Children's belief in Santa Claus naturally changes as they age. Research indicates that about 90% of children believe in Santa until the age of six, start to have doubts around eight, and about half stop believing by ten. Interestingly, this change varies by country. In Japan and the United States, only about 15-17% of children stop believing by age six, whereas in the UK, over 30% do, highlighting cultural differences.
This transition is not sudden but occurs through a gradual process. Initially, children believe Santa is a magical figure capable of everything. Later, they start to think there might be multiple Santas and realize that the Santas they see in town are just people in costumes. Eventually, they learn to distinguish between fantasy and reality. This process is closely linked to the development of children's logical thinking and cognitive abilities, and it is a sign of healthy growth.