It may be painful, but it has to go. It's a freedom. That may be a hard truth, but then that's the subject of this essay. C hildren are free to believe almost anything they want. We think it's cute and charming when a little kid believes in the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus.
Most parents are amused, and tolerate such childish beliefs.
Many encourage them, and even use them. It's more like taking harmless advantage of their immaturity and childish gullibility. Sometimes it's explaining things, when the child isn't ready for the complicated truths of the real world. A n active imagination is vital for a growing child. Very young children have trouble distinguishing imagination from reality.