Tips For Shy Or Frightened Children:
"Shyness is a normal response to what a child perceives as a scary or overwhelming situation. Shyness helps the child withdraw from the experience long enough to gain a sense of control and figure out how to best approach the situation." Read more from:
http://www.investigatorclub.com/portals/0/investigations/shy%20child.pdf
Make 1-2 visits before the photo visit in relaxed clothing:
1. See what Santa looks like and how he sounds and acts in person.
2. Explore the set at the child's pace.
3. Watch others visit with Santa and get their photos made.
A day or two before the visit:
1.Read a “social story” about what happens during a visit with Santa. (See Link on left.)
2.Look at a traditional Santa Claus doll or ornament and discuss his features (beard & mustache, red suit & hat, black boots and belt.)
3.Have the child draw their own picture or write a letter to give to Santa. Don’t bring him cookies or other food unless the child really wants to do this. (Santa will not be able to eat it.)
The morning of the visit, watch Santa read a story (click on page at left), which allows the child to see his face and hear his voice.
Be sure the child is not sick, tired, hungry, needing the bathroom or a diaper change; but is as physically comfortable as possible. Before coming into view of the Santa set, have the clothes for the photo already on the child and hair fixed as fussing with them can increase their anxiety.
Respect the child’s wishes: do not push or hurry your child to sit on Santa’s lap or to even get close. Let them stand to face Santa where they want or just explore the set. Lower your expectations and allow the child to lead. Be patient and always in sight or in touch. Remember that a fear of strangers is healthy and Santa is certainly strange. Santa understands and does not take a child’s rejection personally.
MOST Important: Come early in the season to allow time for the child to get comfortable with Santa. Do not wait until Christmas Eve when the crowd is the largest and most fractious and Santa needs to get away on his deliveries. Your child cannot get the attention he or she deserves that day.
There has been an interesting theory been discussed that some frightened children may be calmed if Santa takes off his gloves. Santa wears gloves for many reasons, the best being the reduction in the transmission of germs. However, if requested by Mom & Dad with the understanding of the "risk", Santa can remove his gloves to see if that helps the child. Hand sanitizer is always available on he set.
Sometimes the opposite situation occurs. We have had upset or frightened children hurl themselves into Santa’s arms, bury themselves into his coat and hang on until the emotions subside. Santa is more than happy to give them the time they need to work through their issues, recover and to help them find their place of strength.
The Santa set is a family-friendly, safe place for children. Please speak and act gently. We work to make children feel secure so that they can relax in Santa’s presence. There is a genuine magic that comes, not from Santa, but from your children when they respond spontaneously with courage, curiosity, generosity, patience, love and delight.
Even more great ideas for the "slow to warm-up" child at:
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/198-children-with-shy-or-slow-to-warm-up-temperaments
https://www.huggies.com.au/toddler/development/social/developing-skills/shyness
http://www.investigatorclub.com/portals/0/investigations/shy%20child.pdf
Make 1-2 visits before the photo visit in relaxed clothing:
1. See what Santa looks like and how he sounds and acts in person.
2. Explore the set at the child's pace.
3. Watch others visit with Santa and get their photos made.
A day or two before the visit:
1.Read a “social story” about what happens during a visit with Santa. (See Link on left.)
2.Look at a traditional Santa Claus doll or ornament and discuss his features (beard & mustache, red suit & hat, black boots and belt.)
3.Have the child draw their own picture or write a letter to give to Santa. Don’t bring him cookies or other food unless the child really wants to do this. (Santa will not be able to eat it.)
The morning of the visit, watch Santa read a story (click on page at left), which allows the child to see his face and hear his voice.
Be sure the child is not sick, tired, hungry, needing the bathroom or a diaper change; but is as physically comfortable as possible. Before coming into view of the Santa set, have the clothes for the photo already on the child and hair fixed as fussing with them can increase their anxiety.
Respect the child’s wishes: do not push or hurry your child to sit on Santa’s lap or to even get close. Let them stand to face Santa where they want or just explore the set. Lower your expectations and allow the child to lead. Be patient and always in sight or in touch. Remember that a fear of strangers is healthy and Santa is certainly strange. Santa understands and does not take a child’s rejection personally.
MOST Important: Come early in the season to allow time for the child to get comfortable with Santa. Do not wait until Christmas Eve when the crowd is the largest and most fractious and Santa needs to get away on his deliveries. Your child cannot get the attention he or she deserves that day.
There has been an interesting theory been discussed that some frightened children may be calmed if Santa takes off his gloves. Santa wears gloves for many reasons, the best being the reduction in the transmission of germs. However, if requested by Mom & Dad with the understanding of the "risk", Santa can remove his gloves to see if that helps the child. Hand sanitizer is always available on he set.
Sometimes the opposite situation occurs. We have had upset or frightened children hurl themselves into Santa’s arms, bury themselves into his coat and hang on until the emotions subside. Santa is more than happy to give them the time they need to work through their issues, recover and to help them find their place of strength.
The Santa set is a family-friendly, safe place for children. Please speak and act gently. We work to make children feel secure so that they can relax in Santa’s presence. There is a genuine magic that comes, not from Santa, but from your children when they respond spontaneously with courage, curiosity, generosity, patience, love and delight.
Even more great ideas for the "slow to warm-up" child at:
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/198-children-with-shy-or-slow-to-warm-up-temperaments
https://www.huggies.com.au/toddler/development/social/developing-skills/shyness