  Most of the proposed associations between magnetars and supernova remnant
suffer from age problems. Usually, supernova remnants ages are determined from
an approximation of the Sedov-Taylor phase relation between radius and age, for
a fixed energy of the explosion ~ 10^{51} erg. Those ages do not generally
agree with the characteristic ages of the (proposed) associated magnetars. We
show quantitatively that, by taking into account the energy injected on the
supernova remnant by magnetar spin-down, a faster expansion results, improving
matches between characteristic ages and supernova remnants ages. However, the
magnetar velocities inferred from observations would inviabilize some
associations. Since characteristic ages may not be good age estimators, their
influence on the likelihood of the association may not be as important.
  In this work we present simple numerical simulations of supernova remnants
expansion with internal magnetars, and apply it to the observed objects. A
short initial spin period, thought to be important for the very generation of
the magnetic field, is also relevant for the modified expansion of the remnant.
We next analyze all proposed associations case-by-case, addressing the
likelyhood of each one, according to this perspective. We consider a larger
explosion energy and reasses the characteristic age issue, and conclude that
about 50% of the associations can be true ones, provided SGRs and AXPs are
magnetars.
