How do I tell my 5 year old that I have a boyfriend?

Try going on a 'picnic' or to the zoo with her and him and let them 'get to know each other' there ... then it will be much 'easier' to tell her that he's 'very special' to you and may be 'around' a lot more in her life. She's too young to 'understand' the word 'boyfriend' but she can understand 'special' and being around more ...

Why not just have him spend some time with you and the kid. Once the kid sees him around enough, I'm sure she'll figure it out.

I used to date a single mom. One thing that made things easier on all of us is that she used to let me take the kid out to do stuff. I brought the kid to the Bronx Zoo, out for Ice Cream, down to watch the local High School play baseball, the playground, and I even would take him on bike rides around the block. She let me have time with her kid so I could establish a friendship with that child. Once I did that, things just slid into place.

Sean knew I wasn't there to take his father's place, but knew I was someone he could trust and would be there for him. When he trusted me, I don't think he seemed to mind. His mother and I may not date anymore, but Sean is about 8 now, and we're still buds. Last weekend he even came fishing with me, and has even told me that he likes me better than Mike, his Mom's current boyfriend.

i'm 50 honey divorced 3 or four years ago and it an'it easy .. at least my kids are big a little kid may not understand.

S-L-O-W-L-Y......and start out by involving her in things...take her to the zoo, park, beach....fun stuff that can show her that he can be fun, too.....and not going to steal Mommy away.

see what she thinks of him like go to the movies then say your dating.

You just tell her that mommy is dating and leave it at that.

If she has questions, she will ask

How long have you been dating him? Have they met?