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

[DVCcurious]

I have a 6 year old girl who has figured out costume characters are fake. She asked/told me that she thinks Mickey isn't real. I just said "why don't you think he's real?". She said "because there aren't 5 foot tall mouses and mouses can't talk".

My daughter told me princesses are real because people are real and there are real princesses.

I won't lie to her so if she figures it out, good for her, but I try to say as little as possible.

Also realize that at home on youtube kids will talk about them being fake, but put them in front of Mickey when you're at wdw and they'll belive!


edit: although I did lie to her about her birthday gift. She hadn't talked about getting a bike for 6 months, and a bike wasn't on her birthday/christmas list but yesterday morning (her 6th bday) she tells me "i know I'm getting a bike for my birthday.". I just said "we only got things on your list and a bike wasn't in your list". Then after she gets the bike she's like "you lied to me and we aren't supposed to lie" and I'm like "I didn't want to ruin the surprise"

 

[kamik86]

I agree with the others. I wouldn't lie to her if she already knows... But would tell her that its still fun to pretend and that it is important that even though she knows some of the kids still believe and that we never ruin their fun

 

[bumbershoot]

Finally a bunch of people who are on tre same side. while I was scared of characters and could barely care less as an adult, DS has liked them, even though no one has ever told him they are real. He still had a ton of fun with them.

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.

It's like the Universal TMs explaining why Wanda only do limited magic while at the parks and do nothing once you've left Wizarding World.

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!

It sure seems exhausting! Like that 911 call a 7 year old made because she touched the elf on a shelf? I'd be so embarrassed if I were in her mom's position because it would show the world what an accomplished liar I am. To have fooled my child that completely. Yikes.

We treat Santa (the Yule Fairy) as a fun myth. Dh was away and DS and I got norovirus last week so we are opening presents this morning (pacific time but yes we are lazy because DH and DS are still asleep) and the Santa doll is sitting out there with his wine glass and plate right now. We were truly his last house this year! until last year DS didn't know where the doll was kept and he was always mystified.

Oh, kiddo is up.

 

[AngiTN]

Finally a bunch of people who are on tre same side. while I was scared of characters and could barely care less as an adult, DS has liked them, even though no one has ever told him they are real. He still had a ton of fun with them.





It's like the Universal TMs explaining why Wanda only do limited magic while at the parks and do nothing once you've left Wizarding World.



It sure seems exhausting! Like that 911 call a 7 year old made because she touched the elf on a shelf? I'd be so embarrassed if I were in her mom's position because it would show the world what an accomplished liar I am. To have fooled my child that completely. Yikes.

We treat Santa (the Yule Fairy) as a fun myth. Dh was away and DS and I got norovirus last week so we are opening presents this morning (pacific time but yes we are lazy because DH and DS are still asleep) and the Santa doll is sitting out there with his wine glass and plate right now. We were truly his last house this year! until last year DS didn't know where the doll was kept and he was always mystified.

Oh, kiddo is up.

Nope, you are truly last. We are still waiting on Santa to come in our house too.
We didn't get home from Disney till wee hours of the morning on 12/23.
DGD left to go see her Dad the afternoon on 12/23.
She'll be gone till 1/4 because DH and I are back at Disney 1/3 and 1/4 (we are baby sitters while her Mom works)
She'll open her gifts from Santa whenever we are all back in the same house again, probably 1/5.
Santa left her a large gift sack (which I ordered from Amazon today) with her presents inside

 

[palmtreegirl]

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!

I totally agree. I don't see the point in making up elaborate lies to fool kids, it's silly. It's still fun when you know the truth.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

If she is skeptical, don't do any of the meet and greets more than once. We saw talking Mickey in town square twice and were in a different room (they are the same settings but flipped) and my 6 yr old was totally pointed it out.

 

[Ursula's Apprentice]

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.

Agreed. I'm well aware that these characters are just CMs playing a part and doing their job. But that all kind of melts away when you watch Mickey do magic in the Town Theater. I'm a 30 y/o woman and I teared up watching the people in front of me. Part of it was because of how far technology has come that Mickey is able to not only blink, but talk too!!! And the other part was because for those 5 minutes, I was a kid again too, and that's something Disney specializes in. It's for the young, and the young at heart!

 

[Magpie]

It sure seems exhausting! Like that 911 call a 7 year old made because she touched the elf on a shelf? I'd be so embarrassed if I were in her mom's position because it would show the world what an accomplished liar I am. To have fooled my child that completely. Yikes.

I thought the same thing, until I saw the interview with the kid. Then I revised my opinion to think that this 7yo knew perfectly well that she was doing something naughty and she thought she could get away with it by playing "cute". Then, on the 911 call when it occurs to her she could be in real trouble, she panics, starts crying and begs them not to come to her house (and by implication tell her parents).

Isabella (I think that was her name), struck me as very smart, very imaginative, and very much enjoying having cameras pointed at her.

If I was her mum, I'd have probably told the media she wouldn't be doing any interviews.

It frequently amazes me how many adults, even parents and teachers, underestimate the intelligence and cunning of 7yos! I had one 7yo student who had everyone convinced he didn't know his letter sounds, when in fact he knew them all perfectly. Clever kid had found that no one questioned him - or made him do any work! - when he claimed he couldn't do it.

 

[Dug720]

Agreed. I'm well aware that these characters are just CMs playing a part and doing their job. But that all kind of melts away when you watch Mickey do magic in the Town Theater. I'm a 30 y/o woman and I teared up watching the people in front of me. Part of it was because of how far technology has come that Mickey is able to not only blink, but talk too!!! And the other part was because for those 5 minutes, I was a kid again too, and that's something Disney specializes in. It's for the young, and the young at heart!

Totally agree!! When I've gone with my family - all adults BTW - we do at least one character meal and have a blast interacting with the characters. I've done character meets solo and with friends (as well as on the cruise), and it's great. You totally turn into a kid again. (And on the cruise, TRUST ME...when Captain Jack Sparrow comes sauntering down the beach, EVERYONE believes!! I swear the water wouldn't clear that quickly if someone yelled "SHARK!" At least on Serenity Bay!)

 

[Odelay]

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?!

I can't tell if this is meant to be serious.

 

[glassslippergirl]

If you celebrate Christmas, how do you plan to handle (or have you handled) questions about Santa?

I would follow her lead (as pp suggested, "What do you think?). If she is ready, she'll come to certain conclusions herself. If not, she'll find a way to continue to make them real (possibly what she was doing with Elsa in the parade). As long as you don't reveal anything she isn't ready for, I doubt it will spoil your trip. Have a good one!

 

[Paigesmom2013]

After our first trip, my daughter (almost 4) would put on her princess costumes and sit by the fireplace. She wanted me to bring her little sister up to come "meet" her. So she was basically pretending to be a CM, not an actual Disney princess. I think the costumed characters look so authentic that it doesn't matter to my kids. I'm so excited to see Pocahontas and I'm 38!

 

[ZoeysMommy0308]

Thanks for all your replies!! I think I will use the "what do you think" approach. I know I squealed when I seen a Mickey the last time I went and was like 15. So I'm certain the magic in the air will take over. I get teary just thinking about it!!! Yay!! As for Santa, she seen 2 this year...one she determined wasn't real but the mall Santa she said was real! We will see!!!

 

[kohlby]

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

Oops- I was typing too fast too late at night. He did not believe that the characters were real.