"Parenting around the holiday season offers some of the most special memory-making potential. Family traditions are a-plenty this time of year, and everyone’s looking forward to a cozy holiday break together. It’s a time filled with holiday movies, Christmas treats, and, of course, presents! In families who celebrate the Santa tradition, there are wishlists to be made, in-person Santa visits, milk and cookies to lay out Christmas eve. The holidays can be a kids’ wonderland and a heartwarming part of parenting. That is, until parents are met with a hard-hitting question from their kid: “Is Santa real?”
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In an instant, it can feel like your magical holiday world is crashing down. It may feel like your baby is all grown up or that it’s your last Christmas in the magic years. The good news though? It doesn’t have to be. Below, I’m diving into how exactly to address the “Is Santa Claus real?” question and answering other kid queries about Santa. Whether you’ve found yourself in the pickle this year or are planning ahead, read on for how to answer kids’ most frequently asked questions about Santa.
Is Santa Real?
This is a question that will inevitably pop up for most parents at some point or another. With a quick Google search, the magic of the Santa Claus bubble can quickly burst if kids are searching online. The AI-generated answer about Santa’s existence that parents have been petitioning Google to change is: “Santa Claus is not a real person, but he is based on the real-life Saint Nicholas, a 3rd century monk known for his kindness and generosity.” While many kids believing in Santa might be too young to type the question into a search engine, they’re probably accustomed to asking their iPad, so be wary.
However, AI home bots Alexa, Google Home, and Siri so far have clever ways to keep the answer more ambiguous if your kids are more accustomed to asking the bots versus typing something in a search engine. I asked Siri three times if Santa was real, and these were the responses:
- “That’s not something I’m able to dis-claus, disclose.”
- “Well reindeer and the North Pole are real, so things are trending in the right direction.”
- “I would advise against going up on your roof on December 24. For safety reasons. Yeah, that’s it.”
However, if your kid is asking you directly, here are a few things you can consider when responding:
Be Honest
Some experts recommend we shouldn’t lie when our kids ask us, “Is Santa real?” One solution could be to answer their question with a question like “What do you think?” And see where the conversation leads.
In an article on The Everymom, therapist Sofia Mendoza shared that she recommends parents be open if your little one starts poking holes in the Santa story—and allow them to decide whether or not to continue the tradition. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep the holiday magic alive even once they learn the truth about Santa.
Consider a Positive Spin
Parents have gotten really creative over the years when it comes to the Santa discussion. In one instance, parents wrote their child a letter addressing the topic. They explained that, “The answer is no. We are not Santa. There is not one, single Santa.” They continue by explaining that several people go into keeping the Christmas spirit alive: mom and dad, grandparents, teachers, and so on.
With this idea in mind, putting a positive spin on the answer lessens the blow. On top of that, it ensures that the magic of the holiday seasons isn’t altered entirely upon hearing the news. Consider having the discussion with your little one about everything Santa represents and how his spirit can still live on going forward.
Analytical little ones may enjoy hearing some of the backstory of Santa during your discussion. According to the History Channel, “Santa” derives from a Christian bishop named St. Nicholas. He was born in A.D. 280 in the region of modern-day Turkey. He was known for his generosity and kindness, thus bringing forth the toy maker we know and love. If a little backstory on the Santa Claus legend is of interest to your child, consider diving deeper into the history and tradition.
How Old is Santa in 2024?
Kiddos who are becoming more intrigued by Santa may have some intuitive questions. One of the first may be, “How old is Santa?” There are a few ways to address this. First, when considering Saint Nicholas—the Catholic bishop that Santa was based on—you could look to his birthday to define Santa’s age. In that case, as he is said to have been born between 260 and 280 A.D., Santa Claus would be over 1,700 years old in 2024.
Another option is to look to the date in which Santa Claus became a tradition in the United States. In this case, tracing the notion back to 1773, when the newspaper in New York City, Rivington’s Gazetteer, first printed news of Santa Claus. With this in mind, Santa Claus would be 251 in 2024.
How Old is Mrs. Claus 2024?
When the topic of Mr. Claus’ age comes up, Mrs. Claus may soon follow! While rumor has it that Mrs. Claus may be a bit more secretive about her age, it’s generally agreed upon that she would be a similar age to her husband. Most agree that Mrs. Claus is around 1,700 years old in 2024.
What’s Santa’s Phone Number?
Maybe some kiddos would prefer to leave a voice note for Santa instead of sending in a letter. In that case, they’re in luck! Santa has a hotline that kids can call into (but they can’t text Santa at this number):
Santa’s phone number is: 1-605-313-4000
When calling, kids will be met with the iconic “ho ho ho!” and a quick message from the jolly man himself. From there, he instructs them to leave a message with their Christmas wishlist. This is an extra special way to experience the holiday magic of Santa Claus that all kids will enjoy. Plus, you may get some brownie points for having a direct line to the big guy!
What is Santa’s Address?
A classic holiday family tradition is having kids write letters to Santa Claus. This concept also doubles as a great learning experience for writing and addressing letters! On top of that, the United States Postal Service has been making the experience extra special for over 100 years. With their ‘Operation Santa’ program, kids can send letters to Santa Claus’ address at:
Santa
123 Elf Road
North Pole, 88888
With this special program, the letters addressed to Santa will be sorted, read, and published on the Operation Santa website (personal information redacted). From there, members of the program can select letters to respond to with a gift and a note (just be sure you postmark it after September 16 and before December 9). To your kiddo, it will be like Santa is writing them a letter back!
How Does Santa Deliver All the Presents in One Night?
Even developing minds understand that delivering toys to every child all over the world in one night is a hefty task. This concept may lead to the question of how Santa does it. Inquisitive little kids may get a kick out of Santa trackers. Some fun options are Santa Tracker by Google and NORAD Tracks Santa.
Fun trackers such as these play into the “magic” of it all, which is a great thing to lean into when addressing this question. Remind kiddos that Santa’s not just an everyday delivery man; he’s got magic in his sleigh, sack of toys, reindeer, and elves. Asking kids to imagine the possibilities is likely the best bet when responding to this question.
How Does Santa Fit Down the Chimney?
Along with how Santa fits down the chimney—he does have a round belly, after all—potentially comes with what happens if you don’t have a chimney. To address the first question, we can pull in outside sources. Award-winning author and illustrator due Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen wrote a book titled How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? that could be a great addition to your holiday book TBR list. It offers a bunch of theories that can spark kids to imagine and make their own hypothesis. If picking up the book yourself doesn’t work this year, consider watching an online read-along with the author and illustrator.
On top of that, addressing what Santa does if there is no chimney can be answered with creativity and, of course, magic. A few possibilities include teleportation, windows, small holes, fake fireplaces, and the like. Choosing whatever makes the most sense for your household and leaning into the magic of it all may be the best way to address the question.
Santa can be a symbol of generosity, giving, and kindness during the holiday season. And no matter how you choose to celebrate, contact, or let kiddos in on the secrets of ol’ Saint Nick, his enduring magic is undeniable.
Brett Nicole Hayden, Assistant Editor
As the Assistant Editor, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!