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Do 9 year olds still believe in Santa?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 19, 2026

Santa Claus is coming to town – or so about 85% of young American children believe. In interviews, 85% of 4-year-olds said that they believed in Santa, 65% of 6-year-olds said that they believed, and 25% of 8-year-olds said that they believed.

Is it okay for a 9 year old to 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.

Is it normal for a 10 year old to still believe in Santa?

In most cases, eight or nine is the age that children stop believing in Santa, but not for the reasons you'd think. While most parents would probably blame their child's peers for blowing the whistle, it actually has more to do with the normal development of a child's brain.

At what age do you tell your child Santa isn't real?

About 40 percent of the parents polled by the site said the right age to break the news about Santa to children is between the ages of 8 and 12, while one in 10 adults feel you can put off that disclosure until after kids turn 12.

Do 8 year olds still believe in Santa?

If you're wondering if your kids are still expecting Santa to bring their presents this year, most have stopped believing in Old St Nick by the age of eight, according to the first international academic "Santa survey," while many parents wished that they still believed in Father Christmas even as adults.

40 related questions found

What age stop believing in Santa?

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.)

Is Santa real yes or no Wikipedia?

Santa Claus was not a real, historical person, but the modern character of Santa was most likely created from different traditions from European and Christian culture, such as the real-life Roman Catholic saint Saint Nicholas, the Dutch Sinterklaas, and others. There are many popular culture items about Santa.

Do 10 year olds believe in the tooth fairy?

Few ten-years-olds believe in the Tooth Fairy, regardless of what parents do or say. Once a child wants to penetrate the fantasy and confront the parent with the truth, it is a good idea to congratulate the child on this insight and to validate the development of more complex understanding.

Should I let my child believe in Santa?

It also provides opportunities for shared belief and play, reliving and sharing childhood memories, and encouraging empathy, kindness and generosity. Believing in Santa Claus can also benefit children's development as an avenue for creativity, imagination and play.

Is the tooth fairy real?

These teeth were often worn by warriors for good luck in Scandinavia. They would be fashioned into necklaces and worn during battle. However, there is no record of an actual “fairy” involved.

Is it okay to lie about Santa?

If you do spread that lie to your kid, you are far from alone. Research shows that the vast majority of American parents promote a false belief in Santa Claus, and most small children accept that story as real. In fact, research shows that most parents work very hard to perpetuate the myth of Santa.

Is believing in Santa harmful?

Believing in Santa is not only harmless fun, it can actually help children as their brains develop, experts say.

How do I tell my kid about Santa?

10 Ways To Tell Your Child The Truth About Santa

  1. 1 Take Them Somewhere to Celebrate the Milestone.
  2. 2 Wait Until They Come To You. ...
  3. 3 Make Sure They Don't Tell Younger Siblings. ...
  4. 4 Write Down a List of Reasons Why Kids Believe in Santa. ...
  5. 5 Find a Book or Movie First. ...
  6. 6 Have Older Kids in the Family Talk With Them After. ...

Is Santa real?

He is based on St. Nicholas of Myra, who, according to Christian tradition, was a bishop in that small Roman town during the 4th century. Nicholas's reputation for generosity and kindness gave rise to legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy.

How do you tell your kids there is no Easter Bunny?

“Ask your child if she thinks the Easter Bunny is real,” she says. “If she says yes, let her be until she discovers the truth herself. “If she says no, use it as a starting point to chat about logic.” Tell your child even though the Easter Bunny doesn't exist, creativity and imagination are important.

What is Santa's phone number?

Now, kids can reach the big guy in the North Pole by phone! That's right, Kris Kringle has a direct line: (951) 262-3062. Obviously this time of year keeps Santa busy in his workshop, so don't be shocked when it goes right to voicemail. Those toys don't make themselves you know!

Where does Santa live?

Have your little ones ever wondered, “Where does Santa Claus live?” He lives at the North Pole, of course! Santa stays at the North Pole year-round.

How old should you believe in Santa?

There isn't a right or wrong age to tell kids the truth. Instead, take cues from them and their understanding of the world. Usually, somewhere between the ages of five and seven kids begin to think a little more critically.

Where is Santa Claus now?

For many years, NORAD has helped people track the movements of Santa as he embarks on the busiest day of his year. As Father Christmas is moving continuously, his precise location varies. However, at the time of writing this, NORAD's tracker shows that he is currently over Greenland.

How do you tell your kid the Tooth Fairy isn't real?

How to Talk to Your Child About the Tooth Fairy

  1. Follow Your Child's Lead. Is your child looking for the truth or only reassurance to keep on believing? ...
  2. Consider Your Child's Age. Your child's age might also determine how you want to respond to the question. ...
  3. Be Gentle with Your Response. ...
  4. Be Prepared for Their Response.

How do you answer Santa is real?

Be Truthful. If you think your child has it all figured out, it's a good idea to be truthful. For instance, you could explain that Saint Nicholas was, in fact, a real person from long ago. He was known for leaving presents for the children in his village and for caring for the less fortunate.

How do I get my child to believe in Santa?

Promoted Stories

  1. Have your child write a letter to Santa.
  2. Write a letter from Santa and have your child receive it in the mail.
  3. Have your child leave milk and cookies out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
  4. Leave Santa Claus tracks in your house on Christmas Eve.

Why do parents take away phones?

Psychologists believe that in order to stop this culture of entitlement, the overprotective instincts must be curbed. This means parents taking away the thing that kids feel attached to the most — their phone — as a form of punishment.

Is the Easter Bunny real or is it just your parents?

But if you're looking for the technical, less touchy feely answer to is the Easter Bunny real, well then, no. The Easter Bunny is a figure from folklore and a symbol of Easter. And, by the way, the German Lutheran tradition from which we took the Easter Bunny is not all hidden eggs and chocolates.