<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" Dear Paula: So it&amp;#039;s that time of year again, when I live in dread of my now-third-grader&amp;#039;s conversations with friends about the big man in red. What do you think \u2014 when my son hears a different version from the one I tell him, will he hate me for holding out on him? At what age should I have The Talk?\u2013mari  Ah mari, mari \u2014 be merry! I could write a really short answer and direct you to that wonderful letter-turned-into-a-book Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. But you asked about ages, specifically. I don&amp;#039;t believe in having a big Yuletide moment of truth with a child, at any age. (I know my mom never had one with me.) Whenever my kids ask if Mr. Claus is real, I give a stock answer: &amp;quot;What do you think?&amp;quot; Having space to draw your own conclusions is a necessary part of growing up. I never agree or disagree: Who can contradict what&amp;#039;s in someone&amp;#039;s heart? As Bruno Bettleheim, the developmental psychologist, famously explained, &amp;quot;All good fairy tales have meaning on many levels; only the child can know which meanings are of significance to him at the moment.&amp;quot;  I also share my Santa motto, which I admit gives them a little incentive to preserve the magic and the mystery: &amp;quot;If you believe, you receive.&amp;quot;   As for worrying whether my evasiveness will affect their trust or cause them to hate, I&amp;#039;m not so insecure as feel threatened by a child&amp;#039;s thoughtfulness. \u2013Paula Spencer, WD &amp;quot;Momfidence&amp;quot; columnist "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/a42518/whens-the-right-time-for-the-santa-talk-3752/>