Santa, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny...?

I was raised to believe in these things. Whenever I found out they weren't real, I felt like a fool. I don't want my daughter to go through the same thing. I think that I don't want to instill those lies into her. I need advice from people who are raising their child(ren) in a like manner. How did you go about celebrating holidays without elaborating on those mythological creatures? Did your kids seemed bothered that they didn't believe the same as other kids in school, or did they appreciate the truth?





I don't want to ruin her childhood by possibly "making her a cynic", as my mom says. I also don't want to lie to her. People say it's all for fun, it's really just a lie, and I want to always be as honest with my daughter as possible.





Thanks for all answers.

Santa, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny...?
You asked about people who are raising their children in a like manner. My husband and I are. We never told our children (be good because Santa is watching). We told them that Santa and all of the other fairies and magical creatures are stories that are fun to listen to. They have pictures sitting on Santa's lap, but they never told him what they wanted.





Yes, they have seen the cartoons and the movies. However, they never believed they were real. In fact, one of my sons, they are 15 now, asked me if children don't wonder about the inconsistencies they see when they watch three different stories about the origin of Santa.





We are not perfect. However, in this house Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Thanksgiving is for giving thanks to God. Resurrection Sunday is to celebrate the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. We try to make that our goal in our decorations, celebrations, and traditions.
Reply:if you dont raise your child to believe in these things, a friend at school will... dont rob your baby of the great american traditions and stories. when i found out they werent real, it made more sense to me... they will be fine.
Reply:I don't think you should have felt like a fool when you found out they werent' real. Parents work hard to make them seem real to their children.
Reply:When I found out the truth, I was relieved because it really freaked me out to think strange people and overgrown animals were walking around my house at night....it didn't seem normal to me. With my own kids I never made a big thing about any of them. They heard about them at school, read in books, saw on tele etc and I just let them form their own opinions. Funnily enough they all worked it out before too long. I get 20c for my tooth - A got $1, B got $20 (I kid you not). A got a tv set, B got a bike - I got a couple of matchbox cars.
Reply:Well if anything else you can explain to her what they really are- myth.





And you can explain to her why they're myths and what they represent. And why folks like to believe in them.





And most importantly- what kind of an edge this gives her when it comes to seperating fools from their money. (Jesus on a grilled cheese sandwich, etc.).
Reply:Its my opinion that adults are trying to take being a kid out of being a kid. You are talking about a child why shouldn't she be able to imagine a big bunny or get a tooth fairy quarter? I can't believe you'll never lie to your child. It happens, fantasy is not a lie its magic and fun. Sorry you are being a cynic. Let a kid be a kid that's what wrong with society today too many adults worrying about the wrong things.
Reply:My parents didn't play these games with me; they told me the truth. But the truth is that what these things represent are beautiful concepts, and you can appreciate that beauty without having to lie about physical reality of these imaginary beings!
Reply:believing in these thngs is part of the majic of childhood. it is much more exciting for the tooth fairy to come then to hand a tooth over to mom. it isn't really lying...it is story telling. do u point out every thing that isn't really real in kid's movies and cartoons?
Reply:We let our kids call the shots on this one. We never told them they were real we just went along with it and when they got older and asked then we told them the truth some of my sons friends are still at that age of believing and he doesn't say or do anything to ruin it for them although he knows mommy and daddy are the ones that leave the treats.





Since you are just trying to be honest and open with your daughter just tell her that although she knows the truth a lot of kids dont and for them it is fun so let it be your secret for now, and as far as celebrating the holiday instead of leaving money from the toothfairy or a gift from santa just get her something special from you.
Reply:My kids believed until they were about 7 in Santa, actually they probably lied to keep me happy. But as a kid you want to believe in ghosts and ghouls and Santa and Jack Frost, even half heartedly it's fun to be in a magical world for a while.
Reply:I told my co-worker that I'm not telling my daughter that Santa Claus is real because she might not believe Jesus is real either. My co-worker literally got mad at me and said it's nothing wrong with it and she's going to ruin it for the other kids at school. I cannot help it if other parents want to lie to their children.


I never believed in Santa because I have an older sister, when my sister found out Santa wasn't real she got mad and therefore I never had the opportunity, but I loved that story twas the night before x-mas, I love the fantasy and the imagination of that story. Christmas was never ruined for me and I was not a "cynic", just a little kid who knew her parents spent a lot at x-mas time.
Reply:somebody eventually will tell them. at school, playground, neighbors kids and so on. they would think about it and in a moment, when they ask you about it, tell them the truth lets say, they will believe it for a little longer while, let them use their fantasy, childhood is in many ways based on it...fantasies have no boundaries. don´t feel guilty about it, their questions about all these characters will come sooner, then you might think.
Reply:I don't know any kid that felt like a fool after finding out..unless of course they were 13 year old when they found out. Fantasy for a young child is healthy and nobody ever had issues as an adult when they found out the Easter Bunny was really Mom.
Reply:every holiday, we remind our kids of the real meaning behind those holidays, but we also let them have fun with the idea of santa and the easter bunny---they know they're not real, and it's okay with them....it's still magical to think it is. they're young (5 and 3), so they'll probably never go to school thinking that we duped them.....hopefully not ruining it for the other kids, either ;)





as for the tooth fairy.....hmmmm....i don't know. i'm still traumatized from the time i found all my baby teeth in a sucrets box......i'll have to think of something too! now i'll be watching for your other answers ;)
Reply:These things are traditions that make a childhood magical. Why any parent would want to deprive their child of that fun is beyond me.





As far as a child being upset when they find out these things are not real, it's all in how the parent handles it that will affect how the child feels about it. My older 3 boys know Santa is not real. When I told them about it (when they asked), I told them he WAS real. St Nicholas was a real man who loved to make and share toys with all the children in his village. When he died everyone felt like they needed to keep his spirit and the spirit of giving alive by creating the magical story of Santa Clause. While many people don't believe, even some adults still have fun "believing".





I mean who didn't cry at the end of the movie "The Polar Express"? It is all so magical. Let them be kids and let them believe. It gives them something fun to believe in. Then when they are old enough to ask you be honest and tell them straight up. You tell them now that they know, they get to be part of the magic as well. They now get to help keep the magic alive for younger sibblings or friends who still believe.





My youngest is 8 and still believes. I'm sure it won't be long until he hears it at school from some other kid and then I will be honest with him and we will continue still to "believe" and enjoy the spirit of giving.





when my older boys found out about the tooth fairy, they cracked up laughing. They thought it was the funniest thing that I was the tooth fairy.





When they found out about the easter bunny they were soooo upset....NOT, they asked "will we still get baskets?" That was all they cared about. They didn't care where they came from LOL actually they were pleased with themselves for figuring it out like little detectives. I had gone shopping for Easter stuff and left it in the car and had planned to bring it in after they went to school. Problem was, they missed the bus that next day and as we were in a hurry they piled into the car and saw all the easter stuff. It only took them a few seconds to put it all together and my middle son yelled "aaahhaaa! YOU'RE the Easter Bunny!" LOL they cracked up laughing and my oldest said "now that we know can we have our stuff now?" lmao I told them NO we have to keep the spirit alive for the youngest!
Reply:i found out santa wasn't real the day i saw my aunty riding my chirstmas present (bike) down the drive way the night before christmas. my siblings and i were all peeking out the window and we roared with laughter.


it was so funny to see, we loved it.





i think feeling like a fool for believing in a childhood myth says a lot about how you were meant to feel by a joke or a trick. if you teach your child that being fooled can be enjoyable and be fun, she will be more adjusted and handle it better then that.
Reply:They aren't a lie. They are a surprise party. Nothing wrong with someone lovingly, anonymously, doing nice things for you.
Reply:My wife and I dont tell our children that these characters are real but that they are cartoon characters just like Mickey or Shrek. I did grow up with parents who pushed it on me and in fact the idea of "if you dont believe you dont recieve" at Christmas was instilled in us. I spend MY money on my kids gifts and I want them to be able to thank Me and my Wife for them. Besides I want them to know the REAL reason for these holidays and that is not santa or the easter bunny. We generally try to not lie to our kids.
Reply:alright,,let me ask you a question,,,do you read fairy tales to your daughter? or does she watch cartoons or childrens t.v. shows,,Blues Clues, Sesame Street? if you are thinking that if you set her on Santa's lap in the mall at christmas time,or leave her teeth under the pillow for the tooth fairy is lying to her about these things being for real,,then isn't the same thing as allowing her to believe that canaries can grow to be 8 ft tall and can walk and talk and sing,,or that dogs can be born blue?it's called natural creativity and a colorful imagination,and children need these things to grow to be smart and active adults...if she sits and draws you a picture,,and she draws a fish that can fly are you going to sit her down and explain to her that fish can't fly? or are you going to allow her childish mind to grow and nurture her colorful and wonderful imagination?Santa,the tooth fairy,the Easter bunny, Big Bird, Elmo,Blue Dogs, flying fish they are all wonderful,colorful and magical things,,,do you really want to be resonsible for taking all the magic and wonder of being a child away from her? As my daughter started growing up and could understand more then i would explain the holidays a little better to her..it is important that she know what the reality is,,but not when she is small and inocent,,let her enjoy the magic of it all,,life as you grow up is so hard,,and when your a child magic and imagination is so sweet....
Reply:Well, I can't even remember finding out. Its like I went from beleiveing to just not beleiving, no real ill effect.





We are pretty much going with those ideas because ours learns about them at school. So she comes home all excited that they colored the easter bunny at school, or watched movies with santa in them.





I think if you decide to celebrate with out the myths, just try to explain to them the real meaning of the holiday. Easter for us isn't a big holiday, so we kinda avoid the whole bunny idea. So I told ours that the reason we celebrate Easter with little bunnies and chicks etc is because in spring all the animals have little babies, and we are celebrating spring time and babies. (were also not religious if you can't tell).





Thats the best I can say. Good luck. And don't forget too, you might get some angry phone calls when she gets into school unless you teach her not to tell other children they don't exist.
Reply:I never felt like I'd been lied to or fooled. I loved believing in those things, when I was old enough and the truth was explained to me, my parents told me and made me feel like a big kid because I was old enough to know a "secret" and couldn't tell others.
Reply:The Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and especially Santa Claus are part of the magic of being a child. The way I see it, kids will have enough time to worry about the reality of everything when they're older. Why not let them enjoy the simple, innocent, fun things for as long as possible.
Reply:I have never raised my children to believe in these things. I dont feel its right to lie to them.





I explained the concept behind Santa; there use to be a man that went door to door giving poor children gifts. So now people try to hold on to that tradition. We have Jesus gifts at Christmas, not Santa.





The tooth Fairy/Easter Bunny; I never wasted my time with this one.


We do have Easter Baskets for the kids, but they know its from us. More importantly we explain what Easter is and the gifts are from God, as his Son was a gift to us.