My 5yo son has to have a tooth taken out on Monday. He is not a typical kid. He has a rare syndrome and goes through a lot of yucky medical stuff. He is socially and developmentally behind but is intellectually ahead. He knows all about the tooth fairy, though, and is a little obsessed! When I was little the tooth fairy brought me a dollar but money has no relevance to my son. I need some ideas for what the tooth fairy might bring. I also want it to reflect the trauma of having it extracted (It has to be done under general anesthesia because of his medical complications). Any ideas?
Thanks for all the great advice! The surgery ended up being cancelled today. However, The tooth fairy is ready whenever it gets rescheduled! He is starting soccer in the fall so the tooth fairy is going to be bringing him a new soccer ball, a Dora DVD to watch while he recovers, and a new toothbrush.
I asked my husband what he would have liked to get and he suggested a small hot wheels car! hope this helps.
A silver dollar or small mint set (They are actually cheaper than you think, but appreciate in value.) or a small toy he likes to collect. My son was into mighty beanz. You can get some really nice special edition ones that glow in the dark or change colors.
i dont think putting a toy under his pillow makes sense.
santa brings toys, every kid knows that!
the easter bunny brings candy, thats a given!
the tooth fairy brings money! most things have no relevence to kids! so money is no different in that aspect, but it will be different in the way that he has no money of his own to handle, right?
so put a gold dollar coin under his pillow for his tooth. it will be amazing to him! it will be different and new!
dont change the tradition! he will appreciate it some day.
he also is going to have to learn about money someday no matter what his mental abilities are.
good luck!
Our tooth fairly brings gold dollars, stickers, and small toys (like hotwheels).
The tooth fairy in our house brings a gold dollar. (If you're having trouble finding one, go to the Post Office and buy a book of stamps with a $20 bill at their machine - their machines give change in gold dollars!) My kids aren't super money motivated either, but they love a shiny, pretty dollar. It's a little different than getting a plain old paper dollar bill.
The tooth fairy used to leave money at our house but now leaves small gifts. My DD wrote the tooth fairy a note explaining how she appreciated the money but would prefer a gift if that was possible. So now the tooth fairy will leave a note and something small. She has left a book, a stuffed animal, colored chalk, bubbles, games, stickers. etc. You get the idea. :) What ever he likes to receive as a "prize" would also be good for the tooth fairy to leave.
I like the idea of little toys that he might want, or a book if he's into that. Actually, I might steal that for when my daughter starts losing teeth.
I would leave a small toy or book that you think he'd like, and a note from the tooth fairy saying how proud she is of him for being so brave.
My little girl was not five yet when she started losing teeth so I had the same problem. She didn't give a flip about cash. So the tooth fairy brought her little presents. The first tooth, she got a stuffed cat that she had been eyeballing at the store. The second, she got a board game. Stuff like that. Now, she gets gold dollars and a note signed by tooth fairy!
You could give him $5 for the first tooth, and then let him take that $5 to the store and learn what it can get him that he really enjoys. I also like the idea of the gold dollar coins, since you don't normally see them circulating around and they may seem a bit more special.
For the first tooth, the tooth fairy left my DD a (used) Nintendo DS game.
It was a huge hit...DD wants to write the tooth fairy all the time for her next request. *Sigh*
I do always leave her a special note (along w/ a gold dollar) and she is always very excited about that as well.
HTH!
He may not care about money now, but he will. You mention that he is intellectually ahead of his peers, so now might me a great time to start teaching him about money and how to save it.
Oh....we have fun with this at my house!
As a kid we were not allowed to do Easter bunny, Santa, The Tooth Fairy....nothing. Religious mama and pop.
When my oldest started loosing teeth I thought it was the COOLEST thing EVER!
The moment it falls out I make a huge productions about how I have to go to my office and phone the Tooth Fairy.
I then put in my order to have her come and remove the tooth.
Then we get it all set up with a letter.
And then she comes and leaves a sum of money(this changes depending on the Misc. budget is for the pay period.
We do money because he is saving up for a Nintendo DS.
You can go to Things Remembered. They have tooth fairy boxes. That way he can keep the tooth, if he is able to take him home with him.
My son lost his tooth one time, before the tooth fairy could come. He was so afraid that she wouldnt leave anything because there was no tooth. So my quick fix for this was, I told him that I can make ''Special requests'', only twice. So this would use one of requests. He said that would be ok.
Then you could also maybe leave a gift card...or maybe a book about teeth or going to the dentist to sorrt of mark the moment.
There is a very cute story called Franklin and the Tooth Fairy (by Paulette Bourgeois). In it the kids get small gifts instead of money. My son really wants to lose a tooth after reading it because they talk about how losing a tooth means you're growing up.
Just another idea if you want to do a gift that won't fit under the pillow, you could always have the tooth fairy leave a note under the pillow telling where she left the gift (you could even make it into a scavenger hunt- the easter bunny always left us scavenger hunts as kids and it's such a great memory!)
Best of luck!
Most kids don't care about money because what is 25 cents or a buck? We give our kids $5 for each tooth from the tooth fairy. So maybe if he gets more and can shop for something it will mean more? Maybe give him $5 from the tooth fairy and tell him you're going to give him another $5 for doing so well. Good luck!
He's five, I would just do the "regular tooth fairy thing" - 50 cents or a dollar and do not put a lot of emphasis on "TRAMA OR DRAMA". Little children are much more resilliant then we are. Make the bed time a happy time (i.e. "let's put your tooth under the pillow for the tooth fairy, etc.)
Blessings....
$5 for the first tooth or a half dollar or gold coin? Even though they don't understand money they expect it.
I left my daughter a gold coin for her first tooth. Err, I mean the tooth fairy did! ;) I also found a web site that allows you to print a special certificate from the tooth fairy about loosing the tooth. It had various info you could put in, maybe something about being brave for the extraction would fit? I can't remember the site, I know I found it by googling tooth fairy. I'll see if I can find it!
http://www.ultimatetoothfairy.com/Certificate.php This one has different fairies, including a boy! This one has a free one, or a pay one. I think it costs $5.
http://www.tooth-fairy-tonight.com/ is another one.
Maybe a couple bucks and a medal for bravery? I think they make those at some of the sports shops where they get trophies and things.
Edit: Sorry, I totally missed the sentence where you said money means nothing to him. I shouldn't try to read these things while my daughter is awake. :) Maybe a toy car? Is there something he is really fond of?
