Around the 6th birthday, most children lose their first tooth
Around the 6th birthday, most children lose their first tooth and this is a big deal for most children. It also means that it’s the first time the Tooth Fairy will visit.
The Tooth Fairy has been a part of childhood tradition for more than a century. According to folklore, when a child loses a baby tooth, if he or she places it beneath the bed pillow, the tooth fairy will visit while the child sleeps, replacing the lost tooth with a small payment.
If you’d like to create some Tooth Fairy traditions, we have some ideas and resources to get you started:
1. Leave a note from the tooth fairy
Get some fun stationary and a glitter pen and write your child a short note from the tooth fairy!
You can praise them for doing such a great job of brushing and flossing their teeth or perhaps let them know what the tooth fairy will do with all of the teeth she collects.
All of the really nice shiny teeth are used to build their castles (all fairies live in castles).
Keep in mind, the adult teeth start forming from birth! The baby teeth develop in the womb.
2. Put some glitter on that money.
Add a coat of clear, glitter nail polish or glitter hairspray to your child’s tooth fairy bills or coins as fairy dust.
3. Leave a new toothbrush.
This is a fun way to encourage good brushing habits. If this is your child’s first lost tooth, have the tooth fairy leave a brand new toothbrush under the pillow alongside the money.
4. Leave a fairy shadow behind.
You can find images of fairy shadows online. Print one out, cut it and tape it to the wall so your child will see it when they wake up.
5. Create a tooth fairy door.
The Tooth Fairy has to be able to get into your child’s room in order to collect the tooth and leave her gift. You can make this easier for her by installing a tooth fairy door. Pick up a dollhouse door at a craft or hobby store and then attach it to the wall. The Tooth Fairy will use her fairy magic to make it work properly.
6. Get technical.
One of our favourite apps is called ‘I saw the tooth fairy’ for your iPhone and iPad. You take a photo of your child when they are sleeping and the app super overlays an animated fairy spreading glittery dust.