'My 6yo returned from school saying the Tooth Fairy isn't real. So I stepped up my lie."

When my six-year-old recently came home from her first week of Year One and announced (standing beside her four-year-old sister) that the Tooth Fairy wasn’t real, my heart sank.

“The Tooth Fairy is really just you and Dad,” she stated, as if it was a matter of fact (BTW yes, I know it is).

I asked her why she thought this. “A kid at school,” she replied. I won’t write what I muttered under my breath about that kid who tried to ruin the Tooth Fairy for a six-year-old, but needless to say I was not impressed.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that the truth about the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny will be discovered at some point. I am aware this will most likely be found out in the same way the Tooth Fairy’s identity was exposed to my daughter. But this soon?

When I was a kid (and yes maybe I was foolish) I still believed nearly all the way through primary school. Truth be told, I think I also still secretly hoped they were partly real for a few years after. For me, it was about the feeling, the magic, the way you couldn’t explain these ‘helpers’ by logic. The simple fact was it made me happy and excited.

Mamamia’s daily news podcast The Quicky will get you up to speed on what you need to know today….

One of the greatest things about having children is experiencing this sense of joy again, even if it is through the eyes of someone else. It makes Christmas have that extra shine and Easter that extra hop. It even makes the event of losing a tooth become one with sparkle. I love it. My children love it. I wanted it to stay that way. At least for a few more years.

Many child psychologists say that discovering the truth about our favourite magical helpers is normal and healthy. It shows your child is moving through the process from magical to logical thinking.

Aside from this, it brings up questions around children being able to trust their parents and whether or not honestly is always the best policy. While I agree this for 99 per cent of things to do with parenting, on this issue, I fall within the one percent.

I am choosing to ignore these professionals and I am going to say six and four are too young not to believe. Although logic is beneficial in many respects, logic about the Tooth Fairy at these ages isn’t a priority, at least for my children.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Ballet concert bound #balletdancer #ihateballetbuns

A post shared by Shona Hendley (@shonamarion) on Dec 14, 2018 at 4:41pm PST

To add to this and possibly put me in the ‘bad parent’ category, not only am I going to continue to lie to my children about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, I have now stepped up my lie and created a more elaborate story to keep the magic alive.

“The Tooth Fairy is real,” I replied to my daughter. “Grandma saw her once.”

At first my statement was met with disbelief. But not long after it was followed by questions about what this fairy with the love for teeth looked like. In case you’re wondering – she is small, has lots of sparkles, and is very quick.

“Wow,” she replied. Her eyes widened with amazement, a smile on her face. And just like that, the magic (at least this time) was restored.

There will come a time where logic will prevail and maybe I will be a bad mum in their eyes for lying to them all of these magical creatures.

But if it gives them at least a little extra time (just a couple more years) where they can just believe, where they can hold on to the magic, where they can just be kids, it is a risk I am prepared to take.

How old do you think is the right age to tell children about the Tooth Fairy? Tell us in a comment below.

Shona Hendley is a freelance writer from Victoria. An ex secondary school teacher, Shona has a strong interest in education. She is an animal lover and advocate, with a morbid fascination for true crime and horror movies. Shona is usually busy writing and raising her children: two goats, two cats and two humans. You can follow her on Instagram at @shonamarion.

Like to have your opinion heard? Like $100 even more? Take our quick survey now for your chance to win one of three $100 vouchers.