What To Do If Your Child Is Scared Of Santa
As an adult you may think that all kids naturally love Santa and will obviously get excited. A jolly old man who brings you presents, what’s not to like? However, this isn’t always true, some children actually have a fear of Santa, or a Santaphobia.
Dreams Beds have put together a post about what to do if your child has a Santaphobia, you can read it in full here. For now, here’s a brief overview of Santaphobia:
Why Do Some Children Find Santa Scary?
Santaphobia tends to be seen in younger children, most grow out of this fear by five years old. The fear tends to start when they are toddlers, as they are beginning to feel emotions in a different way to what they are used to and do not know how to deal with their feelings. Once they are older, they will find ways to manage their fears, such as covering their eyes, but at younger ages they will be more likely to throw tantrums or cry, you know, the “terrible twos”.
The reasons we expect Santa to be exciting can actually be the reasons that children fear Santa. This stranger is going to break into the house via the chimney on Christmas Eve! Not only that, but he is watching them and judging their behaviour all year round. Sounds a little scary when you put it like that doesn’t it?
Not only that, but every Santa your child will see is likely to be different. A different size, a different voice and even a different accent. This lack of consistency may make Santa a little overwhelming.
Lastly, if you’re constantly teaching your kids about “Stranger Danger”, it can be confusing when this suddenly changes. Once again, this lack of consistency can be overwhelming for your child who is still learning about the outside world.
How To Help A Child With Santaphobia
If your child finds Santa overwhelming, you can help them through Christmas. They should grow out of this fear and the excitement will come back. However, for now you should:
Introduce Santa Slowly – Children grow out of Santaphobia not just because of them developing emotional intelligence, but also because they have some experience of him. So, start introducing the idea of Santa earlier in the year so that they have more time to ask questions and get used to the idea. Not only that, but introducing Santa earlier means there’s not quite as much being introduced to them on the run-up to Christmas. The magic, lights, presents, it’s a lot for children to take in.
Let Your Child Have Control – Allowing your child to feel comfortable in presenting their fears and saying no is an important skill. If your child is showing a bit of nervousness about Santa, don’t throw them in the deep end. Having a child crying on Santa’s lap because they were scared and didn’t want to visit will only make negative links with Santa.
Instead, let your child lead. If they are getting nervous, talk to them. Let them know that they don’t have to visit Santa if they don’t want to. Encourage them to see Santa, by telling them the excitement of visiting Santa, but also discuss other options that they can do. Letting your child experience the magic of Christmas in their own way, giving them time to get used to everything, will allow them to learn that the festive period really is exciting.
Be Aware Of The Fear, But Don’t Let This Spoil The Magic – Just because your child has a fear of Santa, doesn’t mean you should discount him fully, but do be aware of your child’s fear. Don’t give the game away as your child should grow out of this fear, so you want to have the magic ready for them when they are ready. Instead, you should give your child coping mechanisms and the time and space needed to get over this fear.
In conclusion, be aware that Santaphobia is a completely normal part of development for some children. The most important thing you can do if your child has Santaphobia is to accept their fear and let them deal with it in their own way. Giving them the time to overcome this fear and not throwing them in the deep end will allow you to have the magic Christmas that you want for the children when they are ready.
