tooth fairy dilema

[gabesmama]

My 6yo DS just lost his 3rd tooth. A friend recently told him that there is no such thing as the tooth fairy. He wants his old teeth back and does not want a visit from the tooth fairy tonight. He says, "I do not want to be a part of these childhood myths!". I don't want him to miss out on it. But he clearly does not want it.

I appreciate any advice,

Lori

[Adele_Mommy]

I would suggest either respecting his wishes and not doing the tooth fairy or suggesting that you make a game of it. Something along the lines of, "You're right, there is no tooth fairy, but it is fun to pretend just like when I pretend to [fill in the blank here with some make-believe game you and he like to play together]. Then you can make a really elaborate and obviously make-believe game out of listening for the fairy, wondering what (or how much) she'll bring, speculating on how she'll get the tooth without waking him up and what she does with the teeth, etc.

[angela&avery]

Originally Posted by gabesmama

My 6yo DS just lost his 3rd tooth. A friend recently told him that there is no such thing as the tooth fairy. He wants his old teeth back and does not want a visit from the tooth fairy tonight. He says, "I do not want to be a part of these childhood myths!". I don't want him to miss out on it. But he clearly does not want it.

I appreciate any advice,

Lori

i wouldn't stress about it. It seems like this is a good thing, he is a mature kiddo who may have been seriously miffed had he found out later on that for all that time he was "tricked"... For his particular personality, it seems like a good thing and I would inform him of all the other myths out there too, lest you receive major rath later on bc he finds out!!

Personally, we do have santa and the tooth fairy and the easter bunny bc I enjoy the magic, and im sure that is why you do it too. I know I would be bummed out if my 6 year old wasnt into it, but its much better to respect his feelings and just kind of put an end to it.

I do agree though, see if he would like to make a game out of pretending? This can be just as fun!

[amcal]

If my DD said that, I would tell her that she's right. There is no Tooth Fairy. I would tell her that loosing teeth is a sign of growing up and that it's fun to celebrate these things with our kids so that's why parents do the tooth fairy but that if she doesn't want to do it anymore, that's fine. I would ask her if she wants to celebrate another way - maybe getting to pick out a new book or puzzle etc... but if she didn't want to celebrate at all, that's fine too. Also, I have saved her teeth. If she wanted them back like your DS, I would give them back in a small box and let her do with it what she wanted.

[granolalight]

Good advice from pp's. But he sounds like a fairly serious child who may not want to participate in pretending there is a tooth fairy just for fun. I like the idea of presenting it as a sign of growing up, and playing along just for fun, and for the money! My dd loves to get the money. It's pretty much her only source of income.

[gabesmama]

Thank you for all of your helpful replies. We ended up making up our own thing and doing a tooth ceremony last night. And this morning he asked for money for his tooth.

Thanks again,

Lori