You might think I’m about to talk about the b-word – bullying. In fact I’m about to talk about the s-word – the big man, the man in red, the one who comes out but once a year. Santa.
A third of British children stop believing in Father Christmas by the age of six if the latest research is to be believed, meaning we’re on borrowed time with the oldest who turned seven this year.
At the time of writing there’s no question she still believes: there are two separate Christmas lists, one for us and one for Santa, threats that Father Christmas and his elves are watching are surprisingly effective and she’s already listening out for sleigh bells.
But if she still believes by the time we get to Christmas day I’m almost certain this will be the last year. And it’s a big if.
She isn’t going to hear it from me, she isn’t going to hear it from Misery Guts and she isn’t going to hear it from her younger brother or sister either. But she might hear it from one of the kids in the playground.
Now she’s in year three she’s moved from the infant playground to the junior playground at school, where she kicks about with kids eight, nine and 10-years-old, and I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time before she hears something I’d rather she didn’t. So with all my fingers and toes crossed here’s an open letter to the kids in the playground this Christmas.
An open letter to the kids in the playground this Christmas
All I want for Christmas is a seven-year-old who still believes.
I want to keep finding Christmas lists she has written and re-written in the run up to the big day, with messages she simply wouldn’t write to anyone else.
I want to make mince pies and buy carrots for Rudolph while she chats happily about what Santa is doing right now.
I want to see her face light up in glee when she receives an invitation she doesn’t yet know is on its way from the man himself at LaplandUK.
I want another photograph like this one, capturing her wonder when he tells her his elves have been watching and he knows exactly what she’d like for Christmas.
And I want to hear her shriek ‘he’s been’ when she runs into the living room on Christmas morning.
All I want for Christmas is one last Christmas when she truly believes Father Christmas will land on our roof in a sleigh bearing gifts and magic really does exist. Is that really too much to ask?
Love from a mummy woefully unprepared for the loss of this particular childhood innocence xxx
Do your kids still believe in Father Christmas and could this be the last year for you too? Or are they already in the know? If so, I’d love to know how old they were when they found out!
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Ahh! My teen doesn’t believe and Christmas has lost a bit of the magic for her. My youngest who is 11 still believes. I don’t know how much she believes but I’m not going to ask her and risk ruining any of the magic which is left. I wish they could all believe until they are at least 18. hehehe
My kids are 20 and 13 so they stopped believing a while ago. I hope you get your Christmas wish and the magic is still alive for you all for at least another year
Forgot to add #MMBC
I really hope you get another Christmas of belief, but it’s not all bad if she doesn’t. Mine haven’t believed for years but I always tell them that if they believe in something then they make it real. So, it doesn’t matter if Santa exists, it’s a matter of believing in the magic. I tell my kids that I will always believe in Father Christmas, he may not come down our (non-existent) chimney but he still brings us lots of fun and magic at Christmas time. We still leave him a drink, snack and carrot for the reindeer and write him letters. x
#MMBC #itsOK
We are at exactly the same stage! The Big One is seven and he’s definitely still into it but I fear this is the last time. My guess is that he’ll just play along for a good while yet, though, which I’ll take as the next best thing. This year, though, I’m very much embracing the fact that they also *really* believe in the bloody elves we have rampaging though the house. If nothing else, it gets them out of bed in the morning so we’re not bloody late! #itsok
My eldest is nearly 8, and last year I thought she’d cracked on to the truth about Santa. I’m super relieved that this year she still seems onboard with the whole shebang. Long may it last! xxx #itsok
To be honest I’m not sure if they believe or not. They are both 13. I have a feeling that they are humouring me as I love Christmas!! But, you know what? #itsOK lol
I can’t believe they say kids stop believing on average by age six, that’s so sad! This is the first year my three year old properly gets it, and it’s so lovely. Although he did tell me last week we’d seen Father Christmas too many times. We’ve seen him twice!
My kids are 3 and 1. The 3 year old is kind of in to Christmas this year. She is excited about Christmas but I am not sure how we will handle Santa in the future. #itsok
Six years old?! my gosh, I’m pretty sure I believed until I was about 11!
#DreamTeam
Ah I get you. Part of the magic of Christmas is our children’s version of it… makes it all the more special. I agree: to the kids who ‘know’, pls don’t ruin it for the ones who still believe… not just yet!
Thanks for joining us on #itsok
I hope you have your one last Christmas. My first was about 9 but the next just 5 when school friends with older siblings ruined things. #KCACOLS
I am sure I was about 11 before I stopped believing and it has never been the same since! My eldest is 7 and some of his friends already don’t believe. At the moment he is ignoring them, but who knows for how long… thanks for joining the #DreamTeam this week
I remember being in exactly the same situation as you but with the tooth fairy! My mum had to tell my four year old sister that there wasn’t really a Father Christmas because she was so terrified to go to bed but as I was six at the time I guess I must have known too. My ten year old hasn’t actually said she doesn’t believe but I have a feeling that she’s humouring me!
#MMBC
Oh goodness!! I’m dreading this moment! But it’s not going to happen anyway because Santa IS real!!!!! I refuse to believe differently! #KCACOLS
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Popping back on behalf of #KCACOLS. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
There’s no doubt that our 9yo is in a bit of limbo this year. She desperately wants to believe but has asked me outright if the tooth fairy is real and I think she’s almost frightened to ask because she already knows… but we’ve had a good run and while I’d love for it to continue, she’s growing up fast… #kcacols
First of all, thats a fantastic photo. Mine is 7 too and I’m very cognizant of the fact that we are on borrowed time. To be honest I didn’t worry about kids on the bus or on the playground, but now I’m going to be paranoid for the next two weeks! Heres to hoping they keep believing – its sad to think that soon they won’t #KCACOLS
My daughter is upset a lot of her friends don’t believe. I think she knows but she doesn’t want to know (I was the same). So in the last few weeks I have said “Santa is like Jesus. Some people believe and some people don’t. Just don’t talk about it with people that don’t believe”. Then I used the ” You know how Mummy likes Kanye, and all her friends are pissy old people that don’t, but all the young people do? Well, mummy just talks about Kanye when she’s with young people and avoids it when she’s with old people. Not everyone has to like the same things”. I was the same. I wanted to believe. I never asked my parents so he was still real. And as a result, Santa still comes to me. At my parents house, not in my own home…ha! #KCACOLS
OH! I hope you get at least another year of believing. My oldest is 5 and I am just now starting to get concerned about what he is hearing. #KCACOLS
Oh this never even crossed my mind. In the schools in my area the children all mix from the first year to the last. A lot of them don’t have much separation for the infants juniors I’m the playground. In one I visited they even mix from reception age.
I think if George became a non believer earlier than I wanted then I would use films like Elf and The Santa Clause to show him what happens if you are a non believer.
Have a beautiful Christmas and long May the magic continue.
#kcacols
I hope she keeps on believing for as long as possible! My daughter’s only 4 so I hope we have a few years left of believing. She made her letter to Santa this evening and is so excited about Christmas. But I think the magic of Christmas doesn’t end when you stop believing, it’s still a magical time of year, especially for kids. #kcacols