Man in Red
November 14, 2019 11:46 AM Subscribe
I've finally reached that age and girth when I've been asked to play Santa Claus for our local early childhood centre. How do I be the best Santa possible?
My daughter's ECE needs a Santa for the Christmas party. I will be that Santa. The children there range from 6 months to 5 years old, more sitting in the 2-4 year bracket; perhaps forty in total. Their parents will be present, and I will have presents to hand out. What can I do to make this the best possible experience for them (and me)?
My daughter's ECE needs a Santa for the Christmas party. I will be that Santa. The children there range from 6 months to 5 years old, more sitting in the 2-4 year bracket; perhaps forty in total. Their parents will be present, and I will have presents to hand out. What can I do to make this the best possible experience for them (and me)?
100% you need to check with your child's facility about what the rules for contact are by age. Older children should be given the option to stand on a step stool to chat, site beside you, or shake your hand, or sit on your knee (but this is becoming far less the norm IME.)
A LOT of kids are terrified of Santa so a HO HO HO greeting followed by a softly spoken Santa in person is often appreciated.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:56 AM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
A LOT of kids are terrified of Santa so a HO HO HO greeting followed by a softly spoken Santa in person is often appreciated.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:56 AM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
It might also be helpful to consider how you smell. I don't simply mean bathing but other scents you may have on yourself and your clothes (colognes, aftershave, cigarette smoke, etc). Some children may be very sensitive to those kinds of smells but too young to articulate that problem.
I don't know how long your shift(s) will be or how many children you'll interact with but even when you feel tired, try your best to still smile with your eyes and not just with your mouth. Make sure when you smile, you're also crinkling the corners of your eyes and not just plastering on a fake mouth smile.
posted by acidnova at 12:06 PM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]
I don't know how long your shift(s) will be or how many children you'll interact with but even when you feel tired, try your best to still smile with your eyes and not just with your mouth. Make sure when you smile, you're also crinkling the corners of your eyes and not just plastering on a fake mouth smile.
posted by acidnova at 12:06 PM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]
My hubby played Santa at an event once. One thing I noticed was that the kids were REALLY INTO IT and REALLY believed they were talking to the real santa so like, I guess be prepared for that if you're not already, brush up on your improv and "Yes And" skills. There was music and goofy dancing with the kids went over really well.
posted by bleep at 12:08 PM on November 14, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by bleep at 12:08 PM on November 14, 2019 [5 favorites]
My dad has been Santa for the past few years and loves it. Some of the kids go absolutely wild to see him. Sometimes the kids ask for something sad or something he can't possibly give them. So be prepared to deal with that. It doesn't happen to him often, maybe once or twice a Christmas season, but it's good to ready if it does.
posted by ilovewinter at 12:25 PM on November 14, 2019
posted by ilovewinter at 12:25 PM on November 14, 2019
Tip from mr. rekrap, who did a couple of seasons as a mall Santa - while you're interacting with the kid on your lap (if there is lap-sitting), see if you can also eavesdrop on the parents and kids who are waiting their turn. Try to pick up the kid's name, or what presents they'll be asking for. Then use that information when it's that kid's turn. It will be LIKE YOU'RE MADE OF MAGIC AND CAN READ MINDS!
posted by rekrap at 12:27 PM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by rekrap at 12:27 PM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]
Wear the traditional Santa glasses -- I think they make for a more approachable Santa, and it's a prop for you to fiddle with if you find that you need one. Also, one place I volunteered with had Santa & Mrs. Claus, and that went over big (if kids were were intimidated by him, they'd beeline to her; the Clauses threw to one another throughout the afternoon), but there were a lot more kids involved. Good luck!
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:28 PM on November 14, 2019
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:28 PM on November 14, 2019
my parents used to run daycare centers, and would hire my friends to be santa at their christmas parties - they guys that did the best were the ones that could think on their feet, and had good improv skills. the kids ask a lot of questions, and if anything goes wrong you'll need to come up with a good explanation for it. One year the room the party was in got pretty hot with all the people and lights and stuff, and one of santa's bushy eyebrows fell off. The kids were horrified, but he explained that Mrs Claus made him wear the eyebrows to keep him warm when he is riding his sleigh, and he'll make sure to put it back on when he flies off. The kids totally bought it, and the parents had a good chuckle.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:56 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:56 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Do not promise any child that you/Santa will get them any particular item.
posted by xo at 1:20 PM on November 14, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by xo at 1:20 PM on November 14, 2019 [5 favorites]
Kids tell Santa some pretty secret, personal things. In addition to the note above about hearing from kids who may need the most basic things, prepare yourself mentally in advance to hear about death in the family (people or pets) and possibly requests to make mom/dad/sibling well again, or even requests to make abuse stop. Because this is a controlled situation (ie: not a public or mall Santa) I'd advise you to discuss in advance with the ECE people how to follow up on disclosures that indicate danger/abuse at home or any kind of either one-time or ongoing abuse or assault of any kind.
On a more positive note, you may want to see if you can see photos/learn names of/learn something about kids in advance. Santa is supposed to know them, so if you can actually seem to know them, it can increase the magic.
posted by anastasiav at 1:55 PM on November 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
On a more positive note, you may want to see if you can see photos/learn names of/learn something about kids in advance. Santa is supposed to know them, so if you can actually seem to know them, it can increase the magic.
posted by anastasiav at 1:55 PM on November 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
When I worked as a pixie at Santa’s grotto the best Santas knew what was happening in the kids lives - one knew all the popular toys that year and another had been a schoolteacher, so he knew all the schools and asked if this teacher or that was still there, and which house they were in etc.
They were all kindly and willing to let the kids proceed at their own pace - whether that was to scream and hide (very common among 1.5 - 2 year olds) or chat a lot.
Also helps to be prepared for reasons why you can’t remember their letter as you get closer to Christmas, and on ways to deal with cynical teenagers who will come to try and put you off.
Also you’ve probably already thought of this, but answers to the commonest questions eg how do you get all around the world in one night - answer: time difference can be prepared in advance.
posted by EatMyHat at 6:04 PM on November 14, 2019
They were all kindly and willing to let the kids proceed at their own pace - whether that was to scream and hide (very common among 1.5 - 2 year olds) or chat a lot.
Also helps to be prepared for reasons why you can’t remember their letter as you get closer to Christmas, and on ways to deal with cynical teenagers who will come to try and put you off.
Also you’ve probably already thought of this, but answers to the commonest questions eg how do you get all around the world in one night - answer: time difference can be prepared in advance.
posted by EatMyHat at 6:04 PM on November 14, 2019
One tip on the costume: It's all about the BOOTS. Good, believable boots = good Santa costume.
posted by Wild_Eep at 9:32 AM on November 15, 2019
posted by Wild_Eep at 9:32 AM on November 15, 2019
If you can get a hold of a copy, The Santa Claus Book by Alden Perkes is freaking brilliant for answers to those questions about how Santa operates. It looks like it's buyable again, so that's a yay.
On a related note, I played Santa Claus last night (subbing in for someone during play rehearsal) and I felt like Alicia Witt.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:48 AM on November 15, 2019
On a related note, I played Santa Claus last night (subbing in for someone during play rehearsal) and I felt like Alicia Witt.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:48 AM on November 15, 2019
You may not need it for this year's Santa event at the preschool, but if you find you enjoy it and branch out to other events, learn some basic NZSL for things like Hi, What's your name, etc. Multilingual Santas are the best!
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:12 AM on November 15, 2019
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:12 AM on November 15, 2019
Also helps to be prepared for... ways to deal with cynical teenagers who will come to try and put you off.
I came to say that you probably want to rehearse your "Yes, Elizabeth, there is a Santa Claus" wisdom in case you meet any kids who want to say that Santa Claus is not real.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 4:51 AM on November 16, 2019
I came to say that you probably want to rehearse your "Yes, Elizabeth, there is a Santa Claus" wisdom in case you meet any kids who want to say that Santa Claus is not real.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 4:51 AM on November 16, 2019
**argh. "Virginia", not "Elizabeth".
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:19 AM on November 16, 2019
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:19 AM on November 16, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 11:54 AM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]