What do you say when your child asks if the tooth fairy is real?

Question

Our daughter is nearly 7. She believes dearly in the tooth fairy. In fact, she "saw" the tooth fairy when it left money and a note for her recently. (She leaves questions for the tooth fairy, and they somehow get answered, along with the money.) The tooth fairy appeared and was our beloved, deceased foxhound, but it had grown wings and become a girl dog. Other than that, it was our wonderful dog.

At school and other places, kids have begun telling her that the tooth fairy isn't real. She asked us today, and we din't really answer. We just asked what she thought; she said she thought her tooth fairy was real but maybe the tooth fairy didn't visit those other kids.

I don't mind her having the belief, as long as she doesn't mind others telling her that she's wrong. Right now, she doesn't. But would you tell her that you put the money and the note under the pillow? If not now, when? Ever? Obviously, the seeds of doubt have been planted. Do we water them or let others do it?

Answer 1

I would let her be a kid still, tell her its real. My parents never really answered the question when I was wounder either.

Then I lost a tooth when I was 10, and when I woke up nothing was on my night stand or under my pillow, so i asked my mom why the tooth fairy didnt give me anything. And she was like ' Oh c**p! ' and she ran into her room with my dad for like 20 minutes. then she came out and was like, ' okay... here ' and she tossed a 5 dollar bill to me.

So i knew when I was 10:) lol

Answer 2

When I say things about the tooth fairy and Santa I just say very little and say things like "I heard when you lose a tooth, a fairy comes"  If they ask if it's real I say "I don't know-what do you think? Do you think it could be magic?" That way, im never really telling them something false but still letting them have that imagination about it. I would have answered like you did ("what do you think")  If they were to just come out and ask If I was the one who put the money under the pillow I would certainly tell them the truth.

Answer 3

other kids will begin to tease her about the TF and Santa and the Easter Bunny if you let it go too long. You have to balance maintaining her innocence and not making her a target for others.

ulitmately you have to do whats best but later in life she will prob respect you more for your honesty rather than maintaining a lie... no matter how innocent.

Answer 4

I would tell her "Well,when i was little i belived and i think you should too" i stoped beliving when i was 10 so I think she should still belive. I hope this helped!

-Tara

Answer 5

When my son questioned us about the Tooth Fairy we responded with "Why, if the tooth fairy isn't real, who leaves you the money under your pillow"? I'm sure he still had doubts but it seemed to appease him and we didn't lie. Kids have such a short time where they truly believe, I know he has doubts, all kids eventually do, but why not let them believe while they still can. It's the most innocent, honest thing they'll ever do. It seems to me such a shame the way we try to rush them out of it.

Answer 6

let her believe she's right, that the tooth fairy is real but those other kids dont believe in her so she doesnt visit them. like a punishment. ur only young once. im only 14 and i think my years of santa ended too early.

Answer 7

I think your on the right track, if she believes I would let her go on believing it, childhood doesnt last long and we as parents should try to extend theirs as long as possible, I dont think it hurts her at all; after all like she said the tooth fairy just doesnt visit those other kids, soon she'll move onto something else and she figure out the tooth fairy isnt real all by herself

Answer 8

ask what she believes? there are many things to consider if you don't tell her she may get bullied for believing if you do tell her she will be distraught. tell her if she believes in tooth fairy it is ok and ignore other children and if she say she doesnt tell her everthing how young children have fantasies. do what feels right to you.

Answer 9

Just tell her its not real.

Whats the big deal?

And seriously, that makes her a target for other kids.

I remember when I was 7, and thought this one girl was really dumb and weird for still believing.

And although my parents never told me, I stopped believing on my own when i was about 5.

Answer 10

Let her be "little" as long as you can. Soon enough, the world will rear its ugly head and try to take all the innocence from her. Soon enough she'll see things for what they really are and make her own choices.

If parents long ago told their kids there was no Santa, no Easter Bunny, no Tooth Fairy, no Angels, and none of the things that make young minds wonder, there would be no Alice in Wonderland, no Chronicles of Narnia, no Wizard of Oz, no Tom Sawyer, etc.

Let her believe. Too many people don't, they're called adults, and so many are so sad.  And all they need is a Tooth Fairy.

Answer 11

tell it is made up along with Santa, fairies and Jesus

Answer 12

I was "sorta" prepared for the question because my next door neighbor's 7 1/2 year old son had asked that question the previous year. The mom asked for my advice, but I didn't have an answer then. I began thinking about the proper answer for my family because I knew the time would come.

My son asked, "mom, is the 'tooth fairy' real"?

"The 'tooth fairy' is like those other stories that you like, you know, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Puss-and-Boots, The Little Train that Could.

You know cats can't talk, right? and you know trains can't talk either, right. The tooth fairy is make belief, is like when you pretend to be Peter Pan or Spider Man, you like to pretend because is fun, right? It's just fun to pretend. Parents also like to pretend because its fun and it makes you happy.

"Oh, he muttered, will the tooth fairy keep on coming?"  "Yes", I said, "the tooth fairy will keep on coming".

Answer 13

Hm...i would say wait until she's a little more mature and can tell the difference between fairy tales and real life. Don't encourage the behaviour, but don't discourage it either. She'll find out when she wants to, and when she's ready for you to tell her.

Answer 14

That is so adorable. You have a cute daughter. :]

Personally, I'd leave her be. It's fine since she's 7. After she's 13, she should definitely know the Tooth Fairy's not real, though. Just wait. If she clings to that belief till middle school, I think it's your responsibility to tell her.

In elementary, it's cute. In middle, it's strange. In high, it's just scary.

Answer 15

maybe its time to let go of the belief no matter how hard it might seem. I remember at school someone was bullied because they still believed in santa. Talk to her about what the other kids say to her at school and then decide.

Answer 16

yes

Answer 17

If you tell your child that the Easter Bunny, tooth fairy, santa and elvis are alive and well,

then they find out it's not-

What's going to happen when you tell them that God is real-

and then, someone tells them He's just another fairy tale?

Answer 18

When I was around your daughter's age, my mom told me there was a tooth fair. And everytime I lost the tooth, my toothfairy, Sabrina, wouold come and leave me a note and usualyy a gift or money. I caught the "toothfairy" one night, but I didnt say anything. When I asked my mom a couple of days later, "Is the toothfairy even real?" She said of course. She pretended to talk on the phone to her. I sorta stopped believing in her. I still pretended to though becasue my mom liked it whne I believed. Whenever I asked she just said "Of course!!" or "Yes! Why would you think that?" Eventually I grew out of it. And kids at school are still probably going to tell her "There is no toothfairy". She is young, and needs imagination. Your not lying to her in a bad way,you just want her to have a little fun part in her young years. I dont think there is going to bea toothfairy when she's 13! lol. I think you should tell her yes, there is a toothfairy. It wont crush her, becasue it is just like telling her "There is not Santa Claus" then she will probably think that she wont get presesnts or something. So just keep saying yes, eventually she'll stop asking, oh, tell her to ignore those kids who tell her there is not toothfairy!!!! Good Luck!

Answer 19

say it is.

Answer 20

For the time being, let her believe as long as she can. Yes, the seeds of doubt are there, and will be taken care of by others.  It happens to all children.  For now though, just let her discover for her own.  If people say the tooth fairy isn't realy, let her believe.  Let her believe in santa and the easter bunny as long as she can. I wouldn't tell her if I were you.  If you tell her, it seems more official, more real than her friends, and childhood is a lot better with santa comming to christmas and the Easter Bunny actually hiding the eggs on easter. But, if she believes in the tooth fairy too long... then you should tell her, but if shes like most children, she should figure it out in the third grade or so.

Answer 21

I used to leave notes for the Tooth Fairy and I remember the one I left 'her' asked 'her' what 'her' name was. My dad later went to put money under my pillow and found the note. He drew a heart with lines around it and that was supposedly the tooth fairy's name. I was ecstatic!

As for your daughter, just tell her that the tooth fairy is real, but some children don't believe in 'her' anymore.

Answer 22

I'd say not to ruin it for her. She's only 7, and you never feel the same way about anything, as you did when you believed in all these made-up people. It was always fun to think someone actually came into your house to give you money for a tooth. Just go along with it. If you think that she'll get made fun of so badly at school for believing in these things, then I guess it would be best to tell her the truth. But other than that, I would just go along with it, because it seems like you grow up way too fast, after you stop believing.

Answer 23

Does the tooth fairy exist!  Did you know that when you stop believing in the tooth fairy...she stops coming.  That is why she does not visit some kids, because they don't believe in her.  That's kind of sad for them.  But there are alot of kids and she has just so much time to get to them. I feel sorry for those kids.

Answer 24

tell her.

it will be so much worse if others tell her shes wrong and tease her because they all know for a fact the toothfairys not real , shel be standing up for something thats not true.

wouldnt you rather tell her yourself than have others tell her?

just say something like this... the tooth fairys real until you stop believing in her.

hope ive helped :)

Answer 25

Forget the Tooth Fairy, the real issue here is lying.

She TOLD you that she SAW the Tooth Fairy?

Well this is an obvious lie and she should be scolded. You should say to her "ah hah... I caught you.... you little sneak!"

And then proceed to tell her that you made the whole thing up and now you've caught her in her lie and what does she have to say for herself. Not so tough now is she?

Answer 26

Jesus Is only made up to those who refuse to hear. As for the Tooth Fairy, she will learn soon enough about the realities of life. Let her believe as long as possible..I love fairies to this day but of course know that they are not real (or are they :)

My Nephew is now  12 and he believed  in Santa until last year. What harm did it do to encourage a little joy and imagination?

Answer 27

she is too young to be told its not real. she'll stop believing in it on her own. i was like 9 when i stopped believing in that stuff. i think its awesome that she still believes even tho the other kids say its not real