# Santa, the Tooth Fairy and other magical beings

**Should we tell our child Santa and the Tooth Fairy are real?**

Whether you tell your child that Santa and the Tooth Fairy are real, play along, call it a game, or skip the myths.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Full myth, maintained; Play along, answer honestly when asked; "a game we play" from the start; No myth. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: toddler.

- Area: Values, character and family culture
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: Toddler
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/values-character-and-family-culture--santa-the-tooth-fairy-and-other-magical-beings

## Santa, the Tooth Fairy and other magical beings: what are the options?

1. **Full myth, maintained**: You present them as real and keep it up as long as you can.
2. **Play along, answer honestly when asked**: You go along with it, and tell the truth when the child asks directly.
3. **"a game we play" from the start**: You tell the child from the beginning that it is pretend, and enjoy it together.
4. **No myth**: You do not do these traditions.

## Santa, the Tooth Fairy and other magical beings: what does the evidence say?

**Evidence leans one way.** Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. (Leans low-risk)

Disbelief arrives around 8; negative feelings are usually short-lived and most adults report no damage to trust

Sources:

- [Mills et al.](https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2024-25574-001.pdf)

## What else is worth knowing?

Many families tell children that Santa or the Tooth Fairy is real. Most children work it out by about seven or eight and are not upset. Parents differ on whether it is harmless fun or a lie.

## Questions to ask each other

- Did we believe, and how did we find out?
- Do we want to keep the magic or tell the truth early?
- What would we say when our child asks directly?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=values-character-and-family-culture&topic=values-character-and-family-culture--santa-the-tooth-fairy-and-other-magical-beings