Do you lie to your kids and have them believe in the Tooth Fairy, Father Christmas, Easter bunny, etc? Why or why not?

Question

If you’ve already got kids, do they believe in these made up characters? If they don’t, then do you find it hard for them not to break the news to other children who believe in it?
If you don’t have kids yet but plan on having them, do you think you’d have them believe in all of those characters, or would you be honest with them from the start?

SotiCoto · Accepted Answer

My daughter is 20... I'm well past that stuff.

That said, when I was a teenager I told my younger brother that Father Christmas was a lie... then elaborated that obviously a human couldn't achieve anything of the sort, so he was obviously a dragon... but everyone pretended he was a fat old man because small children would be scared of a dragon delivering presents. That was the start of our family's weird "Christmas Dragon" lore.

Guanfei · Accepted Answer

I don't have kids, but I would. It's not lying. It's just making sure the kids have a childhood full of fun and dreams, away from the shitty world they'll have to face as adults.

Let kids dream, let kids make their adventures and pretend, they'll realize soon enough by themselves that it doesn't exist, but by that time, they'll be old enough to be fine with it.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

No kids, but an interesting story relating to this. My parents came from two different homes, my dad your typical conservative home with christian beliefs and he was the first in his family to go to college. He believer childhood was all about relishing those little fantasies, he told us all about santa, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, etc. he had no problem playing along on those holidays and getting us excited about it.

My mom came from a very different home. Her parents were very non-nurturing and emotionally abusive. At age 5 they sat her down with her older brother and sister who had been given the same talk at her age and told her that santa wasn’t real, nor was the Easter bunny, etc. because she was too old to believe in them. At age 5. They told this to a 5 year old girl with no shame or care for how this affected her. She ended up appreciating their honesty in later years (after years of therapy and time to reconcile bc things got a lot worse in her teen years but that’s not my story to tell), and made the decision to never lie to her children about anything. So she never lied to us about santa and others but she also never told us the truth. She wanted us to have those beliefs while we were still kids bc she agreed that 5 was too young to be told they’re not real. So instead whenever we’d ask her, she would smartly redirect and ask us “What do you think?” Giving us the impression that she was still validating those beliefs while also keeping her promise to always be honest with us.

strateguy632 · Answer

i lied to them n would lie about those and flying deer.

it is a harmless lie and adds fun! later they will find out and learn not to believe "what they hear" from classmates, the weather guy, and the news.

kids don't accuse "you lied to me, you filthy liar how can i ever trust you".

usualy when i mention them the kid will eventually say "that isn't real" then i can say "stop believing the weather n news etc. the way you believed me."

IslaTheWitch · Answer

I created stories because they made kids' lives magical. They believed in what they wanted to believe, and that was beautiful. Drama Queen needed this magic in her life for a very long time and was fighting for this... all my kids believed strongly in many things and have never regretted that I fed them with many different stories. They have beautiful memories.

blueonblack22 · Answer

It’s fun for young kids to have these innocent make believe fantasies. Why do you think so many fantasy cartoons and movies do well with kids?

But it’s usually around the age of reason and self conscious is when most kids start questioning logic. That’s around 7-9. I also believe young girls are ahead of boys on this.

So if your kid is 6 or under it’s no harm to have some fun with the concept of Santa Claus, Easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc. It brightens their day to believe that. Gives them something to look forward to. But 7 and up is usually the time to be more honest. Definitely at 9 kids should know.

Daniela1982 · Answer

I think it's fine to tell really young children that. But it shouldn't go on for too many years before they learn the truth. I know when I was little I loved to see the cookies and milk gone that I left on the fireplace.

Lynnzee · Answer

Yes they believe in all of them but I don't consider it lying. It's more like a fairy tale and for fun. I tellthem the real reason for Christmas is that Jesus was born and they bought him gifts and I still had them write a Christmas list for Santa and send to the North pole

ChiTown33 · Answer

I don't have kids. But if I did I would. Because kids got to grow up and face the harsh realities of life soon enough. Let them enjoy the magic of childhood while they can.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I never mentioned those, unless I was asked.
Each time I began with something like:" People say, that..."
Actually, only 'Father Christmas' had been a topic. We integrated him loosely into our family rites, left away commercial nonsense from the "New World", and soon my two ones lost interest.
This saved them from being embarrassed once they went to pre-school.

EmmaMary · Answer

I fully believe in allowing our children to have their innocence... It's quite simply the magic of growing up.

AviatorTom · Answer

How dare you say that's lying. All of those exist. Why else would a child find money under their pillow after losing a tooth? Or presents under the Christmas tress? Or candy and eggs in an Easter basket?

DizzyDesii · Answer

I don’t intend to bring up any of those to my future kids. But I also won’t tell them whether or not they are real. So when they go to school, they’ll probably be pretty clueless as to who the other kids are referring to

CharlotteNoivern · Answer

I would but my oldest caught me filling her stocking one year and asked me if I work for santa

jshm2 · Answer

No. I teach them about made up characters like atheists, gatekeepers, flat earthers, antivaxxers and such imaginary fuckwits that may look like them and speak like them. But do posses much in rational or realistic thought.

HawkPerception · Answer

I don't have kids as of yet, but I'd like them to have some similarities to my childhood like Santa and the Tooth Fairy or monsters in Halloween, so when they grow up they can look back on it with happy nostalgia thinking they had a fun childhood.

Lyndsielee666 · Answer

My youngest still believes. My oldest stopped when he dad passed away but she still keeps the secret for her little sister. Can’t let the magic die just yet

PeachyPie93 · Answer

Yeah I would might as well let them have a dream, life sucks balls so might as well let them have fun and believe in the magic while they are small.

lightbulb27 · Answer

my parents lied to me, but it was fun and I figured it out... it's like playing with parents.

exitseven · Answer

I did. They had fun and they have lots of good memories about it.

007kingifrit · Answer

yes its a fun story that makes kids happy and fills life with wonder.

also it isn't a lie, a lie is untruth with intent to deceive. this is an untruth with intent to entertain.

is a fictional book a lie?

Indio1375 · Answer

Yes I have I did the girls are grown now kind of tradition though

OtterMan68 · Answer

I have never, ever come across someone who was emotionally scarred because their parents lied about Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, Leprechauns...

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, when I was young I believed in all them things.

NathanDavis · Answer

no lies, no tales...

Anonymous · Answer

i don't want to put those useless thoughts and lies in their head. what's the point?

BarryLiverstone · Answer

I will lie to them to protect their innocence and imagination

JayBones · Answer

No. I don't. Because they exist. I ain't got the money for this shit

LadyLa820 · Answer

No not lie really. But play it by telling them the truth

LordMadara · Answer

Don't have kids  Don't like kids

purplepoppy · Answer

It's not lying, it's called playing.

Nikki1989 · Answer

I would never lie to my kids.

laly520 · Answer

won't lie to em in future

CubaPirate · Answer

Yes I did because ir was magic

Still-alive · Answer

I probably would until maybe age 10 or so.

eagle1951 · Answer

yess because i believe

Do you lie to your kids and have them believe in the Tooth Fairy, Father Christmas, Easter bunny, etc? Why or why not?

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Yes, when I was young I believed in all them things.