As the holiday season rolls around, one of the most debated parenting topics resurfaces: Should parents tell their kids that Santa isn’t real? Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a clinical psychologist and creator of the “Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic” podcast, sheds light on this hot topic in an interview with NBC.
“The average age that kids discover that Santa isn’t real is around age 8,” Dr. Kennedy-Moore explains. While the revelation may bring some mild disappointment, it’s often balanced by a sense of pride as kids feel they’ve joined the “in-the-know” crowd. Contrary to popular concern, research shows that discovering the truth about Santa doesn’t significantly damage children emotionally — or their trust in their parents.
In fact, many kids harbor doubts long before the truth is confirmed, sneaking around or piecing together clues like Mom and Dad using the same wrapping paper as Santa. Dr. Kennedy-Moore recounts a lovely response from her own …