I told my kids that there is no santa claus. That it is just a story like Dora the Explorer. It's not working out. My three year old son believes me. My five year old daughter believed me last year, but not this year. Her friends flipped her.
I'm reading the Nurture Assumption by Judith Harris. Her theory is that the socialization of kids comes through their peer group. Short of abuse, parents don't have direct non-genetic effects on personality. Kids act to obtain status in their peer group, and the best parents can do is make sure the peer group is OK. If you want your kid to believe what you believe, send them to school with kids whose parents believe what you believe. Her theory is pretty persuasive.
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