I’m writing this as someone who has mostly lived in the US and Canada. Personally, I find the whole “lying to children about Christmas” thing just a bit weird (no judgment on those who enjoy this aspect of the holiday). But because it’s completely normalized in our culture, this is something many people have to deal with.
Two questions:
What age does this normally happen? I suppose you want the “magic of Christmas” at younger ages, but it gets embarrassing at a certain point.
And how does it normally happen? Let them find out from others through people at school? Tell them explicitly during a “talk”? Let them figure it out on their own?
That is why it is such a great learning tool. Sitting them down when they find out Santa isn’t what they thought, and discussing that at school they will meet Christians who believe things as solidly as they believed in Santa, and that beliefs can be important to people, just as Santa was important to them, even though they might be wrong it isn’t very nice to burst that bubble… The kids get it, they understand fact and fiction better, and won’t be tricked again. It is a great learning experience. And kids will play along with it and not ruin someone else’s christmas.