He sees you when you're sleeping; he knows when you're awake. Santa Claus is watching so you better be good for goodness sake.
Parents have used the warning throughout the holiday season to keep their children in line. At what point, though, does that warning cease to have its impact? When do children stop believing in Santa Claus?
According to a survey done by BetCarolina.com, 48% of children stop believing in Santa Claus between the ages of 7 and 10 years old.
In Delaware, children stop believing in Santa, on average, at 8 years and 8 months. New Jersey children stop believing at 8 years and 6 months. Pennsylvania children stop believing at 8 years and 7 months.
Children in Texas hold the belief longer than any other state in the United States, on average, stopping at 10 years, and 5 months. South Carolina is second with 10 years, 2 months, and New York is third with 10 years.
Children in Oregon stop believing the soonest. On average, a child stops believing at 7 years and 6 months.
The spirit of Santa has no age cap
From the beginning, but especially as kids grow older and more aware of the unlikelihood of a man delivering presents to the whole world in one night, Santa has to be about kindness and love, Jessica VanderWier, mother, psychotherapist, and founder of Nurtured First shares. Our talk of Santa should always reflect that.
“We believe Santa is a spirit of happiness and kindness. Santa isn’t one person anymore, but a kind, loving feeling that comes from being together and doing kind things for each other," VanderWier writes in her guide on how to talk to kids about Santa.
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What not to do regarding Santa Claus
It's really up to each family to decide how they want their Christmas tradition to form, but there are some universal "don'ts" we all should follow surrounding Santa, VanderWier says.
- Don't use Santa as a way to manipulate a child's behavior. Avoid naughty and nice language like, "Santa is not going to come if you don't behave." The story of Santa should encourage connection, not fear.
- Don't force a child to sit on Santa's lap because this goes against the messages we try to teach kids about consent.
- Don't make fun of children who are nervous or scared of Santa Claus.
- Try not to make the biggest gifts come from Santa. Not all families can afford elaborate gifts, so choose wisely on what to label from Santa because kids will compare.
- Encourage your kids not to ruin anyone else's Santa story by forcing their belief or unbelief on them. The spirit of Santa remains whether kids believe he is alive or imaginative.
Emilee Coblentz contributed to this story.
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