S
ome kids love Santa, while others scream at
the sight of the merry old man. Introduced
appropriately, Santa adds fun and excitement
to the festive season, but listen to the lyrics of
anta Claus is Coming to Town
and it’s no wonder why so
many children are filled with fear when they meet the
supposedly jolly fellow. We really can’t expect children
to smile for the camera while seated on the lap of a
stranger who, they believe, watches them while they sleep,
disapproves of crying and refuses to give them presents
if they have been naughty. Stories of Santa entering our
homes in the middle of the night and snuffling all our
nice food are unlikely to get our bubbas bouncing up and
down for joy either.
Expectant mum Louise Adams recalls writing a letter
to Santa at the age of five. It read: “Dear Father Christmas,
I hope you like your brandy and pie and the reindeers like
cornflakes. Please can you leave my stocking outside my
room as I don’t know you very well? Love, Louise xxx”
If families want to enjoy the magic and mystery of
the marvellous man in red, go easy on the Santa-as-spy
stories, and introduce him as a fun and magical character,
advises Cora Ha, parenting facilitator of Family
Foundations Ltd. Before dashing to the mall with kids and
camera in tow, spend time preparing your children for
whom they are about to meet, while carefully considering
their age, development needs and unique personalities.
Secrets of success
Regardless of who’s come to town, infants need to eat
and sleep on time. On the big day, be sure to have all the
essentials that you will need for your baby’s comfort before
joining the hour-long queue to meet Santa. Basic needs
met, however, most babies will still bawl the second you
hand them over to Santa, as Therese Tee, mother of two,
knows only too well.
“
Alanna was only 11 months old and she freaked out
when she saw Santa. I still had to get a picture as a memento,
and also to serve as a reminder that maybe she really was too
little to meet such a big guy with a big personality!”
Cora advises parents against seating babies on Santa’s
lap. She explains, “Santa is sitting in a strange place,
wearing strange clothes, a white wig and a stick-on beard.
For babies with ‘stranger anxiety’, it doesn’t get ‘stranger’
than that. Your baby is far more likely to warm up for a
photo with Santa if you are the one holding her.”
Preparing toddlers and pre-schoolers for their annual
outing can commence weeks before Santa makes an
appearance. Kylie Fraser believes that reading Christmas
books, watching DVDs, looking at photos and talking
about Santa filled her 20-month-old daughter with eager
anticipation. “She was the only one in her playgroup who
didn’t freak out, and was even helping Santa hand out the
presents to the other kids. When we took her for the photo
with Santa, she was super excited and more than happy to
climb up on his lap,” Kylie recalls.
Children may feel more comfortable meeting Santa
when accompanied by friends or siblings. Rose Thomson’s
daughter Leila, now four, is typically shy around
strangers, while her closest friend is more sociable. “At
first, Leila panicked when she saw Santa and clung to my
leg, refusing to be in the picture. Then, as she watched
Santa and her friend laughing together, she edged closer
and stood by his side. Soon, both girls were giggling on
his lap!”
While tears and fears are more likely to subside by
the time a child turns five, some kids continue to fear the
festive fellow. Jennifer Watson-Schmitz says, “My daughter
has never really enjoyed those Santa visits. She is now five
years old and is still petrified, even when it’s her own father
dressed up at the school fair.”
Picture perfect?
A visit to see Santa can still be a success, even without
the customary Christmas photo. As Sarah Benhacine
recalls stories of her eldest daughter, now five, screaming
by Santa’s side, she ponders, “What’s the big deal if you
don’t have a photo of your child sitting with Santa every
year? The most important thing is to make sure that you
take plenty of photos of your family together on Christmas
Day!” Sarah believes that the best way to gauge a child’s
level of comfort with Santa is to stop by his hut and let
children look on from a distance. Ask them if they would
like to say hello to Santa and if they refuse, then enjoy the
tree, decorations and festivities at the mall instead.
Respecting children’s wishes is the ultimate way to
ensure that they enjoy their first outing to see Santa.
Children will let you know their preferences, and if they
choose to snuggle in Mummy’s arms instead of Santa’s lap,
then so be it. You may not capture the desired “Santa Claus
and smiling kids” photo this time round, but don’t worry:
there’s always next year!
Plan ahead to prevent meltdowns at the mall, writes
Angela Baura
.
scary Santa
December 2012
83