Kids believing in the magic?

[Miller1412]

My DD 6 (just 6, if it matters) still believes that the characters at Disney are the real deal. Should I be concerned, or is this still normal for some kids at this age. I'm sorry if this seems like a stupid question...
I must admit that I want her to believe for this next trip, because it probably will be the last time she does, but I also don't want her to be overly immature for her age, or have trouble later separating fantasy from reality.

You guys who have 5, 6, 7 year olds...what's your opinion? Where do your kids stand?

 

[spazzyjazzy]

What do you mean they aren't real?

 

[diznygirl]

What do you mean they aren't real?

DS is 6 - and his belief is the same as ours - that the characters ARE real I don't think you need to worry.

 

[MariDisney]

My DD is 6...will be 7 in October, and is pretty savy. HOWEVER I have gone to great lengths to preserve this particular part of the magic:
Why did I see Chip and Dale by the castle and then minutes later at LTT?? Well, there are special character tunnels so they can get to their dinner restaurants quickly.

Why don't the non-face characters talk?? So they don't scare the little kids.

Why did Belle at the castle lunch have a Spanish accent?? She must have had a cold.

Why did some character (can't remember) look like he had human legs (in a DIS photo)?? Obviously a blurry picture.

Why did Goofy smell like plastic when I kissed his nose?? Special lotion he uses to keep his skin smooth!!

She has bought each and every one of these and so many more. I think we're reaching a point where she's going to figure it out and the magic will be somehow different, but magic none the less. So, I think your little one is right on target!!

 

[Uncle Remus]

What do you mean they aren't real?

Yep

OP, man, they're kids!! Let 'em believe as long as they can!

 

[EEYOREMAMA]

STOP!!!!!!!

Explain to me why this is a problem. Why should you be the one to burst a bubble that will burst someday all by itself. I am a teacher who believes that kids should be allowed to be kids as long as they can. Do not take that away from them!!!!!!

As silly as this seems, mine are 12 and 14. I still haven't had the "Santa" talk yet. I know they are humoring me, but I feel once we say it out loud, that magic we have shared all their lives will be gone. Some things do not have to be verbalized. Just let them be and let nature take its course.

My best advice (you asked), let sleeping characters lie and leave well enough alone. Go and have a wonderful vacation. Try and get caught up in the character magic yourself. There's a kid in all of us

 

[Miller1412]

Thanks for the replies! I know she'll only be little once, so I'm not in a hurry to see her grow up...but I don't want to do her a disservice either.

Her friends at school tell her the characters aren't real, and my standard answer is to throw her questions back at her, without really giving her an answer. She always answers with the magic, which makes me happy.

I'm just surprised at how many kids in her class don't believe...that's what had me worried.

Sorry if I'm prattling on...

By the way...they are the real deal to me too Love that answer!!

 

[EEYOREMAMA]

Miller1412 - For years my boys put up with the same stuff at school.

I got to a point where I decided to keep it simple and relate to their life experience. As far as believing in things such as characters, the tooth fairy, Santa, Easter Bunny, etc..... I just told them that some people don't believe in what they can't see. And even if they see it, they still don't believe it.

We see God's miracles every day and people still question his existence. Why should you fight the fight. Let them believe or not believe, we keep believing and we're the ones who will be the happiest. I still forget the characters aren't real. I must be Peter Pan's sister. Just call me Panette.

 

[janette]

We took my 6yo great-niece on one of our trip this year. She did let us know she knew the characters weren't real. She was very impressed though when she met the princesses. She asked me how they could look so much like them without a mask, I just told her they were real and she went with it.

My girls are 14 & 12 and they still enjoy the characters, they'll always be real in some ways.

 

[PixiePop]

My son (6) still believes.

 

[lovesmurfs]

As silly as this seems, mine are 12 and 14. I still haven't had the "Santa" talk yet. I know they are humoring me, but I feel once we say it out loud, that magic we have shared all their lives will be gone.

Amen. My DS is 12 and we've never had "the talk." In fact, he was 10 when he first asked about it....I steeled myself and asked, "Well, Tim, what do YOU think?" His response -- "Mom, there's got to be a Santa because you'd never spend that much on me!"

I'm sure he knows, but he knows how special the Santa thing is for me (too bad DH doesn't quite understand ).