VISIT A SENSORY-FRIENDLY SANTA
AUTISM AND CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
Are you overstressed? Do you feel like the 12 Days of Christmas should be renamed The 12 Days of Continuous Melt-Downs? Raising a child with special needs and throwing Christmas into the mix is a sure way to pile on more stress and anxiety. Years ago, when Jack-Jack was little, we didn’t visit Santa. There were no Sensory-Friendly Santa events at that time. And I made many mistakes. I thought that if we visited Santa, we needed to have “cute clothes” and a nice haircut.
Since I didn’t have the time and energy for cute clothes and nice haircuts, we didn’t visit. We had no cute Christmas photos from his birth and documenting each year! In fact, we have no family photos for far too many years. I just was overwhelmed all the time, and with older children in the mix, I just did what I needed to do and nothing extra.
We recently had the opportunity to visit Santa, and my first thoughts were, “Jack-Jack is now too old.” The employee at the Santa event was talking to the people in front of us and said last week there was an elderly couple in their 80’s that got a photo with Santa. It definitely made me feel better about visiting Santa with a 13-year-old.
But we have had a lot of lost years. When I heard about the Sensory Friendly Santa Event at the Eastwood Mall, called Special Santa, I was thrilled that our local mall was helping area families. This means that children with autism and other disabilities have the opportunity to visit Santa, play games, participate in activities and even ride the train before the mall is open for the day.
WHAT IS A SPECIAL SANTA?
The Special Santa event is designed to accommodate the children and their families so they too can create a yearly tradition. Our family visited the mall often when Jack-Jack was young because we had older children. I made the mall visit a priority and eventually, Jack-Jack got used to the sights and sounds of the mall.
A visit with Special Santa in a calming environment can help your child eventually get used to a visit with Santa in the everyday mall environment.
Our family has struggled through years of no-haircuts, melt-downs at the mall, and no photos with Santa. Don’t make the mistakes I made. Experience a Sensory Friendly Santa Event. Come without the fancy clothes. Come without the haircut. And come and enjoy the event with free activities such as games, train rides, crafts, story time and more!
Pictures with Santa are available for FREE (5X7) and you can purchase a photo package for an additional fee (with $10 off).
SPECIAL SANTA EVENT: SENSORY FRIENDLY SANTA AT THE EASTWOOD MALL
WHAT: Special Santa, Christmas Photo Event for children with autism
WHERE: EASTWOOD MALL, MAIN CONCOURSE, Niles, Ohio
WHEN: Sunday, December 3, 2023, from 9 am – 11 am
For More Information or to register for this event, Visit Autism Society of the Mahoning Valley
For more information or to find out the EASTWOOD MALL HOURS, visit Eastwood Mall. And for tips for visiting Santa with your child, see my post TIPS FOR VISITING SANTA with an autistic or sensory sensitive child.
This event is sponsored by the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley.
Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!
Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting
Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast
I love that places like these are taking into consideration all children. That makes the holidays so much easier as parents as well as magical for the children who wouldn’t be able to experience it.
I agree. And I am glad that this is one area that my town is jumping on board with.
I wish they did this in a mall around me. My daughter screamed her head off last year when we went to take pictures with Santa. I’m sure this event makes it a lot more enjoyable for families.
I think more and more places are doing things like this. Do you have a local Autism Group? They may know of some events or be able to plan something. In fact, I just saw a posting for a sensory friendly Santa event at a goat farm. Maybe check a Christmas tree farm or some places like that. Good luck and keep plugging away.
I love this idea and hope that other shopping centers take note! My son has sensory issues and this would have helped when he was younger.
I agree. Do you take your son now? We are so glad to see our local mall doing this and I do hope it spreads.
I so wish something like this existed when my son was a baby. We didn’t do Santa either because his autism just really prevented it. I am happy to see more inclusive opportunities available.
How old is your son? It is never to late to start a new tradition. Grown adults go and take pictures with Santa.