Results: Magical Characters
My son in Middle School and still seems to believe in most of the magical characters we parents encourage. I love that he still believes in the magic and contains that innonance but Im worried kids will destroy his innonance of youth If they find out he still believes.
1.
1.
At what age should children know that its their grownups playing the roles of Santa, Easter Bunny, etc? 4-6
7%
•
127 votes
7-9
22%
•
385 votes
10-12
16%
•
281 votes
Belief shouldn't be encouraged
10%
•
175 votes
Whenever they start doubting the possiblilty.
46%
•
805 votes
Other (please specify)
5%
•
81 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.86% | 16 | |
| na | 0.76% | 14 |
| n/a | 0.59% | 11 |
| other | 0.11% | 2 |
| never | 0.11% | 2 |
| shouldn't lie to them in the first place | 0.05% | 1 |
| I don't think they should be lied to in the first place... | 0.05% | 1 |
| WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD THE TRUTH | 0.05% | 1 |
| You should never lie to your children about these things. | 0.05% | 1 |
| dont celebrate | 0.05% | 1 |
| i was told when i quit believing i quit getting so i still believe | 0.05% | 1 |
| Don't tell them. | 0.05% | 1 |
| not applicable | 0.05% | 1 |
| no kids | 0.05% | 1 |
| They can believe until they choose not to | 0.05% | 1 |
| don't EVER lie to kids | 0.05% | 1 |
| Ena | 0.05% | 1 |
| n/a don't have kids | 0.05% | 1 |
| When they figure it out themselves, let them enjoy it while they can. | 0.05% | 1 |
| do not celerbrate Christmas | 0.05% | 1 |
| They should never believe it's lying to our children. | 0.05% | 1 |
| whenever they stop believing | 0.05% | 1 |
| ./////// | 0.05% | 1 |
| n/a missing | 0.05% | 1 |
| When they are "ready" | 0.05% | 1 |
| they will let you know when they are ready | 0.05% | 1 |
| never quit beleiving | 0.05% | 1 |
| Always believe | 0.05% | 1 |
| these are religious holidays and should be trearted as such. Kids can enjoy santa stories but they need to know there is no santa | 0.05% | 1 |
| Any Age!!!! | 0.05% | 1 |
| not a parent | 0.05% | 1 |
| I stood up in Kindergarten and announced to the class there was no Santa Claus! | 0.05% | 1 |
| let people find out on their own | 0.05% | 1 |
| Didn't belieave in the magical charactors | 0.05% | 1 |
| dont teach them these things in the 1st place | 0.05% | 1 |
| depends on the child/circumstances...why limit the wonder and magic? | 0.05% | 1 |
| Very individual. .every child is different | 0.05% | 1 |
| I wouldn't lie about it. I remember when i found out I was crushed. I will be honest with my kids about all the tales. | 0.05% | 1 |
| tell the truth from the beginning and make the rest fun and pretend | 0.05% | 1 |
| 100 | 0.05% | 1 |
| should never lie in the first place | 0.05% | 1 |
2.
2.
Do you encourage your child(ren) to believe in magical characters? Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc? Yes, of course!
41%
•
727 votes
Yes, because my partner encoraged it.
4%
•
73 votes
Yes but on a small scale because holidays should be about religion
11%
•
202 votes
No
18%
•
310 votes
No way! I don't want to decieve my children
12%
•
205 votes
Other (please specify)
16%
•
290 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| n/a | 4.65% | 84 |
| na | 4.04% | 73 |
| 1.77% | 32 | |
| no kids | 1.16% | 21 |
| no children | 0.61% | 11 |
| not applicable | 0.22% | 4 |
| I don't have children | 0.17% | 3 |
| I don't have kids | 0.17% | 3 |
| I don't have children. | 0.17% | 3 |
| don't have children | 0.17% | 3 |
| na, no kids | 0.11% | 2 |
| have no kids | 0.11% | 2 |
| n/a no kids | 0.11% | 2 |
| don't have kids | 0.11% | 2 |
| I have no children | 0.06% | 1 |
| I did when the boys were young | 0.06% | 1 |
| na, I have not kids | 0.06% | 1 |
| why not? | 0.06% | 1 |
| depends on the child | 0.06% | 1 |
| i don't encourage them I let them believe what they'd like | 0.06% | 1 |
| We have no children. | 0.06% | 1 |
| i did when my kids were small | 0.06% | 1 |
| N/A- no children | 0.06% | 1 |
| they find out on their own so I guess I would have to say I don't discourage it | 0.06% | 1 |
| dont celebrate | 0.06% | 1 |
| n/a don't have children | 0.06% | 1 |
| Have no children | 0.06% | 1 |
| no kids but i wouldn't have missed it for the world when i was growing up | 0.06% | 1 |
| I don't have any children. Just two cats. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I do not have children | 0.06% | 1 |
| I did when they were very small | 0.06% | 1 |
| don't have children. | 0.06% | 1 |
| only when very little | 0.06% | 1 |
| I dont have kids | 0.06% | 1 |
| ./////// | 0.06% | 1 |
| I don't have any children | 0.06% | 1 |
| No children, but I wouldn't tell them... they will find out, on their own. My former Step father told me, about Santa... still kind of makes me mad/sad, that he did that. I was around 11? | 0.06% | 1 |
| have no young children | 0.06% | 1 |
| I did if Im had it to do over since learning there also is no God I would not. | 0.06% | 1 |
| n/a - I don't have children. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I have to, because her friends & classmates are taught this way. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I did when they were growing up. | 0.06% | 1 |
| other | 0.06% | 1 |
| NA NO KIDS | 0.06% | 1 |
| Dn/a | 0.06% | 1 |
| yes I did | 0.06% | 1 |
| children grown | 0.06% | 1 |
| were I a 'rent, I'd not. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I did when they were young. | 0.06% | 1 |
| i let fate follow the course. Kids become aware of fantasy and reality as a part of growing up normally. A middle school child should be aware of the difference between real and fable characters if he/she lives in a normal environment | 0.06% | 1 |
| Don't have any children in household, N/A | 0.06% | 1 |
| not a parent | 0.06% | 1 |
| na-no kids | 0.06% | 1 |
| my kids are adults | 0.06% | 1 |
| n/a missing | 0.06% | 1 |
| No children! | 0.06% | 1 |
| don't have little children | 0.06% | 1 |
| sons are grown | 0.06% | 1 |
| kids are big now | 0.06% | 1 |
3.
3.
When your child(ren) start asking questions about the magical character are you honest with your answers? Yes!
25%
•
438 votes
Kind of....
22%
•
392 votes
No I want them to believe for as long as possible.
15%
•
270 votes
N/A
39%
•
689 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
20 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.44% | 8 | |
| No kids | 0.11% | 2 |
| V | 0.06% | 1 |
| K | 0.06% | 1 |
| Depends on age and maturity | 0.06% | 1 |
| I tell them that the magic of Christmas is in their heart | 0.06% | 1 |
| Yes I was | 0.06% | 1 |
| I don't have children. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I always told them You beleave in what you want to.. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I TELL THEM ITS U TO THEM TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY WANT. | 0.06% | 1 |
| NA | 0.06% | 1 |
| find positive ways to teach kids about giving & rewards | 0.06% | 1 |
4.
4.
Did they still believe in one character but know that another doesn't exhist? My child quickly realized one of the magical characters job discription was impossible but continued to believe in another.
17%
•
298 votes
Once they learned the truth all magical characters ceased to exist.
29%
•
509 votes
N/A
54%
•
954 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
24 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.56% | 10 | |
| No kids | 0.11% | 2 |
| vivid imagination is an integral part of childhood | 0.06% | 1 |
| stepchildren | 0.06% | 1 |
| Always believe, there is an angel out there somewhere doing good. | 0.06% | 1 |
| they always knew the truth | 0.06% | 1 |
| grown now | 0.06% | 1 |
| We told them from the beginning but still accepted them just as make believe | 0.06% | 1 |
| they never believed | 0.06% | 1 |
| Don't remember | 0.06% | 1 |
| yes | 0.06% | 1 |
| They know that true. they are 9 years old. | 0.06% | 1 |
| Well as the older one gets we mature and we achieve the magic of living and see more. | 0.06% | 1 |
| If I had kids I certainly would not lie to them | 0.06% | 1 |
5.
5.
Did your child believe you were dishonest by encouraging them to believe? No
32%
•
572 votes
Yes, but didn't seem to mind
13%
•
238 votes
They were devasted by the lies
5%
•
89 votes
N/A
49%
•
867 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
15 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.56% | 10 | |
| You're taking life too seriously. | 0.06% | 1 |
| NA | 0.06% | 1 |
| we explained it of part of the magic of growing up | 0.06% | 1 |
| I don't believe in devastating kids with lies or myths | 0.06% | 1 |
| no kids | 0.06% | 1 |
6.
6.
Did another child tell your child the truth before you were ready for them to know? Yes a family member(cousin, aunt, uncle, etcc) told my child
7%
•
115 votes
Yes, they found out at school
21%
•
374 votes
Yes, an older sibiling
8%
•
138 votes
N/A
59%
•
1035 votes
Yes but my child didn't believe them
7%
•
115 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
26 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.50% | 9 | |
| No | 0.28% | 5 |
| dont remember | 0.06% | 1 |
| i told them | 0.06% | 1 |
| No we toldthem | 0.06% | 1 |
| NO! I Did! | 0.06% | 1 |
| Don't know | 0.06% | 1 |
| Don't remember | 0.06% | 1 |
| I don't know | 0.06% | 1 |
| A teacher | 0.06% | 1 |
| do not remember | 0.06% | 1 |
| figured it out on there own. | 0.06% | 1 |
| NA | 0.06% | 1 |
| they allowed the other to beleive | 0.06% | 1 |
7.
7.
If you could start over would you still encourage the belief? Yes
41%
•
731 votes
No
12%
•
220 votes
Undecided
11%
•
195 votes
Not Applicable
35%
•
618 votes
8.
8.
After one child stopped believing did they continue to pretend for a younger sibiling? Yes, they loved being in on the secret!
30%
•
524 votes
No, they told other children at the first opprunitity
8%
•
141 votes
Yes, but only because I required it.
6%
•
104 votes
N/A
57%
•
1000 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
9 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.28% | 5 | |
| They both confronted me together | 0.06% | 1 |
| Don't know | 0.06% | 1 |
| Yes, because they had enjoyed it | 0.06% | 1 |
| yes they allowed the other to beleive | 0.06% | 1 |
9.
9.
Did you feel deceived when you found out the truth? Yes! My parent(s) lied to me!
10%
•
181 votes
Not really...
49%
•
872 votes
No! Im glad my patent(s) encourage me to believe!
37%
•
644 votes
Other (please specify)
6%
•
106 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| n/a | 1.39% | 25 |
| NA | 1.33% | 24 |
| 1.11% | 20 | |
| I always knew the truth | 0.06% | 1 |
| my parents never lied to me about fictitious beings like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy | 0.06% | 1 |
| not sure | 0.06% | 1 |
| we never did that when i was at home they were always honest. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I still believe and I am 68 | 0.06% | 1 |
| they didn't lie to me about fake | 0.06% | 1 |
| my parents never lied to me about these things | 0.06% | 1 |
| it was my own falt and i still regret being nosey and ruining my christmases forever | 0.06% | 1 |
| n/a, my parents didn"t lie to me | 0.06% | 1 |
| My parents never lied about these things. | 0.06% | 1 |
| Told me the truth early in life. | 0.06% | 1 |
| don't have children | 0.06% | 1 |
| Not at all - I was thrilled because i could really focus on what I wanted rather than ask for what would have been appropriate coming from other than my parents. | 0.06% | 1 |
| don't hve that problem | 0.06% | 1 |
| don't remember it | 0.06% | 1 |
| I remember being sad that Santa and the Easter Bunny weren't real but not upset with my parents. | 0.06% | 1 |
| diapointed | 0.06% | 1 |
| Don't celebrate | 0.06% | 1 |
| ........./ | 0.06% | 1 |
| i was told thruth all my life | 0.06% | 1 |
| Yes about no god | 0.06% | 1 |
| my parents didn't believe in it therefore neither | 0.06% | 1 |
| E | 0.06% | 1 |
| I felt foolish (at age 7) | 0.06% | 1 |
| Not my culture | 0.06% | 1 |
| other | 0.06% | 1 |
| I never believe | 0.06% | 1 |
| I was very disappointed, I so wanted them to be real. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I was never told to believe in santa or any character. I was told the truth. | 0.06% | 1 |
| not a parent | 0.06% | 1 |
| i never believed due to my religious beliefs | 0.06% | 1 |
| No | 0.06% | 1 |
| na - my parents told me the truth from the beginning. | 0.06% | 1 |
| n/a missing | 0.06% | 1 |
| N/A - my parents refused to tell us about such characters. We chose to believe anyway, but they never pushed it | 0.06% | 1 |
| i was.not deseved | 0.06% | 1 |
| No it was afun time in my life | 0.06% | 1 |
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