The age of children who doubt the existence of Santa Claus has been determined: how to convince

From empty sherry glasses on the mantelpiece to sooty footprints leading to the bedroom door, the evidence of Santa’s existence is clearly irrefutable, writes The Guardian. However, most children will begin to doubt this at some point – and many parents await this moment with fear. Psychologists have now identified the average age at which skepticism about Santa begins, and which children are most at risk of developing negative feelings when it happens.

While most adults have bought into the myth that Santa doesn’t exist, many children still do – even if the idea of ​​one man visiting the homes of billions of children in one night goes against their broader thinking abilities.

Dr Candice Mills, a psychologist at the University of Texas at Dallas in the US and a Santa Claus skeptic, says: “Children usually begin to distinguish between fantasy and reality in preschool, but their belief in the existence of a one and only magical Santa Claus often persists into middle age. childhood.”

Mills became interested in the issue when she became a parent herself and “drew into the world of promoting Santa Claus” herself. “I felt some tension about this because on the one hand we often encourage our children to be scientific thinkers and not deceive others, but with the Santa story sometimes there is some truth that goes along with it. I was worried that my kids would suspect me of lying because I knew I was upset about being lied to about Santa.”

To better understand this shift from belief to disbelief and children’s experiences of it, Mills and her colleagues interviewed 48 children aged six to 15 who had stopped believing in Santa, 44 of their parents, and 383 other adults.

The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that for most children, disbelief gradually crept in around the age of eight – although some three- or four-year-olds convinced themselves that Santa was not real, while other children believed in him until they were 15. or 16 years old. In many cases, it was the testimony of other unbelievers that ultimately shattered their faith.

Mills notes: “They may have had some skepticism based on logical reasoning—for example, how can Santa Claus really travel around the world in one night? “But what sets them off is when a classmate at school says he’s not real.”

About a third of children and half of adults reported some negative emotions caused by rumors that Santa does not exist. Although these feelings were usually weak and short-lived, about 10% of adults reported longer lasting sadness or decreased trust in their parents as a result.

Such feelings were typically associated with suddenly learning or being told directly that Santa does not exist, discovering this later in life, and having parents who strongly supported Santa’s existence, such as by filming him in their living room or leaving footprints glitter on the floor.

However, there were also many children who reported feeling happy or relieved when they renounced their faith. “It was like they had solved some kind of mystery,” Mills said.

While Santa clearly doesn’t approve of such behavior, he will be relieved to hear that, regardless of their experience, the vast majority of skeptical adults and children said they would continue the Santa tradition with their own children or are already doing so, The Guardian writes.

As for how Santa deniers should respond to Santa-related questions when they arise, Mills suggests listening carefully to what the child is asking before answering. If they want to know how Santa fits down narrow chimneys or into houses that don’t have one at all, they may not be ready to give up the Santa idea. Consider asking your child what he thinks, talking about what “some people” believe, or simply saying, “That’s an interesting question.”

If asking directly whether Santa Claus exists, educators could also use a distractor question such as “what do you think?” and watch the child discuss it himself. “Sometimes there can be some tension because they want to continue to believe in magic, but they also want to know the truth,” Mills says. Reaching out to the child can help caregivers assess their current needs.

When Mills was asked this question by her own children, she was initially evasive, but when they said, “I want to know the truth,” Mills told them. “They were very proud of themselves and celebrated.”

Some children may also be more sensitive to being lied to than others, she added. One of the adults she interviewed said that they felt very betrayed by their parents because they taught them not to lie, but did it themselves. Mills emphasizes, “In these cases, parents can soften the blow by acknowledging their child’s feelings and talking about why they included Santa in their holiday traditions.”