Elsa starts googling

_Elsa_

Elsa is more upset about losing the innocence of childhood than what she shared with Tiffi.   She understands that life gets in the way sometimes but she sure wishes that she could go back to those days of innocence where she couldn’t wait until Christmas Day to see what Santa brought her. Her imaginary friend, Holly, was really fun being with. Those imaginary tea parties with Holly would last like forever. Oh, and how can she forget the Easter bunny and the egg hunts that her and her friends would go on. Those were the fun days. She can’t remember when all those fantasies stopped. How old could she have been? 

It’s time to do some googling. She wants to learn more about fantasy, imagination, and even pretend play

‘For many people, the experience of childhood is often associated with parents telling tales of fantastical characters like Santa Claus around Christmas and the Easter Bunny around Easter (if one’s family celebrated those holidays), or the Tooth Fairy every time a baby tooth fell out.  

The carefree, innocent worldview of a child is informed by many things that are, for the most part, fictional, and in retrospect, difficult to fully believe in. But parents and peers still continue to feed and protect children’s belief in different forms of “magic.” Why? 

Take the example of Christmas's brand ambassador: Santa Claus. The online debate surrounding when, how and whether parents should tell their kids that Santa isn’t real is surprisingly extensive. The debate has gone so far that there has even been some recent academic research on the subject. A study by the psychology department at the University of Exeter, titled “The Exeter Santa Survey,” found that most children stopped believing in Santa around the age of 8 years old. 

As a kid, the legend of a chubby old man sneaking into your house in the middle of the night to drop off gifts for you can be especially appealing. Many parents also use the magic of Santa as a disciplinary incentive in the home: “Make it on the nice list, or else!”  

There are far worse lies parents could tell their children than, “The Easter Bunny is real.” We all may need something to believe in and to add some flair to the mundanity of everyday life. Children embody the greatest kind of curiosity and the elusive “magic” that popular myths perpetuate is meant to cater to kids’ infinite imaginations.’ (Source) 

“So, it’s around the age of 8 years old that those beliefs disappear,” Elsa thinks to herself. “I sure wish that children could continue to mature with those fantasies.” 

Let’s continue – Some people don’t believe in these fantasy characters

Start at the beginning – A story about childhood imagination and make believe