Childhood is full of tales about magical creatures and mythical beasts. One of the best known creatures to Western culture is the Tooth Fairy, a small sprite who flutters in to exchange our baby teeth for a small present or some money. If your child’s first tooth has begun to wobble, now might be a good time to prepare for the fairy’s first visit. You can make this special keepsake box together, to help your little one look forward to the big moment when their tooth falls out. Here’s how.

What you’ll need:

• 1. Tooth Fairy box template (available online)
• 2. Thick card
• 3. Glue
• 4. Scissors
• 5. Coloured pencils, pens, crayons or paint
• 6. Glitter and stickers (optional)
• 7. Slim sheet of foam

Step 1

Print out a Tooth Fairy box template and glue it onto some fairly strong card. Then help your child to cut it out. You can then fold it into the correct shape and glue the edges together.

Step 2

Allow your child to decorate the box with coloured pencils, pens, crayons or paint. They can also add glitter or stickers if they like.

Step 3

To ensure the Tooth Fairy knows where to head for the lost tooth, draw the outline of a tooth on some white paper. Cut it out and stick it onto the box. Get your child to write their name carefully underneath.

Step 4

Now that the box itself is complete, it’s time to line it. Take a slim sheet of foam and measure it against the side of the box. Cut it to size and roll it up. Repeat the process so you have two rolls of foam.

Step 5

Place the foam rolls inside the box - one at the top and one at the bottom. You now have a little cushion for your child to place their tooth onto. The Tooth Fairy can in turn place her gift or coin there.

Transforming an existing tin

If you don’t have access to a printer, you may want to transform an old mint or sweet tin into a Tooth Fairy box. For this you’ll need to use a primer and spray paint to make the tin your desired colour. You can then paint a tooth shape on the lid and line the bottom of the tin with felt.

Meeting the Tooth Fairy

If your child has been captivated by the idea of the Tooth Fairy, why not allow them to see her in person? Dragons and Mythical Beasts Live is a show that introduces children to a host of fascinating creatures, from unicorns and griffins to stone trolls and, of course, the Tooth Fairy. As the name suggests, even a dragon shows herself!

The production will be embarking on a UK tour soon, so if your kids are interested in meeting a mythical beast or two, why not book tickets? At 55 minutes long with no interval, it’s perfect for children aged three and up, and will make for a day out to remember.