Just What Exactly Is a “Sensory Santa?”

A relatively new term that was perhaps largely unheard of as of only 2020 is sensory Santa.

In fact, if you had a time machine to go back to, say, 1980, and tell people that one day there will be sensory Santas – they’d have no idea whatsoever what this could possibly mean.

But today, with more campaigns for autism acceptance, the concept of sensory Santa is becoming increasingly familiar.

What is a sensory Santa?

A sensory Santa is a modified version of the traditional Santa Claus experience, designed perhaps originally for autistic kids, though these modified versions are also suitable for kids with sensory processing disorder, Down syndrome and other conditions for which the conventional Santa experience could be uncomfortable.

The goal is to provide a comfortable and stress-free venture for children with various challenges; this could also include anxiety or a physical disability.

Many of these children can find traditional Santa visits overwhelming due to prominent ambient noise (e.g., at a busy mall), bright lights, swarms of people and other sensory stimuli.

Sensory Santa events address these issues by adjusting the environment and experience to be more accommodating.

Taking your autistic child, or child with another atypical condition, to a visit with a sensory Santa will offer some key accommodations.

Quieter Environment

One of the main elements that sets a sensory Santa apart is the time and atmosphere in which it takes place.

These events are usually held during off-peak hours, such as early mornings or weekdays, to minimize the presence of large crowds and the noise that comes with this.

The quieter setting reduces the overwhelming stimuli that many children, particularly those on the Spectrum, find uncomfortable.

Keep in mind that not all kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder find ongoing noise or large crowds distressing.

But some kids, including non-autistic, don’t like a loud or crowded venue.

Another point to consider is that sometimes, the parent is autistic and wants to take their neurotypical child to see Santa.

The sensory Santa environment would then provide a lighter sensory stress load to that parent.

Controlled Sensory Stimuli

Conventional holiday displays often include bright flashing lights, loud music and other stimuli such as smells that can be overwhelming for kids with sensory sensitivities.

For sensory Santa events, the lighting is typically dimmed, and loud holiday music or other background sounds may be replaced with softer, more soothing music or even no piped-in music at all.

Trained and Understanding Staff

At sensory Santa events, the staff plus Santa himself are often specially trained to interact with children on the Autism Spectrum or who have another condition such as blindness.

The staff is prepared to be patient, understanding and flexible.

They know that some children may have trouble making eye contact, may be non-verbal, might not want to sit on Santa’s lap or may need a longer time to feel comfortable.

An autistic child may want to spend the entire time feeling Santa’s beard or humming. Sensory Santa and his helpers will fully understand.

And he’ll welcome an info-dump about the Titanic or bridges from a highly verbal autistic child.

The idea is to remove any pressure for the child to act according to societal norms, allowing them to engage at their own pace, whether it’s by standing nearby, talking to Santa from a distance or playing with a fidget spinner or other stimming device while sitting on his lap.

Flexibility and No Judgement

One of the most important features of sensory Santa events is that they allow kids to enjoy the experience in their own way, free from judgment.

There is no expectation that a child will have a “perfect” interaction with Santa.

If a child is too shy, scared or overstimulated to approach Santa Claus, that’s perfectly okay.

In fact, families are often given more time during these events, so there’s no rush.

Parents can take as much time as they need to ensure their child is at ease, and they are not pressured to hurry through the experience or to get “the perfect picture” of the child in Santa’s lap.

There will be no “Oh come on, he’s Santa; he won’t bite you!” by staffers to hesitant children.

There will be no “Santa’s not gonna get you any toys if you don’t look me in the eye” from the guy playing Santa.

There will be no “Why is your son acting that way?” from other parents.

Final Notes

So if you’ve been reluctant or dreading to take your child to see Santa Claus, you now know of the option of the sensory Santa.

And hopefully, you have the smarts to realize that you should never force a frightened or crying child into ANY Santa’s lap.

All children, be they autistic, have ADHD, hearing impairment or an intellectual disability, should always believe that THEY have the final word when it comes to a stranger or even someone they know having physical contact with their body.