We told our son ( around age 6) that we also had conversations with Santa ( essentially we were the middle men) discussing not only what gifts he earned but which ones we could afford. Kids are smart enough to know Santa can't be everywhere at the same time.

Santa's at the mall work for santa at the north pole. My 5 year old believes in santa, but knows people dress up as santa as well. She chooses to believe in the magic of Christmas because our family does too even the adults whether it's real or not is irrelevant. You're not lying, magic cannot be proven.

Unpopular opinion, but I tell them the truth from the get go. I say that Santa is just pretend, like a fun game for the holiday. When people say from Santa, they want to give without recognition, trying to make the season a bit more magical. I just don’t like the idea of telling my kid something is real when it isn’t. I remember feeling really hurt that my parents had lied to me when I was a kid

My son is 6 & believes in Santa but he knows his parents and grandparents provide the gifts. I asked him about it & he said Santa approved or disapproves of the gifts he wants and passes it along to his parents and grandparents if he’s been on the nice or naughty list this year. I didn’t expect this answer from him but it opened my eyes to a lot. So I asked him why he thinks that way and he said bc Santa sees everything and we don’t because we aren’t always with him. He said Santa is Gods helper