Help me please:( my 4 year old is too smart)

[ZoeysMommy0308]

While watching some disney world footage on YouTube. My too smart for her own good 4 year old says, "that's not the real olaf, his mouth doesn't move. Why isn't elsa using her ice powers?" Then Elsa turned the castle to "ice" and she said, "yeah, she's real mom." I'm very nervous for our up coming March trip (first trip for her) and her not believing. She is very observant and has a photographic memory. Doesn't let anything get by her. How do I explain why Mickey and Sophia and all the others faces dont move or talk?!!! Or why Elsa doesn't use magic?!

 

[KathyNY76]

This is going to sound snarky and I honestly don't mean it that way...just tell her they are people in costumes? I've never understood why people worry that the kids will know they aren't real. They are giant cloth looking versions of cartoon characters. Cartoon characters aren't real so why would these characters be real? Both of my kids, 4 & 7 on their first trip, loved meeting the characters even though they both know they are all actors plating a part. My daughter especially was basically star struck when she met Merida and Tink. Knowing they aren't 'real' didn't ruin the magic at all. I think she'll love it no matter what!

 

[kohlby]

My eldest was barely 3 during our first trip. He knew none of the characters weren't real and it wasn't a big deal. The trip went great. My other two kids never believed the characters were real either. It was not an issue.

I'd just answer her questions with "what do you think?" and go from there.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

I agree with the first poster. I honestly don't understand why this is a huge ordeal-so long as she is respectful and doesn't spoil it for other children. I never once thought fur characters were real, and I still adored meeting them. I still do. The magic is absolutely still there, no matter if she knows if they are people in costumes or not. It will be less stressful for you to drop the pretense that the characters are real. You appear to have a very astute daughter and she's likely to figure it out quite quickly, before, during, or after, your trip.

 

[Love Tink]

My kids never thought the characters were "real." For one thing, the chipmunks were like five feet tall. So even kids who let some things by them probably catch on to that one. It never occurred to me to worry about it.

 

[CindySwims]

My kids are 4 and 7 and know they are not real. I'm not worried about it and they will still meet with some of the characters. It doesn't change much for us.

 

[BellsFam]

If my DD ever knew they weren't real, she didn't say anything. When she met Mary Poppins and Alice In Wonderland, she remarked that they talked funny, (British accent). It wasn't to her to meet the "real" Buzz, etc., but just to get to see them in person. That made the movies that much more exciting when we got home... "hey, I met them! Can I see my picture with Buzz again!"...

The characters, though they don't talk, do play it up. It's all in the interaction that you, as mom and dad, have with them...

When we did meet Buzz, my dad had a like a Patagonia hat on. Buzz took it off, put it on himself, and they posed for a picture together, then they both made the "arm laser" move and got a picture of that. DD was so excited by that... and to this day doesn't remember that Buzz didn't talk to her or didn't have a "real" laser, it's that he stole her papa's hat...

 

[DisneyOma]

My eldest was barely 3 during our first trip. He knew none of the characters weren't real and it wasn't a big deal. The trip went great. My other two kids never believed the characters were real either. It was not an issue.

I'd just answer her questions with "what do you think?" and go from there.

Your double negative has thrown me off - did he believe or not?

 

[prudence64]

My daughter was the same way and she had fun meeting the people in costumes. No need for her to believe they were "real". She also understood that cartoons weren't real.

 

[Magpie]

I'll chime in with the rest and encourage you to respect your daughter's intelligence and be honest with her. It's a Good Thing that she wants to know how stuff works, and also that she's trying to use observation and logic to work it out. Support her! Don't teach her that there are things in the world that mustn't be questioned or discussed. You want to raise a kid who can think critically, and this is where it all starts.

When my son was your daughter's age he was fascinated by "making of" documentaries. He wanted to know how all his favourite movies and cartoons were made. It didn't lessen his love for them at all. In fact, it inspired him to want to make some of his own.

When my kids would ask, "Is this real?" I'd say, "What do you think?" and then listen respectfully. If my kids said, "That's not real!" I'd say, "Yes, but it's fun to pretend, isn't it?"

 

[BrianL]

There's real and "real." I never really believed that the characters were real, even as a young child, but I still believe that they are "real" when I visit WDW because it's fun to do so.

 

[Alesia]

There's real and "real." I never really believed that the characters were real, even as a young child, but I still believe that they are "real" when I visit WDW because it's fun to do so.

My daughter is the same. She has always known that the characters were people in costumes, but she has also always understood the concept of willfully suspending your disbelief.

 

[anniemae]

My kids always knew they were just people in costumes. I never really thought about it too much. Just like on Halloween, it's not REALLY a zombie, just someone in costume. Same as puppets, cartoons, santa at the mall etc.

 

[AngiTN]

You know, I'll also agree it doesn't matter.
I know they aren't real.
Doesn't mean I don't interact with them as if they are. Not at all.
It's fun to be in the moment and joke around with Rapunzel and ask her about Eugene and does she have a favorite brand of frying pan.
Or ask Merida how it is to try and tame her hair.
DGD is a lot like your child. But, when it comes to Disney, she's always believed in the magic. Just this last trip (at almost 8) she made mention that the characters aren't real but she said it in a way that it was just a passing comment. She still wanted to stand in line and meet them and get their autographs. It didn't diminish the magic for her at all.

 

[AngiTN]

While watching some disney world footage on YouTube. My too smart for her own good 4 year old says, "that's not the real olaf, his mouth doesn't move. Why isn't elsa using her ice powers?" Then Elsa turned the castle to "ice" and she said, "yeah, she's real mom." I'm very nervous for our up coming March trip (first trip for her) and her not believing. She is very observant and has a photographic memory. Doesn't let anything get by her. How do I explain why Mickey and Sophia and all the others faces dont move or talk?!!! Or why Elsa doesn't use magic?!

One thing, Mickey does talk in Town Square.

And it's easy to explain why Elsa doesn't use her magic. They don't want the parks frozen. She's not allowed to. She has to follow the rules since she's just visiting from Arendale.

 

[quagmire0]

If your kid is 'willing' to believe, then I say go with it. They'll eventually come to the age where they know it's not real. Our oldest knew what was up even on her first visit to DW when she was 4, commentating that she liked the Belle at Akershus better than the Belle she met at the meet and greet. So, we really haven't had to do any explaining.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

It's "Disney Magic"! We know it's not "real" but in Disney anything can happen and we simply suspend our disbelief to have fun. That's the whole point and premise of Disney World. Leave behind the real world and willingly jump into a world of magic.

 

[jvncnt]

While watching some disney world footage on YouTube. My too smart for her own good 4 year old says, "that's not the real olaf, his mouth doesn't move. Why isn't elsa using her ice powers?" Then Elsa turned the castle to "ice" and she said, "yeah, she's real mom." I'm very nervous for our up coming March trip (first trip for her) and her not believing. She is very observant and has a photographic memory. Doesn't let anything get by her. How do I explain why Mickey and Sophia and all the others faces dont move or talk?!!! Or why Elsa doesn't use magic?!

On our first, our 4 year old son said the same things. We just told him that they were people in costumes. However, when we arrived, he totally forgot that and got swept up in the moment. He never mentioned it again after that, and gave each of them hugs like they were the legit characters. I think reason gave way to excitement once he was there. I think it will work out just fine!

 

[Catvondita]

This is going to sound snarky and I honestly don't mean it that way...just tell her they are people in costumes? I've never understood why people worry that the kids will know they aren't real. They are giant cloth looking versions of cartoon characters. Cartoon characters aren't real so why would these characters be real? Both of my kids, 4 & 7 on their first trip, loved meeting the characters even though they both know they are all actors plating a part. My daughter especially was basically star struck when she met Merida and Tink. Knowing they aren't 'real' didn't ruin the magic at all. I think she'll love it no matter what!

Totally agree. I'm still young so I don't have kids yet but I don't know if I would be able to lie to my child. Whether it's Disney, Santa or the Easter Bunny, I would have a hard time going out of my way to hide the truth. I think its great your kid is that observant. I would let her discover things on her own. Good luck!

 

[RustManFan]

Pretending and fantasy are what Walt Disney World and all the characters are about!!