Site Meter Discussing Autism » Blog Archive » The Do’s and Dont’s of Visiting With Santa

The Do’s and Dont’s of Visiting With Santa

by

Is your little one afraid to see Santa this year? Is he overstimulated by the mall and all the glittering lights, afraid of all the people, conscious of every detail around him, ready to flee at the slightest movement of someone in line, refusing to put on that shirt and tie for grandma? In my search for tips on how to prepare AJ to visit Santa I only found two posts…This one and this one so it was obvious that it needed to be addressed.

Every parents’ dream is to get that beautiful picture of their son or daughter with Santa for the very first time. (Well, at least I know my dream was and I know that my mother pushes me to get my son all dolled up every year and take the most perfect posed shot I can.) But it is just not a reality for kids with autism or SPD, for children with developmental delays like PDD or anxiety.

Do be wary of your child’s insecurities. If you know your child is scared of elves chose a photo opportunity that does not have elves manning the camera.
Do plan ahead.

Talk to your son or daughter before they visit with the man in the red suit. Generally speaking, they’re not supposed to talk to strangers, so show them that Santa is a known character.

Books, animated films and television programs can help take the mystery away from the man.

Do go at odd hours of the day or week.
Wednesdays are great days…the slowest day of the week and can often yield the best results.
Do take along a comforting friend or relative who can hop up there with him.
Do let him know that its okay to talk to Santa and that Santa is safe.
Do be prepared to walk away if things get too hectic.
Do be prepared for a bad photo but don’t be surprised if it a great one!
Do talk to Santa. It will make your child feel more comfortable.
Do keep pictures up all year so that your child sees pictures of him/her with Santa for next year.

Don’t make a huge event out of it.
Don’t dress him up so he is uncomfortable. For sensory kids this can be the worst…ditch the formal wear and go for something comfortable. My favorite picture of AJ is of him in overalls and a green turtleneck. ajsanta.jpg
Don’t forget the snacks, the drinks, and the lovie. Ever been without the comfort item? Now there is a lost cause. Make sure your child feels safe.
Don’t go before scheduled naps or before lunch times when lines can make children cranky.
Don’t go to the mall where things get out of control quickly. Look for other local places like department stores, school outings, or even local neighborhood events. Our special needs group hired a Santa this year for an hour and it was a great success. If you have someone of Santa Size…rent the costume for a small group.

We had a great visit with Santa this year because we chose to do it on AJ’s terms. Our friend hired Santa to fly in and AJ was able to approach him at his pace. He sat on his lap and talked to him when he wanted to, not when the line behind him dictated. It worked great.

For a great little beading project head to Bead Arts.

, , , , , , , , , ,


2 Responses to “The Do’s and Dont’s of Visiting With Santa”

  1. Drew Says:

    Thanks for linking to my post about meeting Santa. Your tips are great ones.

  2. JHS Says:

    Great article. Brought back a lot of memories.

    Thanks for participating in the Christmas Edition of the Carnival of Family Life! The Carnival will go live at midnight (Pacific time) on December 24, 2007, at Colloquium!

    Happy holidays!

Leave a Reply


About Discussing Autism

Discussing Autism is a site determined to give readers information and insight into the world of Autism. Journey with a family as they struggle with daily issues.

Discussing Autism Author(s)

Science & Health Channel Posts

  • What The Heck Is Treatment Resistant Depression?
    This is a dreadfully named type of chronic depression. Please, someone in the medical community rename this thing. When you're depressed, you're always convinced that you cannot be cured or helped. [...]
  • Victoria's Secret? She's a Vegan!
    Victoria's Secret is no longer hiding in closet. The lingerie and beauty product brand is getting loud and proud about veganism. Pink Body is a new line of Victoria's Secret cosmetics - including [...]
  • I binged
    Yes. I am not all perfect and cured. I totally had a binge last night. It was my own fault. I had junk food lying around the house for the "future" and needless to say, I pounced on the food last [...]
  • Is Volumetrics for you?
    [caption id="attachment_756" align="alignnone" width="339" caption="Volumetrics "][/caption]"Free foods" are those that help you get more bang for your buck because they contain a lot of water, [...]
  • Psoriasis and Earache
    I'm going to be honest and beg the blogosphere for information of psoriasis and earache. I have psoriasis and now it seems to have spread to my right ear. It causes a dull ache, but not bad enough [...]
  • Dear Non-Vegans, Love Eccentric Vegan
    Eccentric Vegan compiled a great resource post, called "Dear Non-Vegans," all about why meat, eggs, all other animal products are not healthy, humane, or environmentally friendly on Vegan Soapbox. I [...]
  • Top Ten signs of Alzheimers Disease
    [caption id="attachment_1800" align="alignnone" width="67" caption="Alzheimers"][/caption]Memory loss that disrupts everyday life is not a normal part of aging. It may be a sign of Alzheimer's [...]
  • The best way to measure body fat
    [caption id="attachment_796" align="alignnone" width="104" caption="Tape Measure"][/caption]When does "putting on a few pounds" cross the line into needing to lose weight? Neither scale, BMI, pinch [...]
  • Exacts on how you too can run up expensive therapy bills for your children.
    Ok, so see, as I said, I’ve never been away from my children much.  And, I have missed not one, not two but on Saturday, I will have missed three of my son’s basketball games.  Never in [...]
  • Published Letter to the Editor
    My first letter to the editor was published this week in the Middle Tennessee State University student newspaper, Sidelines. Here's the published version of what I wrote in response to their article [...]

Hot Off The Press