Easter morning arrives, and your kids wake you up as early as they did on Christmas…they just can’t wait to see if the Easter bunny came. The basket is brimming with candy, the eggs hold all the excitement of the season, and the bunny’s magic is certainly real in that moment.
But what happens when the questions start, with a boatload of “but how’s” and “but why’s?" — and perhaps even a little fear — from kids. Is it a real hopping bunny with the strength to carry big baskets, they wonder, or a person dressed up in a fuzzy white suit? And, most pressing of all, is the Easter Bunny even real at all?
Well-meaning parents just trying to instill Easter traditions that they enjoyed as a child might wonder how to explain this creature who is supposed to break in to leave baskets full of eggs and treats — and how to answer the harder questions as they get older. “Explaining a rabbit's inexplicable interest in colored eggs and why he's chosen your backyard for his annual eggstravaganza can leave parents [to navigate] convoluted explanations,” says Sarah Cook, president at Nanny’s & Granny’s nanny agency in Las Vegas. “So, what's a parent to do? Embrace the absurdity — laugh at the ludicrousness of a bunny playing hide and seek with chocolate eggs.” And then, take cues from the kids about where to go from there.
Because, as Cook reminds us, the Easter Bunny — with all its peculiarities — is really about a tradition that sparks joy and imagination. (And, of course, an excuse for extra chocolate.) Here’s how parents can navigate all those tough questions about the Easter Bunny.
In the beginning, leave room for their imaginations to explore.
Magical traditions like the Easter Bunny aren’t really about the rabbit itself, but the mystery and intrigue around it. So, starting in the toddler and preschooler years, kids might start to interpret the bunny in their own way, and that’s a good thing — and an amusing conversation to have with them. “Around the age of three kids are capable of understanding the Easter Bunny and may believe it," says Reena B. Patel, parenting expert, psychologist and licensed educational board certified behavior analyst in San Diego. "Their imaginations are thriving and they may love or hate the experience depending on how they feel about costumes and animals. Talking through the experience at this age is most important for them to understand next steps and why things are happening.” If they ask questions about how the Easter Bunny gets into the house or how he can hide everyone's eggs in one night, ask the kids what they think first and give them an opportunity to explain how they imagine it (and give you the chance to figure out if they're just wondering or if they're starting to have doubts).
Answer questions when they're ready.
Eventually, kid questions are going to transition from slightly probing to all-out skepticism. “Parents might consider telling the truth about the Easter Bunny when children question these characters' logic or doubt their existence,” says Daniel Rinaldi, therapist and life coach with MNTL Town in Massachusetts.
But that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. “I always recommend that parents can involve children in creating the magic for younger siblings or family members to keep the tradition alive, transitioning them from believers to co-creators,” Rinaldi says.
Dr. Sid Khurana, board-certified adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical director of outpatient services at Nevada Mental Health in Las Vegas also encourages parents to reframe the discussion. “Instead of taking the dichotomy of ‘truth’ versus ‘lie,’" he says, "it's helpful to take the route of ‘imaginary” or ‘pretend’ with or without the background of recognizing the family traditions and customs.”
Remind kids it's supposed to be fun.
If some kids are on a mission to foil the bunny’s plans, try to bring them back to the point of the season, whether it’s to usher in spring, or to build family tradition. “You can explain to them that the Easter bunny isn't real, but it's something fun to believe in," Patel says. "You can share that it was part of them growing up.” You can also tell them your own memories of the Easter bunny so they can see how they fit into a larger tradition.
Keep it light.
Sometimes, kids aren’t even as distressed about finding out the truth as parents are. “Remember oftentimes it's more emotional for the parent to accept their child is growing up than the child," Patel says. "They will often respond to the situation how you respond to the situation, so if you're emotional they may be emotional as well. Keep it light, keep it fun and give some alternatives to look forward to for next year.”
She jokes they might look you right in the eye and say “thanks for the candy,” or try to find proof the bunny is in costume, such as finding a zipper. And, all that is okay. “They're growing up and it's okay to let them,” she says. (But parents who want just one more year, maybe calling the Easter Bunny through a simulator can buy some time!)
Focus on other Easter traditions.
If the Easter Bunny is taking up too much mental space, and causing too many questions, you can always turn the focus to other engaging Easter activities, from delicious brunches to elaborate egg hunts.
A 2023 WalletHub survey found that 59% of parents carried on Easter traditions from their own childhood, with 77% excited to start their own Easter traditions with their families. The same survey found that Easter egg hunts were the most popular Easter activities. These hunts are also widely popular because they can include kids of all ages, and kids can help contribute to the festivities through preparing.
In the end, they’ll remember the feeling of the holiday, and the traditions you built together, not one or two extra years worrying about — or trying to prove the truth — about a bunny.
