Should parents be allowed to tell white lies?

[Gunner Down Under]

As in white lies I mean stuff like the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa, etc.

I've read over the years (not that many actually) about the different points of view and such on this topic, but if parents are put in a situation where the child asks if the Tooth Fairy was real should the parent play along or just stop it right there?

Some say that if they're old enough to ask they're old enough to know, but some think that they should keep some of the mystery in childhood alive, what do you think?

[Trina]

How boring does xmas, easter etc become when you know the truth and get older? Very!!! You look forward to it for your kids sake.

Remeber when you was a kid and used to get excited? Then why take that away from children.

I don't agree with telling kids at a young age there is no santa etc, let them live and be happy. However, I do beleive its the parents choice, every parent is different.

Personally, I love xmas now Callum beleives in Santa, chap dressed up as santa last year and Callum loved it. Was the best xmas in years. Shannon knows there isn't a Santa because Fordy told her.....however, at that time some of her friends at school knew, so she was questioning it.

[dunkdafunk]

As long as the gifts that they bring are rewards for good behaviour, then who is it hurting?

Tooth Fairy is a good one, helps to diffuse the tears, when the little one is upset they have lost a tooth,
If they put it under their pillow and go to bed, maybe she will visit. I remember this happening, and how it placeated me, but also i remember starting to think that really it was um or dad who was taking it.
Nothing wrong with some imagination.

The Easter bunny brings a reward of chocolate as reward for 40 days of fasting, or giving up chocolate, as it was in my house.
Brings lots of fun for very young kids, and for older ones it just symbolises a reward for a long term dicipline.

As the children get older and start to question, esp Santa, then you can say that he is very busy and you need to help him out everynow and again, by getting the gifts.
If the child is 7-9 they probably have an idea that he is not real. Bu are probably aretelling their own pretty white lie to make sure they get their gifts.



The honest fact is that everyone lies, even if it is to be polite, and save a scene.
Children need to learn what is ok to lie about and what is not.
Or that there are good ways andbad ways to lie.
Children also need to learn about dicipline, and self control.
These skills will set them up for the next stage of their lives, their teens.

[Leody]

Wtf!?!?!?!?

What do you mean they're not real!!!!!

I can't live in a world with no tooth fairy!

[Dejan]

there is no easter bunny?

seriously?

[dunkdafunk]

just because i dont believe in them doesnt mean they are not real.

I never felt a hand go under my pillow and take a tooth! maybe it wasn't my mum, she could never lie to me, could she.

[Maxduke]

No way, if I'm ever a parent no way is some fat guy taking credit for what I bought with my hard earned cash.

[Forest]

lol.

[Van The Man Persie]

Fortunately none of the kids in my family, myself included back when i was one believed this crap.

[UFGN]

I dont see the harm in telling children about fictional characters such as Father Christmas, The Tooth Fairy and God.

[shamrock11]

Fortunately none of the kids in my family, myself included back when i was one believed this crap.

i cannot believe this guy these things are part of the greatness of childhood which i miss more and more every day i grow older

[djaxster]

The biggest white lie is in nearly every story read to you as a child." and they lived happily ever after"
No they didn't he ended up screwing her younger and more beatiful sister and she became dependant on crack cocaine

[VCC]

get rid of this thread if my son see's it i wont get him to do anything!