How upset would you be over this?

[talulabelle]

Until recently after reading about it on the DIS and found there was a whole "Disney culture" here, I never knew that peoples children "believed" in Disney characters. I am sure the librarian that said this to the class was like me and just was teaching a lesson on Fiction and Non-Fiction, which is a very age appropriate lesson for a 9 year old. If she said "give an example of a non-fiction story" and your daughter said "Cinderella" she would be a pretty bad educator and librarian if she didn't correct her and say "No, Cinderella is a fictional story, it is made up, it isn't a real person". I'm sure she was just following her lesson plan, and never in a million years thought she was bursting anyone's bubble. Especially at age 9.

My kids beleived in Santa, and the toothfairy, and the Easter Bunny (although they beleived in the Easter Bunny as a real bunny that we have never seen, they were well aware that the dude in the suit in the mall was fake fake fake and found it creepy without me ever having to tell them.) I understand that type of "magic of childhood" and wanted it to last as long as possible too, but I never knew that there were children who "believed" in Mickey or other story book characters. It never in a million years crossed my mind that kids would buy into it.

 

[Planogirl]

I can't see a librarian not telling the truth about such things. She had to find out sometime and it would be disappointing no matter how she found out.

 

[MusiqChic99]

OP here...

she is not the only kid in her class that still belives in Disney characters and I know she is old, but I just dont think an adult should be telling them that.
Rachael knows that the lady at Perkins is pretending to be Cinderella. She gets that people pretend, BUT she truly still thinks that when you go to Disney, that the Cinderella you see is indeed the real one. I kind of thought she knew about Mickey, guess not.
But this has all made her doubt Santa now.
Like others have said...I am happy we are going so soon so she can get caught up in the magic! I should get Cinderella to sign an autograph for the librarian "I am REAL!!"

I think this would have been a good time to tell her.

My neice is 9...days away from being 10. She started asking when she was 8 and my sister told her the truth.

However when I go to Disney they are the real thing to me and I'm 28 years old! I would never think a Cinderella at a mall was the real one. Only the one I see at Disney!

 

[BelleRocks]

I can see why you might be upset...but for one, I would be more worried about your response to her. She is very close to figuring things out, and you basically flat out told her, yes they are real (without any qualification)

IE, I have always told my DD that things like that are real in our imagination. It doesn't make them LESS real, just real in a different place. Different parents have their own way of explaining it without ruining the magic. But when you were confronted with it, you didn't use the opportunity to explain it, but just flat out denied it. I can see why, since you were caught off guard, but I think that might have been a mistake. Your kid will remember it.

 

[MusiqChic99]

Well, they are real. Santa is real. Mickey Mouse is real. All of the characters are real.

Sure, Mickey Mouse isn't a talking mouse that is dating Minnie Mouse. He is a symbol of an idea. Same goes for Santa. He isn't a guy up in the north pole braking trademark, patent, and copyright law but creating presents with a bunch of green midgets that are the property of toy companies. He is the idea of charity and gift giving and a symbol of Christmas.

I still go to Disney World all the time and know they are real because I can touch them. It is just a different kind of real. Everything that isn't a 100% accurate representation of reality is fake. Heck, the impression most people have of the founding fathers isn't actually accurate, does that mean they aren't real?

I feel the same way.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Oh Yes, I would be LIVID!!!!

I can't believe a librarian did that... any adult for that matter. A teacher in a neighboring school district got in BIG trouble for saying santa wasn't real to 5th graders. This is very similar to me.

 

[Minnesota!]

If she debunked myths like santa or the easter bunny, I'd be upset, but I don't think most people would think that 9 year olds believed the characters at WDW are real. I couldn't even convince my twins the characters were real when they were four!

Ditto. My 5 year old has known for a while that its just a "mommy or daddy dressed as Mickey Mouse".

My 2 year old is catching on, too.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'd be upset and mad. The librarian had no right to say that to your daughter.

And as far as I'm concerned when I'm in Disney the characters are definatly real.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

She really thinks that the costumes are real large animals?

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd be upset and mad. The librarian had no right to say that to your daughter.

And as far as I'm concerned when I'm in Disney the characters are definatly real.

I think telling a 3rd grade class that disney characters aren't real (and really, why would she think they would believe that) is equal to a high school teacher talking about how santa is a myth. In either case, there is no reason why the teacher would suspect the kids don't know the truth.

 

[Jenvenza]

Well, I'm going against the grain. I would be upset.

They only 'believe' (be it Santa, The Easter Bunny, or Disney characters) for so long. You sure don't need (or expect!) an adult to ruin it.

Yes - OP, I'd be upset.

I agree with you 100%! I would be upset, too.

 

[Jenvenza]

She really thinks that the costumes are real large animals?

She is a 9 year old girl! What is everyone's deal with this? She believed in that Disney magic. What is wrong with that?

 

[NMAmy]

No, it wouldn't upset me at all. DD figured it out when she was four at DL.

 

[okeydokey]

I actually can't believe she still believed that were real at 9 years old. How can Cinderella be signing autographs in Toon Town and in the parade five minutes later. How can Mickey be making personal appearances in all 4 parks at the same time? As much as I love them, Dopey looks like a gal in a character suit.

I wouldn't be upset at all. I'm sure the librarian never thought that a 9 year old thought the characters were real, and no I wouldn't have Cinderella sign a postcard to the librarian saying "I am real".. then you get labeled the mother who is a kook.

My 9 year old son still believes in Santa and I am tempted to tell him the truth myself. If he ever asks, I won't lie to him.

 

[Magic Mom]

OP here...

she is not the only kid in her class that still belives in Disney characters and I know she is old, but I just dont think an adult should be telling them that.
Rachael knows that the lady at Perkins is pretending to be Cinderella. She gets that people pretend, BUT she truly still thinks that when you go to Disney, that the Cinderella you see is indeed the real one. I kind of thought she knew about Mickey, guess not.

Just because we are all Disney crazy doesn't mean every one else is. It probably never occurred to her that anyone would ever even want their 9 YO kids to think Disney characters are real. Disney characters aren't a part of our culture like Santa is even though they might be to people here. You shouldn't have lied to her when she asked you. She is old enough to know the truth.
I get wanting to keep magic alive for our kids, but eventually they have to learn the truth and unfortunately, this is about the age it happens (give or take.) And FWIW I don't know any 9 yo that think the Disney characters are real.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

She is a 9 year old girl! What is everyone's deal with this? She believed in that Disney magic. What is wrong with that?

When your own kids at age 3 or 4 asked you "that's not really Mickey Mouse, it's someone wearing a costume, right?", sorry, yes, it's surprising to hear that a 9yo really truly thinks the characters are real.

My kids (and their parents ) still believe in the Disney Magic, but to us, it takes place in the parks. We "believe" they are real when we're with them, but we go home and deep down we know they are not.

 

[Planogirl]

Our son informed us that the characters were just real people in outfits when he was about 5. It never occurred to me that a 9 year old would still believe and I imagine that the librarian thought the same. Not that it isn't cool that a child held on to that for so long.

 

[Erin1700]

I think a child should be able to believe for as long as they want. Since she clearly showed she wasn't ready to accept the truth, I dont think I did anything wrong with telling her they are real.

 

[EMom]

Along the lines of, "Dsicretion is the better part of valor," how about, "When in doubt that announcing such people are not real you might destroy a child's belief in a being such as Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Cinderella, etc., it is best to keep your mouth shut and err on the side of caution rather than crush a child's heart."

No one knows if a kid believes in such things until they are 3 or 11 or what age. So why even address it? Unless they really were discussing fiction vs. nonfiction, just don't address it at all. For many parents, "enlightening" their children is akin to trashing their religion. Sheesh, they grow up so fast these days.....Let them have what they can of childhood. Since you cannot KNOW what every child believes, just be quiet and don't risk ruining things.

 

[terri01p]

Oh my goodness your kidding right??????