Yes, it’s that time of year again. The time when millions of excited and giddy children are expected to dress up in their finest holiday (read: itchy) apparel, sit on the lap of a big, jolly stranger in a red suit, on a cardboard-like black and shiny throne, and tell him what they want for Christmas. All of this takes place while well-meaning, excited parents, who normally freak out when their child approaches a stranger, stand at a distance, smiling and snapping pictures.
And we wonder why so many kids go completely nuts when it’s time to take pictures with Santa.
The Pressure of Santa Claus
For one thing, for weeks, they’ve been hearing: “Santa is watching you!” and “Santa might not bring you any presents if you don’t behave.” With all this Santa shaming and talk of lumps of coal and no presents, many kids become confused about whether Santa is actually a friend or foe. Of course, they’re scared. Kids think Santa can read their minds and lie awake at night, worried that he’s watching them or spying on them like some creepy stalker, monitoring every move they make.
And you want your child to sit on his lap?
Let’s face it—whether you visit the mall Santa or the one at the town festival, there’s something fake and shady about each and every one of them. Maybe it’s the spiked eggnog on their breath or the fact that they’re wearing black rubber rain boots instead of shiny, laced-up Santa boots. Or maybe it’s because kids can tell that the person behind the cotton-ball hair, beard, and mask is young, or even someone they know, which drives them crazy. Or maybe it’s just the willingness of parents to suddenly hand their kids over to this mysterious stranger that makes kids scream and fuss. (And seriously, Mom and Dad, have you ever asked yourself why these grown men want to spend their days at the mall with a bunch of bratty kids, letting them sit on their laps?)
Let’s be real for a minute: If you were to stand at the mall long enough and observe how kids act during Santa pictures, it becomes obvious that the whole thing matters more to the parents than to the children. It’s the parents who are freaking out, tweaking bows, straightening ties, and making a scene, while the kids would be more than happy just to sit back and look at the wonder that is Santa from afar. It’s the parents who want the instant upload to Facebook and Instagram to show off their perfect holiday season. It’s the parents who need to check off that imaginary list of things they must do when their kids are little.
Bottom line: Parents want their kids to sit on HIS lap. Why not traumatize them more than we already do with all the elf shaming and Santa guilt tales we tell to get our children to “be good” during the month of December?
Truth is, while the pictures are cute—even the ones where the kid is screaming bloody murder, red-faced, with tears pouring down—maybe we shouldn’t force our kids to sit on Santa’s lap.
If your child is fearful, then no amount of reasoning or bargaining is going to help. At that point, they don’t care if creepy Santa doesn’t bring them presents on Christmas morning, as long as they don’t have to sit on his knee. And whatever happened to mailing a wish list to Santa? Doesn’t that count just as much?
Instead of making a scene that will become an embarrassing memory, why not just let your child watch from a distance and make up their own mind about sitting with Santa? Or, if they are truly afraid, swallow your pride and sit on Santa’s knee with your child if it’s just a photo opportunity you’re after. Even better, ask your child before surprising them with a trip to see Santa if they actually want to sit on his lap. If they say no, act fearful, or show any resistance—realize that there’s always next year, and you can try again then.
Another solution is to let them stand near Santa, sit beside him, or pose with one of the elves instead. In the end, your child will still get the coveted candy cane, which will inevitably stick to their hair and end up all over their festive holiday clothes—whether you get the picture or not. The real question is whether they’ll be crying while eating it.
And let’s not forget: there’s only ONE real Santa. He doesn’t stop for photos in cheesy shopping malls or tree lighting festivals. He certainly doesn’t smell of whiskey or smoke, and his laugh really is jolly. Most importantly, he’s too busy making toys at the North Pole to spend all day taking pictures with bratty kids who would much rather be at home watching Christmas movies.
