Hey Mom and Dad: An All-Important Holiday Question

Welcome to Hey Mom and Dad—a weekly feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on parenting. Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked parents the week before on Patch Facebook pages from around the area.

This week's question is a little delicate, but no less important or worthy of discussion. Without going into too much detail for those wandering eyes:

What is the appropriate age to talk to your kids about Santa Claus? 

Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section.

Christiane Broihier: Never. — Oak Park Patch Facebook

Sonja Holzman: With my oldest, she began to figure it out so we asked her what SHE thought and she told us that she knew it was us. With my youngest, he figured it out early - I think first grade - and upset more than a few parents by telling all of his friends that Santa could not be real because there was no way he could have enough oxygen to fly that high. LOL — Downers Grove Patch Facebook

April Nowobielski Marron: My third grader still believes! My 7th grader....no clue when she figured it out, but it seems to be a "don't ask don't tell" sort of deal. She hasn't said boo about it, but when know she knows and she knows we know she knows. LOL — Downers Grove Patch Facebook

Paul Johnson: When my son was about 8, he was starting to ask about Santa because of some kids at school were telling him Santa isn't real. So my wife and I invited him to watch a show with us on The History Channel, "The Real Story of Christmas". After the part on the origin of Santa, he started putting things together. The part about reindeer and sleighs finalized it. After the show we talked about everything and explained to him that he's now just as much Santa to little kids as my wife and I are. He really loved it and never once to this day seemed upset or disappointed. — Darien Patch Facebook

Carla Marie Vasile: My son was always suspicious of there being a big jolly fat man that came down the chimney. We never encouraged or discouraged what he believed in. Then when he was ohh about 5 we were in a store and saw an old friend who goes to him, "Are you being good for Santa? Santa wont come if you aren't good!" My son looks at her and goes, " There's no such thing as Santa. I'm good for my mommy and Nana. They give better presents anyways." I think his mild belief in Santa was to humor me and my mom. He is very sweet though with his half brother...he encourages the Santa thing. I just asked him the other day who Santa was. He laughed at me and goes, "Santa was a guy named St. Nick. in Italy or something. But American Santa is you and Larry and Nana and Papa. Duh." lol My kid is awesome. — Lemont Patch Facebook

Jane Freedlund Wareham: I have no idea what you are talking about. — Western Springs Patch Facebook