‘Hands in full view’: Sitting on Santa’s lap gets a child-safe makeover at Australian malls and events
Modern child safety protocols have reached the North Pole (and Australian shopping malls), in a new era of Sensory Santas and inclusivity training.
Sensory sessions, body-safe training and never forcing a child to sit on their laps: Santa has had a modern makeover to accommodate inclusion and safety risks.
Book a Santa, which provides Santas for Christmas photos at events throughout Australia and New Zealand, has rules such as “don’t force children to sit next to you or on your knee” and “keep your hands in full view at all times gives everyone peace of mind”.
Their Santas are also told to be mindful about children from economically disadvantaged families and to “never assume the child has two parents or a parent of each sex”.
Michelle Drinnan, director of Book a Santa, said Santa “has always been about bringing joy to every child, and inclusivity and child safety have always been at the heart of that mission”. “Modern adaptations include inclusivity sessions where Santa is specifically booked for kids with sensory concerns, and even Auslan speaking Santa,” she said.
Australian mother-of-two Kylee Brown believes children should not be forced to sit on Santa’s lap. “I don’t care if my kids don’t want to sit in Santa’s lap. I don’t care how long we’ve waited in line. I don’t care if they talked about meeting Santa Claus all week. If they’re not comfortable, then it’s not happening,” she said in an online post on Facebook.
“The picture isn’t worth forcing them into a situation their little bodies are telling them no about. Christmas magic shouldn’t come at the cost of their comfort,” Ms Brown said.
US child psychiatrist Monika Roots believes parents should respect children’s autonomy and boundaries and should not force them to sit on Santa’s lap or even pose for photos.
She told Parents.com it is important for parents to talk to their children ahead of time. She says they should say: “Hey, we’re going to go meet Santa. Santa is a helper there, and we’re going to go say hi, and we can take a picture, or you can say hello or say what you want from Santa. I’m going to be right there with you. And if you don’t feel comfortable, I want you to tell me”.
“Especially when they’re young, you have to give them a couple of choices. You can say, ‘We can stand next to him. We can go across and wave to him. We can take a picture together next to him. Or we could take a break and we maybe can come back a different day.’”
Dr Roots also suggests parents should not share or post photos of their child crying, noting that “one of the things that I think sometimes as parents we forget is that our kids are humans that are going to grow up“.
It comes as many services are offering “Sensitive Santa” sessions that provide a calm environment, longer timeslots, less stimulation and fewer people. Other options include Auslan-signing Santas, Santas who pose with pet dogs and cats, and Sensory Santas who are attuned to the needs of children with sensory needs.
These include Scene to Believe which offers Santa photo sessions at more than 200 shopping centres around the country.
Myer Santalands also offer Sensory Santa sessions which are “perfect for children who need a quiet, sensory-friendly environment with gentle lighting and minimal noise”.
“Available before store hours, these sessions ensure everyone can enjoy the magic comfortably,” the website says. There are also Santa Paws sessions allowing people to bring in four-legged family members for photo shoots.
A Myer spokesperson said there are a range of Santa experiences in the stores, including “Santa Paws, Sensory Santa, Baby’s First Christmas, and of course, our iconic Santaland”.
“Santa Paws invites customers to bring along their beloved pets for a joyful Christmas photo, while Sensory Santa provides a calm, sensory-friendly environment with Santa before stores open for those who prefer a quieter moment, ensuring that the magic of Christmas is accessible to everyone,” he said.
“Many of our Santas have been part of the Myer Santaland family for decades, with some having been with us for more than 20 years. Every Santa is carefully selected through face-to-face interviews to ensure they embody the warmth, kindness, and joy of the season, so every customer has a truly memorable Christmas experience.”
Sarah James, The Sensory Specialist and a disability advocate, said Christmas was a “pressure cooker” for many families.
“For many kids – and plenty of adults – the constant noise, crowds and commitments are overwhelming. Choosing a handful of meaningful events instead of 10 can be the difference between a joyful Christmas and a complete meltdown,” she advises.
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