Easter Bunny Remains Popular With Kids, Eggs-perts Say

Delta Dental of Arizona survey highlights Easter Bunny, basket trends  
 

GLENDALE, Ariz. (March 18, 2018) - An egg-citing survey from Delta Dental of Arizona found that nearly 60 percent of children 12 and under still believe in the Easter Bunny, giving parents a reason to make sure those Easter Baskets are filled April 1.¹

Other findings from the survey include:

• The Easter Bunny ranks third in believability ratings, trailing Santa Claus (71 percent) and the Tooth Fairy (70 percent)
• Preschoolers are sweetest on the oversized rabbit with a penchant for hiding eggs, with 68 percent of 3 to 5-year-olds believing in the Easter Bunny.
• 10- to 12-year-olds are the most skeptical, as the Easter Bunny holds only a 45 percent rating among this age group and the Tooth Fairy (62 percent) edges out Santa Claus (60 percent), well, by a hare.
• Regionally, the Easter Bunny sees the most support in the Midwest (64 percent), followed by the South (58 percent) and the Northeast (54 percent), which is just barely trailed by the West (53 percent).
• Children who haven’t had an oral health issue tend to believe in the Easter Bunny at a higher rate than those who have (64 percent vs. 52 percent). 

While jelly beans and brightly colored Peeps are perennial Easter basket favorites, an increasing number of parents are hoping the Easter Bunny will fill baskets and eggs with something other than candy. 

“We are hoppy—I mean, happy, to see parents teaching kids the importance of eating sweets in moderation by limiting the amount of candy kids find in their Easter baskets,” said Tiffany Di Giacinto, Delta Dental of Arizona’s director of marketing and communications.

Delta Dental of Arizona provides the following tips to combat sugar overload this Easter: 

• Looking for non-traditional fillers for Easter eggs? Try bunny-shaped crackers, small toys or dollar bills. 
• Instead of a basket full of candy, consider including sidewalk chalk, stuffed animals, books, bubbles, art supplies or Play-Doh.
• Use a cookie cutter to create bunny, flower and egg-shaped healthy treats out of fruit, cheese or whole-grain bread. Then cover in colored plastic wrap.
• If candy is an Easter must, opt for that hollow chocolate bunny. Chocolate is easier to rinse off your teeth than sticky, gummy or hard candies.
• Remind kids to drink water and brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste to wash away any leftover candy or sticky sugar residue.

For more oral health tips, visit the Delta Dental of Arizona Blog at www.DeltaDentalAZBlog.com.  

About Delta Dental of Arizona
Delta Dental of Arizona is the leading dental benefits provider in Arizona, serving more than 1 million enrollees and more than 3,400 contracted dentists across the state. Passionate about oral health and its importance to generations of families, Delta Dental of Arizona has worked for more than 45 years to improve oral health by emphasizing preventive care and making dental coverage accessible to a wide variety of employers, groups and individuals. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit www.deltadentalaz.com.