Psychologist explains what you can do to ease your child’s fear of Santa

Sophie Collins

There are plenty of children who are afraid of Santa!

When I was little, I vaguely recall making my parents light the fire before bedtime so Santa couldn’t possibly come into our home and visiting the big man was a firm ‘no,’ which was respected.

But as psychologist Robyn Fallshaw explained to Kids First, it’s not uncommon for young children to be scared of the idea of Santa and meeting him in person.

“Children’s natural sense of self-preservation often kicks in when they are forced to sit next to a man they’ve never met who has a bushy white beard and wears a strange red costume,” Robyn explained.

“It’s ironic that we teach our children about ‘stranger danger’ only to do a back flip at Christmas time, cajoling them into telling secrets to an unfamiliar person so that we can get a photo to put in our album.”

According to the psychologist, preparation is key for a visit to Santa if your little one is showing signs of nerves.

5 tips to make a visit to Santa fun

Talk to them

When children know what to expect when they meet the man in the red suit it is easier for them to cope with their anxiety.

Explain what will happen when they meet Santa and assure them that you will be there to support them.

Bring the older siblings in

Many children learn from watching others, so encourage your frightened child to watch from a distance as an older sibling or friend sits with Santa.

Once your littlie sees that visiting Santa is actually something fun, your child may be want to participate as well.

Get familiar with Santa beforehand

Before you take your child to a crowded shopping centre to see a strange man in a red suit, tell him/her a story about Santa so he/she is familiar with this character and sees him as friendly and jolly instead of someone who is new and potentially scary.

Story books, videos and even online representations of Santa may also help your child be better prepared for their own visit.

Take it slowly

When you take your child to visit Santa, start far away and gradually encourage your child to get closer as he or she becomes more comfortable. You may have to do two or three ‘fly bys’ past Santa before your child actually has the courage to approach. This is perfectly normal!

Don’t force it

If all else fails, let it go.

It’s perfectly normal for young children to be afraid of Santa, as well as other costumed characters.

Most children eventually outgrow their fear of Santa and there are other things that you can do to record the season.

Try taking a photo in front of your Christmas tree instead. Your child will be more comfortable and you will still have a lovely memento to keep and send to grandparents and friends.