The popular version of Santa Claus comes from a series of drawings from the 1880s and the famous poem Twas the Night Before Christmas. From the merging of these two creations, we get the familiar lines:
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
Our last episode dug into what your family might decide about “the Santa issue.” If you’re on board with the magic of the Christmas season and you want to take your kids for a visit to St Nick (or one of his “helpers” at the local mall), we’ve got a few tips to make the visit go smoothly.
*Disclaimer: of course, with the sugar and busyness of the season, your kids may just lose it or refuse to speak to the chubby guy with the white beard. Be prepared.
We did take our kids to a couple of Santa visits. My oldest was all about it, and she loved to say hello to him. Once, we’d just missed him at the mall & she was heartbroken. We chased him all the way to the exit with our tearful child (where he was almost “out of character”, starting to shed the suit). He was so sweet to stop a minute and talk to her.
Our youngest wasn’t so fond of the big guy. I remember one particular picture where my daughter sits beaming while my son looks traumatized. We didn’t try again.
Tips for a Successful Visit to Santa
- Prepare ahead of time. Small children can be very attached to Mommy and Daddy. Santa Claus (& strangers in general, characters dressed up) can be scary looking at first. Read some books to your child about Santa. Let them see pictures of him or watch a cartoon about Santa and his Reindeer.
- HALTS… Do everyone a favor and don’t take your child if they’re hungry, angry, tired or stressed. Make sure they’ve been fed and it’s not nap time. Bring snacks & drinks & special activities (maybe a new sticker book?) in case there’s a long wait in line.
- Wear something comfortable. Altho it may be for a family picture or your Christmas card, if your child is wearing pinchy shoes, scratchy sweaters or lace or is otherwise uncomfortable, the odds that you’re getting a cute picture when you plop them next to Santa get slimmer.
- Bring Extra Stuff: Maybe a change of clothing in case they get sticky or wet their pants or any of the many ways kids manage to get dirty. Have some wet wipes on hand and maybe a brush/comb. Seasoned parents already know this sort of drill, but if it’s your first rodeo…you’re welcome.
- Don’t rush. Set aside an entire morning or afternoon to make your trip to Santa. Don’t do like we did & take a chance at missing him altogether or getting there when he’s taking a break. Make it a fun day, and make your visit to Santa towards the beginning of the day when your kids are fresh.
- Make it a shared experience. If your kids are anything ours were, they love play dates and being with other kids. Thus, one option for making visiting Santa a success is to do it with another mom and child. If they have a friend with them, they may not be as scared and they may have more fun. Or, bring their favorite lovey along and ensure teddy/puppy/baby/blanket is fully involved with your child. If your child feels safer and can share the experience, you may just get the cutest Instagram photo ever.
- Take a minute to observe. Let your children watch how other children are standing in line. Point out the area where Santa is sitting. This way, they’re not surprised when they actually get in line and eventually get to the front. This will also let you watch your child and read their body language – to see if they’re ready, emotionally. When it’s their turn, if your child is too scared, you might want to consider a group photo with you holding your child or having your child stand next to Santa.
- First Meeting. Santa’s elves will sometimes greet the children and then escort and introduce them up to Santa. Other times, especially with children 4 and older, parents may escort their own children to Santa. If you get this opportunity, be informal and when you get to Santa, introduce each of your children: “Santa, this is Jamie and Susan.”
- Say Hi to Santa first. If mom or dad talks to Santa first, shakes his hand or tells him a favorite Christmas memory, it might help warm up your kids to him. Oh, this is someone mom & dad know and it’s ok to talk to him.
- Don’t anticipate that your baby or child should be afraid or scared of Santa Claus . . . or they will be. Children are very good at sensing their parent’s feelings. If you are afraid or nervous, your baby will pick up on that, and react by crying or refusing to see Santa Claus.
- If you have a baby or toddler you should carefully place the child in Santa’s arms. If you’re taking a photo especially, seat other children in your family first and then give the baby to Santa last. After pictures are done, you can remove the baby and Santa can talk with the other children.
- Be quick. Photographers say the best pictures are always within the first 5-10 seconds. Set it up and get out of the way. Then, the kids can talk to Santa after. Remember others are waiting (& have been in line) a long time, too.
- If it doesn’t go well: don’t threaten your children with “Santa’s not bringing you anything if you don’t be nice to him” or other whoppers that you don’t mean and will only make things worse.
- Consider bringing a gift to Santa and/or his helpers. Can you imagine being Santa during the holidays? He has a tough job. Not only does he have to deliver presents but he has to make appearances for all these kiddos and some of them don’t even want to see him. He has to be jolly while lots and lots of kids sit on his lap, tug his beard, and maybe scream and cry when they see him. They might have wet pants, sticky hands, or bad attitudes. It’s a tough gig!
Read More: Kentucky Parents Share Photos of Santa Visits Gone Wrong | https://wbkr.com/25-hilarious-santa-visit-photos-gone-very-wrong/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral