a website to help parents talk with their children about potentially sensitive topics:
Birth, Death, and Fantastical Beings
Survey Results: Fantastical Beings
(Santa, The Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny)
Have your children ever asked questions about Whether fantastical beings are real?
Of the parents who answered this question, results showed:
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87% answered "Yes"
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13% answered "No"
What did parents say to their children about the reality of fantastical beings?
How confident are you in later telling your children that fantastical beings aren't real?
(1 = not confident, 5 = very confident)
Do you worry that your child may be upset to discover that you lied about the existence of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, etc.?
(1 = not concerned, 5 = very concerned)
Several parents reported that their children haven’t yet questioned the belief or they secretly know but still want to believe.
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“He has not questioned it yet.”
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“They pretty much knew from the beginning that they were not real, but suspended their disbelief for the fun of it.”
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“I think my oldest gets that it isn’t real but he is holding back for the sake of his siblings.”
What about children who haven't asked about this topic?
How confident are you in introducing the concept of fantastical beings to your children?
(1 = not confident, 5 = very confident)
Most parents encouraged belief in fantastical beings
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“I encourage them to believe at their age.”
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“I’ve let him continue believing for now. The idea behind each of these fantastical beings is important.”
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“We generally say something like 'what do you think?' or 'some people believe so.'”
Some parents reported that their children do not believe in fantastical beings, because of their own teachings and beliefs.
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“We don’t do Santa, Easter bunny, etc. My kids know it’s a game that other families play and they can play along if they choose, but we don’t spin elaborate tales.”
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“We’re Jewish...we explained early on that some families believe in magic, like Santa Claus. That it isn’t up to us to tell them that they can’t”
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“The children know that St. Nicholas was a real person, and that Santa is a character modeled off of St. Nicholas. They know the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, etc. are characters who are not real.”