Parenting expert on how to handle the tough Santa conversation if your kids searching online for answers
By Amy Lyall|
It feels like the year is flying by, which means the festive season is just around the corner.?
But for many parents this time of year also means the impending arrival of Santa, and if your kids are getting older you're not alone if you're getting nervous about how it's going to go.
With so much technology at the finger tips of young people, there's a new hurdle parents are going to have to face: what do you do if your kids start googling Santa??
I was recently out with some friends who have a son in primary school who decided to Google, "Is Santa real?"?
Turns out the first AI suggested blurb at the top doesn't mess arouhd: "No."?
He then decided to tell his younger siblings what he had found out from the computer, which made the whole thing a lot harder for the parents to navigate.?
Now, this is a new problem for parents, because in the past it would have been having these conversations after rumours at school, rather than a google search.?
So, how should you handle it? Nine.com.au spoke to parenting expert Genevieve Muir about the Santa conversation for her advice on the topic.?
READ MORE: Unlikely baby name trend tipped to be big in 2026
?READ MORE: Australia's oldest dad is 93 and he wants more kids
READ MORE: Bruce Willis' kids are already 'grieving' their dad amid his health battle?
"It can sting," she said of kids turning to the internet for answers.?
"But it's a chance to talk about curiosity, trust, and how stories connect us. Depending on the child, their age, your beliefs you might ask them what they think the truth is?
"Many kids will answer from what they hope is true and may say they think the information on the internet is false.
"Or they might be ready to hear the truth and that's why they Googled it so you might say, 'Lots of people have different ways of celebrating now that you know a bit more you get to help make the magic for your little brother.'"?
So, it really is up to the parent to decide how to handle the conversation จC but if you are telling them the truth, she's got a lot of experience in that too.?
Muir has four boys, so the Santa talk is something she's been through a couple of times already.?
"With each of my boys apart from my youngest I've always known when the jig is up when it comes to Santa. You can just tell," she explained.?
"You'll be talking about Santa and they get that little glint in their eye. They don't necessarily ask, 'Is he real?' but you know they know."?
So, when the time has come to have the conversation, here's what she's done in the past.?
"Usually, when that happens, I pull them in for a cuddle and say something like, 'It looks like you know something about Santaกญ would you like to share what it is?' And often they'll snuggle in and whisper, 'Mum, I know it's you and Dad,'" she said.?
For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.
For Muir, she admitted it's a bittersweet moment in parenting, but there is a special side of it.?
"I've always seen it as a lovely opportunity to bring them onto 'Team Santa.' They get to join the big kids and their dad and me in protecting the magic for the younger ones," she said.
It's a conversation she knows is looming again in her house too.?
"Out of my four boys, I've only got one believer left, and I'm really hoping this isn't the year he gets that look in his eye," she added.?
Then there's the next hurdle, when they know the truth about Santa, but you've got younger kids who still believe in the magic.?
"Ask for their help in protecting the magic for others," she explained.?
"Most kids love being 'in on it' because it makes them feel mature and trusted, they may need a reminder on what this means.?
"There is something special about joining the big kids and adult team who know about Santa and protect the story for younger kids."?
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
