A mum has hit back at criticism for giving her kids tooth fairy IOU notes instead of cash – insisting she “couldn’t care less” if other parents think it makes her a cheapskate.
Emma Stretton says she’s ditched coins under the pillow in favour of handwritten messages and digital £1 payments – and her kids actually prefer it.
The modern approach may not please traditionalists, but the mum-of-two says it’s made life easier and taught her children valuable lessons about money.
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“Parents will judge you about anything,” the 40-year-old, from Manchester, told What’s The Jam.
“I couldn’t care less what others think of my parenting.
“The kids were confused at first, but the accompanying letter explained the tooth fairy was going contactless and keeping up with the times.
“Now that she doesn’t have to carry all those coins, it’s much easier for her.
“Our children are being brought up in a cashless age and couldn’t give a stuff about actually getting coins, if I’m honest.
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“They’re more interested in what they can get with the money, not the money itself.
“They also often remark on how certain children get quite a bit more for their teeth and how it’s a bit silly.
“We’ve taught them to value money and not compare themselves to others.”
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Emma says the move, which she claims saves stress and teaches her kids, Barney, 11 and Seth, 8, about money, has gone down a storm in her house.
And while some parents say it ruins the magic, she’s not losing sleep over it.
Some might call her strict – or even a cheapskate – but the content writer says she’s just being practical.
She added: “A few people have said it’s a bit sad and the tooth fairy is a time honoured tradition.
“I felt exactly the same at first, but I explained how much easier it is.
“They might see it as cheapskate because we still only give a pound per tooth, but in terms of going cashless, I don’t see why that matters.
“I’ve never been the kind of parent who conforms to what anyone else is doing, which is a behaviour that has passed on to my children.
“I honestly couldn’t care about keeping up with the others.
“We used to get 50p, and £1 was a lot.
“Now, some kids get up to £20 for a first tooth, which is scandalous for me.
“It takes away the magic of childhood far more than the tooth fairy moving with the times.
“Getting a few quid for your teeth is a silly tradition, not a money-making exercise.”
Rather than hand over pound coins or fivers, Emma says the “modern tooth fairy” leaves little handwritten notes explaining the IOU, sometimes with silly stories or personal touches.
The mum says her kids now save up their IOUs to spend on treats like toys or Amazon gifts.
One of her children recently used their tooth fairy money to top up their birthday funds and buy a Harry Potter wand.
She said: “We explained that they could now keep all of their IOUs and add them up and when they wanted a special treat they would be able to use it.
“My kids are fully aware of how we pay for everything with contactless or order it on the internet.
“They’re savvy, so they know now that if they see something they like on Amazon, they can use money in their account. They can’t do that with cash, obviously.
“My youngest wanted to get a Harry Potter wand with his birthday money, so we agreed that he would put all the money in his bank and then use his tooth money to top it up so he had enough.
“When they see the result, they realise having a cashless payment is actually better.”
Emma, the savvy mum behind @EmmaWearsItAll, has sparked a wider conversation with her practical switch, and she’s not alone.
According to new research from MoneySuperMarket, one in ten UK children now receive contactless payments from the tooth fairy – and some even go as far as providing their bank details themselves.
And despite the tech twist, Emma insists the magic is still very much alive.
She added: “We very much keep the magic of childhood alive for our kids – outdoor adventures ahead of screen time, duvet days and movie nights, board games round the dining table, etc etc.
“These are all far more important than how they get £1 delivered to them on the few times a year they lose a tooth.
“We’re very honest about money and how we can’t always afford to do things.
“Finding inventive ways to have fun and make children value the things they do get is a priority, not making them think money grows on trees, or in fairy land.
“Contactless is so normal for kids now. In the future, I’d imagine the tooth fairy in her current form will be a long-forgotten tradition.
“And mostly, I would say honesty is so important with children.
“Explaining that money is something to value and work for, not be given willy-nilly, is a valuable life lesson – as is teaching children to be bold and confident enough to not care what their mates get.
“Yes, it’s part of growing up to occasionally envy your friends, but that’s life.”
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