Tooth fairy, fun or lies!

[johnd2]

Ok so generally speaking lying to your child will damage your relationship with them by reducing their trust in you... And also teach them lying is ok etc etc. But taking that to the extreme, technically the tooth fairy and Santa are lies.
Clearly that's ok as it's done for the right reasons, also who would want to miss out on the fun?
So what's the difference between a lie that reduces trust and one that helps your child?

I lie to my child all the time. “The chocolate is all finished” “I don’t have any money left for Lego” “if you don’t clean your room I’ll put everything in a black bag/hoover everything up”

I also literally just swapped a tooth for a few quid 10 mins ago

If you don't, they'll wonder why The Tooth Fairy and Father Christmas visit their friends and not them.

Fun

My dc has never actually believed in either the tooth fairy or Santa, but have still enjoyed (without literally believing) the fun, the ritual and the idea of both

I don't lie now to my kids (teens) but when little I did a lot. That we had no more dessert, that the TV stopped working once CBBees shut down, that sort of thing. Most kids figure it out fairly young about Santa and what kid really believes about the tooth fairy? I don't kids think of it that you have been lying to them for years as Santa is so ubiquitous.

It's fun. It's part of what makes childhood a magical experience. Just like the Easter Bunny really. It is all part of loving and caring and enjoying family life

I used to tell my kids that the ice cream van playing the tune means he’s sold out. They laugh about it now.

My 7 year old realised the tooth fairy wasn't real this year. He just said, "I knew it!" and laughed.
I still put money under his pillow for him though.

I never told a lie about FC or tooth fairy, I just said 'the story is...' If they ever asked me outright I was just . Like being a spy - never confirm or deny. I am extremely into Christmas but never talked about FC being real or not real.

You do not have to lie to enjoy FC or the tooth fairy.

Should add I took that approach because I told my kids if I told them something was true they could 100% believe me.

I think Christmas is very exciting whether FC is real or the parents are playing the game. It is a modern thing for adults to pretend it is really real to the extent they put on big performances.