the younger brother believeing for longer, probably because it improved our day. Christsmas is so much better when believeing and it does no harm believeing for as long as possible i think i was in year 6 when i stopped believeing so 10/11 and was gutted. But then the next year my mum and dad stressed we had to keep the secret for our little brother and to be in on it with my mum and dad made it good fun also. I know cannot wait to have my own kids and be uncle to my brothers kid on route next year to feel these special times again. We went away this weekend with some friends who had kids aged 5 and 8 both still believed but the 8 year old was putting up some resistance, i believe i played my part in helping the parents get one more year out of her this year just because i know how special it is.

[dan]

Tbh honest I'm fed up with it!!

Every year I spend a fortune on presents for the kids and that big, fat ,hairy fucker takes all the credit. I fucking hate my Mrs sometimes!!

[BangBang]

Tbh honest I'm fed up with it!!

Every year I spend a fortune on presents for the kids and that big, fat ,hairy fucker takes all the credit. I fucking hate my Mrs sometimes!!

This is funny on so many different levels.. 

[AdamM]

My lad is 8, and figured it out last year, aged 7.
Think my daughter was about the same age when she cracked it.
I never told them outright, I just helped them to ask the right questions and figure out it made no sense at all.
Both were initially a little upset, but when they realised they would still be getting presents without the fat red anti-burglar, they were fine.

I used Santa and the Tooth Fairy to help develop their critical thinking skills, then have them apply it to religions too.
works a treat.
Two happy little atheist

If you could just flick a switch and suddenly believe there was a God and a Heaven, and that when you die you would go there to spend all eternity with your loved ones, living in peace and being happy, would you flick it?

absolutely not.
why would I want to?

separate thread maybe. haven't had a good theological scrap for a while have we

I started something yesterday, that I've been meaning to do for a while, and that's read the bible cover to cover, word for word.
I know to form a balanced opinion/broad knowledge, I'll need to read more than just 1 religious text, but you have to start somewhere.

Maybe I'll find God, or maybe I'll thoroughly reinforce my atheism.

I just started with Genesis 1 yesterday and wrote some notes which I posted on FB.
Maybe I'll start a thread here in the new year.
Maybe I'll keep it to myself

[Jon MW]

My lad is 8, and figured it out last year, aged 7.
Think my daughter was about the same age when she cracked it.
I never told them outright, I just helped them to ask the right questions and figure out it made no sense at all.
Both were initially a little upset, but when they realised they would still be getting presents without the fat red anti-burglar, they were fine.

I used Santa and the Tooth Fairy to help develop their critical thinking skills, then have them apply it to religions too.
works a treat.
Two happy little atheist

If you could just flick a switch and suddenly believe there was a God and a Heaven, and that when you die you would go there to spend all eternity with your loved ones, living in peace and being happy, would you flick it?

  I don't think I've ever heard quite such a good illustration of Marx's, "Religion is the opium of the people"

[RED-DOG]

My lad is 8, and figured it out last year, aged 7.
Think my daughter was about the same age when she cracked it.
I never told them outright, I just helped them to ask the right questions and figure out it made no sense at all.
Both were initially a little upset, but when they realised they would still be getting presents without the fat red anti-burglar, they were fine.

I used Santa and the Tooth Fairy to help develop their critical thinking skills, then have them apply it to religions too.
works a treat.
Two happy little atheist

If you could just flick a switch and suddenly believe there was a God and a Heaven, and that when you die you would go there to spend all eternity with your loved ones, living in peace and being happy, would you flick it?

absolutely not.
why would I want to?

Don't get me wrong, I'm an atheist too, but I'd click it.

I think the question is, why wouldn't you want to?

[Acidmouse]

My 4 year old knows its make believe, no idea how but she just likes the whole thing!

[RED-DOG]

My 4 year old knows its make believe, no idea how but she just likes the whole thing!

And that's the point.

For young children, the line between make believe and reality is very blurred, that's what makes play such fun.

When I was little, I knew in my heart of hearts that I wasn't really Roy Rodgers or Captain Scarlet, but I chose to suspend my disbelief because, like all children, I could. 

[china mug]

god must exist ,you dont hear people calling ..o my santa ,o my santa,.....in porno films

[Jon MW]

... I chose to suspend my disbelief because, like all children, I could. 

all fiction in books and films would be a lot less enjoyable if we weren't still able to do the same things as adults.

It's a different form, but it's still the same thing