“Dear Tooth Fairy”: Letter-writing As Magical Persons

By Laura Wallis for The Stir by CafeMom

Few things are as monumental in an elementary-school kid’s life than losing a tooth. It’s a rite of passage, and it usually means an exciting thing is about to happen: the Tooth Fairy is going to pay a visit.

Just tucking the tooth under the pillow is usually enough to get a reward in exchange, but putting it in an envelope or folded up inside a sheet of paper means it’s less likely to get lost—and that presents a great opportunity to make some fun memories. It’s even a chance to create a lasting correspondence, if the Tooth Fairy in your house is up to the task.

Kids stumped for ideas about what to write? Here are a few example notes (spelling corrected) to help them get started.

The Whole Story For a first tooth especially, your child might like to tell the story of how that charming hole in her smile came about:

Dear Tooth Fairy, This is my first tooth! I took a bite of corn bread then my mom said how is your tooth. I felt something in my hand and I said it came out!….We were so surprised!

The Interview Every kid has questions about this mysterious fairy with the dental obsession. Now’s the chance to ask:

Dear Tooth Fairy, Where do you live? Do you have a name besides the Tooth Fairy? And what do you use the teeth for?

Of course, your Tooth Fairy has to be prepared to field some tough questions. Answers might arrive on pretty parchment, in fancy handwriting (or a fancy printed font)—the more colorful and creative, the better!

The Fan Letter Everyone appreciates it when their hard work and talents are recognized, even magical fairies. And who knows? Maybe a little flattery will earn your kid an extra buck:

Dear Tooth Fairy, I loved Rise of the Guardians with you in it!

The Wish List It’s a little known fact that the Tooth Fairy can grant wishes. Although some are more realistic than others:

Dear Tooth Fairy, Can you grant a wish for me? I wish this stuffed animal came to life.

When asked how this one was handled, mom reports that the wise fairy “threw money at the problem.”

The Complaint Sometimes, the Tooth Fairy messes up. Forgets to come, mixes up her route, gets stuck in bad weather. In this case, it’s only fair to demand an explanation:

Dear Tooth Fairy, This is my 7th tooth I’ve lost. Why did you not come last night?

And here, a response is definitely in order. An apology note, possibly with a larger-than-usual cash offering, will smooth most ruffled feathers. It’s up to the Tooth Fairy, of course, to know what will make peace in any given household.

---

 

Laura Wallis is a freelance writer and editor specializing in all things family, home, food, and health. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and dog—none of whom take grammar as seriously as they should. She writes for The Stir by CafeMom.