Just when you thought you had successfully kept the whole Santa myth alive, spring rolls around — and yet another loaded kid question is staring you in the face: “Mom, is the Easter Bunny real?”
First of all, try to remain calm. Then, go through some of these parenting pro tips.
Of course, you don’t have to follow these to the letter; you know your kid better than anyone else, after all. But if you feel the skepticism a-coming, this serves as a guide to prep yourself — because if you’re going to be dealing with some disillusionment, you’d best not be tongue-tied.
Don’t make it about you.
Sure, sometimes it’s tough to see your child growing up. And the big Easter Bunny question— or the Santa question, the tooth fairy question, etc. — definitely signals a transition. But letting your judgment be clouded by wanting your little one to stay, well, little, can get in the way of the bigger picture. If your instinct is to tell your child, “Yes, the bunny is real,” because you don’t want her to grow up, take a step back and think about this. She can’t stay young forever, and these moments are opportunities for you to help your children take steps toward adolescence in an honest way. And speaking of honest …
Honesty is the best policy.
Your instinct might be to keep the belief alive — at least for another year, right? Well, if your child is asking, they’ve probably already heard something from kids at school and are just seeking you out to verify the news. If you insist that the bunny is real, you’re just temporarily postponing the inevitable. More important, this is possibly a test. You’ve likely spent hours lecturing your kid about always telling the truth, and now they are giving you the chance to do the same.
But sure, a white lie is OK sometimes.
If your child isn’t quite ready to find out the cold, hard truth about our furry friend, you’ll likely be able to tell. For example, they may angle the question, asking, “Someone said the Easter Bunny isn’t real, but that’s wrong, right, Mom?” Often, this will be their first “check in” about something they still want to believe in. And if your instinct is that your child doesn’t really want the news, you can feel OK about letting them keep believing for awhile. When your child is ready for the facts, you’ll likely be able to tell; they’ll ask directly and persistently.
Soften the blow.
If you have younger children who still believe, invite the older child into the “adult club.” Tell her she’s now part of keeping the Easter Bunny secret for her younger siblings. Reinforce how important this is for younger kids, and that it’s a big responsibility for her. This will help her manage her feelings about the news she’s just heard. She’ll feel excited to be part of the joy of keeping the magic alive for others.
Trust your gut.
If you’re not sure whether it’s time to reveal the news, don’t Google, don’t ask around — just trust yourself. You’ll know when it’s time and what needs to be said. Remember: There isn’t an adult on the planet who still believes, so obviously, we all had to find out at some point. And we all survived.
Check out these Easter basket stuffers your older kids will think are absolutely egg-cellent!
A version of this article was originally published in March 2012.
FAQs
“You can explain to them that the Easter bunny isn't real, but it's something fun to believe in," Patel says. "You can share that it was part of them growing up.” You can also tell them your own memories of the Easter bunny so they can see how they fit into a larger tradition.
What to say if kids ask if Easter Bunny is real? ›
You might say: “I know it feels so sad and disappointing to find out the Easter bunny isn't real.” Parents can also talk about how it's such a big important milestone for kids to be ready for the truth.
What age do kids find out the Easter Bunny isn't real? ›
As we mentioned earlier, there's really no set age when your child should stop believing in the Easter bunny.
How do you ask your kid if they believe in the Easter Bunny? ›
“Before you open your mouth, ask them what they think about the whole thing,” he says. “They might surprise you, and say, 'I know it's just you, mum'.” But when it comes to finding a realistic explanation, Andrew says it's important to be honest with any questions kids might have.
Why is the Easter Bunny real? ›
According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs.
Should I tell my 8 year old about the Easter Bunny? ›
There is no “right” time to tell kids about the Easter Bunny, as Stein notes, many will start to figure it out on their own within a certain age range. “From a psychological perspective, we all have different ranges of belief in the fantastic,” he says. “Even as adults, beliefs like superstitions continue to permeate.
Is 11 too old to believe in the Easter Bunny? ›
"There is no such thing as being too old to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy," Kelman tells Yahoo Life. "Letting kids figure it out on their own is preferable to parents breaking the news to them.
What does the Easter Bunny have to do with Jesus? ›
And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus? Well, nothing. Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats all stem from pagan roots. They were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
How long should kids believe in the Easter Bunny? ›
To tell the truth
Between their own intellectual development and the chance that another child tells them, kids usually piece it all together on their own when they are 8 to 10 years old. Around this age, if your child asks if the Easter Bunny is real, just be honest.
What is the real Easter Bunny? ›
As for how the character of the Easter Bunny made its way to America, History.com reports that it was first introduced in the 1700s by German immigrants to Pennsylvania, who reportedly brought over their tradition of an egg-laying hare named "Osterhase" or "Oschter Haws" from the Old Country.
The exact origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility.
Why did they replace Easter with a bunny? ›
The idea of a hare bringing eggs to good children began with German Lutherans and came to America with the Pennsylvania Dutch. With the American penchant for changing things, it somehow became a bunny. Christian Easter has been overlaid on older Pagan celebrations of the coming of Spring and fertility rights.
What gender is the Easter Bunny? ›
Sometime in the 1600s, the Germans converted the pagan rabbit image into Oschter Haws, a rabbit that was believed to lay a nest of colored eggs as gifts for good children. Since males don't lay eggs, one would surmise the 'Easter Bunny' must then be female.
Should I tell my 9 year old about Easter Bunny? ›
Honesty is the best policy.
If you insist that the bunny is real, you're just temporarily postponing the inevitable. More important, this is possibly a test. You've likely spent hours lecturing your kid about always telling the truth, and now they are giving you the chance to do the same.
What age do kids stop believing in the Tooth Fairy? ›
While the last baby teeth generally aren't lost until age ten or 11, most children stop believing in the tooth fairy by the time they're seven or eight. Of course, children are more than happy to play along with the game when there's money at stake!
What age should kids stop believing in Tooth Fairy? ›
Children typically start to question whether the tooth fairy is real between the ages of 4 and 7. If a child is younger than 4, it might be wise to conceal the truth for a little while longer.
What percentage of kids believe in the Easter Bunny? ›
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Sixty-eight percent of children in the age group believe in the furry bearer of chocolate (82 percent for Santa Claus and 77 percent for the Tooth Fairy), according to a survey out from Delta Dental.
