We recently told 9yo DD that Santa wasn't real because her cousin was teasing her about it and she was really starting to doubt her belief. It was then that we decided it was time.

We told her the facts like rosehannah suggested and she's still extremely excited about the whole thing.

We're not religious at all, so we told her how Christmas was about being with your family and giving to others. We give to various charities on a regular basis, so she's looking forward to giving just that little bit more to the disadvantaged.

Christmas doesn't have to lose it's "shine" just because Santa no longer sneaks into her house in the middle of the night (scary thought actually, some big fat scary man breaking into your house...!) to deliver presents, but that her parents who love her sneak around the house preparing all of the pressies so that they're all there when she wakes up. How exciting!!