‘Shock and disgust’ as mum reveals what age she told her kids truth about Santa

It's time - we're in December and the Christmas countdown has officially begun.

And as it does every festive period, the age-old question surrounding a certain someone who has a long white beard and wears a red suit has resurfaced.

We all know the nostalgic and magical routine of leaving a glass of milk and a cookie out for Santa on Christmas Eve, as well as a carrot for his reindeer, and the exciting feeling of realising when it's gone when you rush downstairs in the morning.

But old is too old to believe in Santa Claus? And when exactly should parents break the heartbreaking news of who actually buys the presents to their kids?

The topic has been a hotly debated one for as long as I can remember, with some people even opting to raise their little ones with the complete honest truth from as soon as they're old enough to understand the concept of Santa.

Meanwhile, others drag the magic on for as long as they possibly can and even when their children question it, they reassure them that the big man is in fact real.

What's your take on the whole Santa debate? (Getty Stock Image)

Over on Reddit, a group of parents have taken to social media to discuss the options, with one person admitting their family members were 'shocked and disgusted' at them for telling their little ones the truth.

The person penned: "Right age to tell kids Santa isn't real? I have a nine year old and a six year old. I told my nine year old on Xmas Eve as they were asking questions.

"They are on board with playing along for my six year old and now my nine year old thinks he’s apart of the 'cool club.'"

She continued: "We’re not going the 'Santa is everyone' route. We made it clear that we were Santa and it’s just for fun and went over true meaning of Christmas.

"However, some of my family members were shocked and disgusted at me as my 13 year old nephew still believes. I’m sorry but under no circumstance should a 13 year old be believing in Santa."

The story prompted other parents to take to the comments with their own opinions, with a common response being simply when they begin to question it.

But as we say, others think you should never 'lie' in the first place.

One person reasoned: "The right age is when they start questioning it," while a second added: "Yep when they can start to explain why they're questioning it. Not just 'is he real.'"

Some parents pull their kids for a chat when they reach a certain age while others let them work it out on their own (Getty Stock Image)

Meanwhile, someone else said: "Do parents actually sit their kids down and tell them Santa isn’t real? I feel like as I got older I just eventually realised and they knew that. But to actually have a conversation with them and explicitly tell them Santa isn’t real seems kinda weird. To me at least."

Another agreed: "I agree. I think kids get old enough to just realise the concept is silly and impossible. My daughter confessed when she was 10 that she had known for a year or two that Santa wasn't real but went along with it because she thought she wouldn't get presents anymore if we knew that she didn't believe in it."

And someone else questioned: "Don't they just eventually work it out? Either by stumbling on hidden gifts before Christmas, or by being told by friends or kids at school or elsewhere. Just let them enjoy the magic for as long as possible."

On the other end of the scale, one parent admitted: "I told my kids from the beginning he wasn't real."

And another person agreed: "My parents did, too. I think my siblings and I had more fun pretending Santa was real than other kids did believing he was real."