So angry: Preschool teachers told DD characters aren't real!

[MrsBanks]

boy, children are really "losing their innocense" early now-a-days -- I think I was about 11 when I finally realized that Santa wasn't real and even then my mother tried to convince me he was (maybe I'm a little slower then most!)

 

[bethbuchall]

I really hope I'm not offending anyone, I swear I'm just giving my 2 cents. My 4 yo DS is totally obsessed with death and dying and we also have had no pets or people die for him to be worried about it. I guess maybe it's a natural thing for kids of this age. Everyone thinks that it's the shows we let him watch (it isn't) or it's stuff he's learning in Sunday school (no, because I co-teach the class) or kids telling him things (no because I'm a SAHM and am always around him) so it HAS to be a phase thing, right?? He was even worried that DH and I were going to die at Christmas time before we had a chance to open our presents under the tree. Weird.

Hope everything goes great with your talk at the preschool. Good luck!!

I know this is off-topic, but I just wanted to reassure you that many 4 year olds become obsessed with death and dying. Just keep answering his questions truthfully (but reassuringly), and eventually the phase should wind down.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Well, I might be the one needing therapy but I aways told my DS they were real. This thread really got me thinking so i talked to the preschool children at my school. It seems most of them think that the REAL Mickey, Pooh etc. live at WDW but that the ones in the cartoon are just cartoons and not real. They really do not doubt that they are real. I asked my DS and he said that he really thought they were real when he was really small but had it figured out by kindergarten. This is the kid that never doubted Santa till about 8, but told the dentist that the idea of a tooth fairy was rediculous when he was three. He never bought the idea of a Easter Bunny either. Oh well, I tried.
Sorry the teacher spoiled it for your little one.

Jordan's mom

 

[wdw_writers]

I can't believe your DD's teacher did that! I would be furious if that happened to either of my kids (Of course now, at 13 and 10, they know the truth, but still)! The teacher should have let you be the one to tell your DD the truth when she wanted or when she was old enough to know!

My DD had to learn at a VERY early age (say, two years old?) because she was absolutely petrified of characters... but my DS believed until he was about 8 when his older sister told him how stupid he was for still believing!

I hope you give that teacher a piece of your mind!

 

[alwaysmom]

WAIT ONE MINUTE!!!! Are you saying they AREN'T real? That can't be. Are you sure? NO WAY!!! They sure feel real everytime I run up to them and hug them.

On a reality note: My DS's will be 7 & 9 on our next trip and they knew they weren't real at an early age (told by parents, suspect assistance by oldest DS 14 at the time). Youngest DS was terrified of the characters. We told them they were helpers but that not just anyone can wear the costume, you have to "Believe in the Magic" to do the job. Worked for us and them. When they see Mickey on our first night there eyes light up and they can hardly stand the excitement until they are next to him.

I am expecting the same reaction on our upcoming trip (they can't wait for vacation). If you are at dinner at "Chef Mickey's" on April 10th, you will see 2 boys with there mom (DH too) waiting for Mickey with excitement, swinging our napkins in the air, having a grand time because "We Believe in the Magic".

Smiles!

 

[lajones81]

That's too bad that the teacher said the characters aren't real! I'm a teacher and I would never say anything like that! I believe, I believe, I believe...

 

[beth_cam]

We never pushed the kids to believe but let them believe if they wanted. However they were so frightened early that we explained that it was people in costumes and they usually have a great time pretending. They watch a lot of movies others think they shouldnt and truely seem to have no problem with real/pretend/just a movie, etc. That is UNTIL...the preschool teacher got involved. My son was talkiing about Harry Potter and she kept on and on about it not being real until my son actually started questioning everything of what is real and what isnt and getting confused. Now instead of just accepting tv, for the most part, as fantasy everything ends up with is it real. They both still had a great time with all the characters at disney world, and are looking forward to it again this year. Too bad they dont have character meals with tarzan, prince charming, toy story gang, etc. My son just isnt a big pooh or - gasp - mickey fan.

 

[vhoffman]

Yes, I know, I'll probably get a lot of flames from the poor "overworked, underpaid" teachers out there, but I really don't care. More than likely, the pre-school teacher who told the kid the characters aren't real couldn't afford in her wildest dreams to go to Disney or any other similar place. Jealousy causes her to want to ruin others trips. I (like many on this board), have been on both sides of the economic coin. There were times I could barely afford the basics, and times I can take expensive trips such as Disney. I and dh work for every penny, if we sometimes have a little extra and spend it on ourselves we get a lot of criticism, comments to the effect of "Must be nice", "well, we could never afford such a trip " (like as though that's my doing!) -- etc. I really think its the teacher being jealous of the kid! (oh yes, indeed, such things do happen). I tell my kids NOT to tell their teachers about the expensive vacations we take (during the summer, when its none of their business where we are, anyways). If the teachers think we're going on expensive vacations, that might arouse their ire and get it in for the kid. If they want to nurse their grudges about the economic inequities of life, go ahead, but don't put my kids in the middle!

 

[Laura66]

I can understand that you are upset. But before you flame the teacher you need to find out how this all came to be. Was another child frightened of some sort of character and the teacher might have explained to that child or others that there was nothing to be frightened of? The teacher really has no way of knowing what you tell your children at home.
I've known teachers and was a preschool assistant for a time - and you would not believe the things that come out of the children's mouths! If I believed everything the children told us 99 percent of parents would have their children taken away from them. My dad is a drug seller = my dad is a pharmacist. Mommy made daddy sleep on the couch because he plays golf too much. My daddy's an alcoholic = my dad had a beer at a football party!
Just my two cents,
Laura

 

[Alysa]

But Santa is real!

You have to believe in magic!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I do believe in fairies, I do believe in fairies, I do believe in fairies....

All it takes is faith and trust and a little bit of pixie dust

 

[newtowdw1]

Yes, I know, I'll probably get a lot of flames from the poor "overworked, underpaid" teachers out there, but I really don't care. More than likely, the pre-school teacher who told the kid the characters aren't real couldn't afford in her wildest dreams to go to Disney or any other similar place. Jealousy causes her to want to ruin others trips. I (like many on this board), have been on both sides of the economic coin. There were times I could barely afford the basics, and times I can take expensive trips such as Disney. I and dh work for every penny, if we sometimes have a little extra and spend it on ourselves we get a lot of criticism, comments to the effect of "Must be nice", "well, we could never afford such a trip " (like as though that's my doing!) -- etc. I really think its the teacher being jealous of the kid! (oh yes, indeed, such things do happen). I tell my kids NOT to tell their teachers about the expensive vacations we take (during the summer, when its none of their business where we are, anyways). If the teachers think we're going on expensive vacations, that might arouse their ire and get it in for the kid. If they want to nurse their grudges about the economic inequities of life, go ahead, but don't put my kids in the middle!

Yes, I know it is hard to be rejected. If you really wanted to be a teacher, though, I'm sure there are still programs you could get into. Maybe take some remedial classes? After all, I don't let my jealousy wreck my enjoyment of my students' great vacations. Perhaps after you become a teacher, you won't be so bitter and resentful of us...

 

[vhoffman]

Huh? One of the skills a teacher needs is to be able to read--obviously, you couldn't read my post, or at least understand it! Where did I ever say I wanted to be a teacher? Just for your information, I happen to be a CPA, and probably make as much as 3 teachers together! Geez............

 

[Alysa]

vhoffman,
What is the matter with you. Why don't you stop disrespecting the people who probably spend more time with your children than you do. They certainly teach them more. You are in a less rewarding career than a teacher because of many teachers. They deserve your gratitude and respect. Think about the example you set for your own children. Don't bother replying to me either because I am putting you on ignore.

 

[vhoffman]

Hey, what's everyone attacking me for now? I'm not the OP who started this thread. The OP had a problem with her child's teacher telling her child that Disney characters aren't real, etc. (go back and read it). It seems to me that that particular teacher was out of line, and judging from the responses on this thread, others share my opinion. I, for one, am really tired of hearing how teachers are so "overworked and underpaid". Although I do make much more than many teachers, many of the parents of their students don't make half as much as the teacher does. They would also love to have all the holidays and vacations that teachers get (yes, I know, teachers don't get all the days off that their students do, but they get about 80% of the time off that their students do).

Of course, I can't possibly know what motivated the teacher that is the subject of this thread to say what she said. However, I do tell my kids not to talk about our expensive vacations to their teachers, less they get targeted somehow by feelings of jealousy (perhaps that's my way of "respecting" the teachers, not to rub it in?) I still can't understand the post above mine--that I somehow wanted to be a teacher and was somehow "rejected". Maybe that's her way of boosting her own ego? Or, perhaps like I said, she couldn't read and comprehend my post? Whatever.....

I don't want to hijack this thread so don't bother responding to my posts, just stick to the original topic, since I won't be back to this thread. Have fun!

 

[newtowdw1]

I will break down my reasoning for you:

Pschooler's teacher jealous of expensive trips = nasty to small child

You are jealous of teachers' competence and influence= nasty about teachers

I though it was pretty clear myself.

 

[minmate]

I was upset when I was told Santa and the Easter Bunny were not real. I vowed never to do that to my kids. And for the first year or two, I got away without making a big deal out of it... but as they got a little older and everyone else did, I realized I did too. I also read an article that moved me, stating that it's part of childhood and fostering creativity. Our extended family has kids as old as 12 (ok really, 17) but none of them say they "don't" believe in Santa... although we have our suspicions that they "know the truth." They would never "Ruin" it for the others. I don't know how long I hope my kids "still believe," I just hope they always have a "believing" spirit and believe in the creativity and magic of make-believe... If they ask, I still don't know what I'd say as I have not been confronted with this yet. I do think that my 6yo "knows something's up." They've pointed out the people feet on Suzy and Perla before. I chose to ignore the comment at the time... we'll see what our next trip stirs up though!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I will break down my reasoning for you:

Pschooler's teacher jealous of expensive trips = nasty to small child

You are jealous of teachers' competence and influence= nasty about teachers

I though it was pretty clear myself.

It was very clear to me.

Why in the world would a teacher be jealous because a student went to WDW??? Or any place else for that matter.

I'm a single mom, I teach kindergarten in a DAY CARE CENTER( my salary stinks). Yet my son and I have managed to go to WDW twice and I have 3 more trips in the planning stages.

I have 23 students in my class and only 2 of them have ever been to WDW. Many have gone to Puerto Rico, Honduras, Santo Domingo, St. Lucia, Panama, and El Salvador. Since I've never been to any of those places, I guess I should be jealous .

 

[hezreck]

When we took our then DD6 to Disney, she knew the characters weren't real (sort of). She believes in Santa and the Easter Bunny, etc. But she knows that Santa can't be in all places at once, so the Santas in the malls are helpers. But she said sometimes the real Santa goes to the malls too, so you never know if it is the real one or a helper. This is the same thing we told her for Disney. We go to see all the characters we can, so sometimes we would see the same character more than once a day. This happened with Belle and Jasmine in Epcot. We saw them and got pictures with them in the morning and again in the afternoon. Obviously, DD knew they were different people each time. Plus, with the Princess breakfast, that was a whole different group. My DD didn't care, she would sometimes try to guess if she had seen the "real" Belle or the "helper" Belle. When we got all the pictures developed, she will go through them and pick out which characters were the "real" ones.

 

[Ambassador]

The characters are not real? Now please do not say that Mrs. Incredible is not that voluptuous, or incredible?