Taught to believe in the tooth fairy? I don't think any kid really believesthere is a tooth fairy. It's just a game to play with the folks.

Laura, 35
Lowell, MA

Belief in the tooth fairy isn't necessary for a happy childhood. Neither is disbelief. The myth is a harmless one. Furthermore, when the child turns six--"the age of reason"--when the baby teeth begin falling out--the myth can be penetrated by logical reasoning. Logical reasoning is necessary for a happy childhood--and for survival.

Jill, 59
Saylorsburg, PA

Why not? It is a little myth paralleling some of the great ones, that eases what might otherwise be a traumatic event. Most families are enough tongue-in-cheek about it that the children don't take it seriously anyway.

Jane, 60
West Linn, OR

No, I don't think that children should be taught about the tooth fairy because this creates the belief that lying is OK, and that you can just run away from problems into a fantasy world. This is why so many teens are into depression, satanism, etc

Melodi, 19
Hlliard, OH

Yes, I think so. Children need to have make believe in their lives, it fosters their imagination. I believe it makes them a more well rounded person. Kids need to be allowed to be kids!

Kathy, 26
Garden City, MI

I don't see why. It makes no sense whatsoever to teach that belief.

Socrates One
Lowell, MA

I think kids should have joy and wonder and mystery in their lives.  Not sure if telling small white lies is the best way to go about doing this.

Felicia, 34
Somerville, MA

Absolutely. I believe that traditions and rituals are important for children, the same way I believe that children should grow up with some concept of a God. It's something to take away the scariness of dark nights. Fantasy and magic lose hold when we get older. I hate to take that away from children

Amy, 23
Baton Rouge, LA

I don't know, but they definitely shouldn't be taught/allowed to scorn the kids who DO believe in the tooth fairy. The kids who first heard Santa wasn't real were brats!

Karen, 20
Marshelltown/Ames, IA

Yes, the loss of a tooth is a scary thing for kids and if they can be taught that they will get PAID for it (very little), it can make those first few times a little less scary.

Lindsay, 21
Harrisonburg, VA

I don't think kids should be taught to believe in the tooth fairy, however, they should not be discouraged from believing in the tooth fairy. After all, they will have plenty of time to be cynical, they should be allowed to believe in stuff like that.

Ernest, 28
Washington, DC

I don't think there's any harm to it, I believed in it for a short while and it was fun while it lasted.

Nicole
Elk Grove, CA

Should children be taught to believe in anything. What noticable good has teaching children to believe in Jesus or Thor, or capitalism or communism, or democracy,or manifest destiny, or the superiority of their given race/creed/sex or political correctness or ecology or life after death, or taxable economy, or the health benefits of eggs, or the sexual powers bestowed by eating the penises of larger animals done to anyone. Beliefs are intellectual laziness. The tooth fairy is no less worthless than anything else you believe in. If anything, she is less worthless because she inspires a sense of wonder and hope that most beliefs lack.

Anthony, 25
Baton Rouge, LA

I don't see much harm in it as long as they are taught otherwise once they hit their pre-teens. it's not such a bad thing, it's a part of childhood to believe in magic and such. it's just like believing in santa claus or the easter bunny. it's all in good fun. no kid i've ever known has been permanently damaged by stories of the tooth fairy.

Angela. 16
Bella Vista, AK

Why not? I believed in the tooth fairy and I turned out fairly normal.

Susan, 31
Chicago, IL

I personally don't think there's anything wrong with that!

Tracy, 24
Ocean City, NJ

I think they should until they're old enough to be told the tooth fairy isn't real. It's important for little kids to have some imagination.

Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch, CO

It's a minor thing but I don't really see the benefit of lying to children,  especially when most parents seem to want to teach their children that lying is a bad thing.

Alias Irrelevante

I think children should be taught to believe in all fairies (sp?). The tooth fairy, a woodland fairy the easter bunny fairy, oops, wrong fairy.Adulthood is already rushed upon them through life and media. Teaching children to look and listen for magic in life is no crime.  The crime is a child or adult with no imagination

Pamela, 39
Sugar Hill, GA

I don't think that it hurts to pretend that the Tooth Fairy/Santa/Easter Bunny exist. It's all a bit of harmless fun.

Nikki, 27
Kirkham ENGLAND

Yes, and it should be federally funded with benefits and minimum wage. -

Jami, 27
Lowell, MA

Absolutely. . .I love myths. . .they define us and our culture more than anything else. . . . . of course I believe all religions are myths too. . .so. . ..

mothmc, 35
Los Angeles, LA

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