Toddler Buzz
>> Toddler Buzz
Scared of Santa
December 5, 2008 at 1:59 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (10)
Photo by FinallyaMommy2
I've really been enjoying all the cute photos of toddlers posing on St. Nick's lap around CafeMom lately. There are some in February 2006 Babies, and here's a few more Santa shots in the CafeMom Newcomer's Club (both groups require membership).
It's pretty remarkable, though, how many of the pictures look exactly like the one at left. These tots are so not digging the big guy in the red suit.
Moms have been talking about their kids' fear of Santa in Answers.
Says redlily08, "My MIL took my daughter to see Santa last year (she was 18 months old) and now we have a picture of her screaming in Santa's lap. Poor girl. I'm not going to go out of my way this year to see if she's still scared of him or not!"
Why are toddlers afraid of Santa, the jolly guy who brings them toys? And how can we get them to stop ruining our pictures! :)
"Kids are often afraid of clowns and other people in costumes because they cannot see their faces," says Scott Osterfeld a parent coach at myparentingsource.com. "Kids often read people and their approachability through facial expressions and body language. When their faces are covered with a big, billowy beard and their body language is masked through a stuffed pillow and a hat drawn close to their eyes, intuition kicks in."
The experts agree that coercion could do more harm than good.
"A child should NEVER be forced to sit on the lap of someone they perceive as a very unusual-looking, strange man!" says Marcy Axness of quantumparenting.com, an early development specialist and parent counselor. "You risk creating a traumatic memory around the whole Santa thing, so best to let it go for a year or two."
If you absolutely must have that Santa snap, here are some tips to convince your little elf to cooperate:
- Ask Santa if he'll let you AND your child sit on his lap (though Santa may like that little too much).
- Try empathizing. Tell them "Other kids are scared and nervous, too. It's okay to feel that way."
- Let your toddler pose beside Santa.
- Use the fake-out technique, says Cynthia Scheibe, professor of psychology at Ithaca College. Hold the baby or young toddler facing away from Santa, back toward him, and then place the child on Santa's lap while he or she is looking at other people. You might get lucky!
If all else fails, you can always try EmmieandMom's solution:
- "I take a picture of my 18 month old and Santa separately and put them together on my editing software. It's better than listening to her yell."
I'd love to hear some of your Santa shot strategies, and see some of your photos ... share the links here!
FILED UNDER: development & growth, learning, toys
Comments:
My son wasn't scared, but he didn't smile either. He's 22 months old, and he kept looking at him, like he was confused, he wouldn't take his eyes off him, like he was saying "Don't make any sudden moves!"
i use to take the picsof santa and the child . i did for many years . Another thing parents use to do was start WEEKS ahead of time and they brought by their child every week.
My twins are two and still don't really understand Christmas. They wanted no part of Halloween so we're going to pass on the photo op with Santa. We may venture to the mall to see him but that's as far as we'll go.
I remember being afraid of Santa when I was a kid! Let's face it, guys...Santa is a stranger dressed up, but there is something about the fake beard and hair...
last year my soon screamed in horror just going near santa, we just took a picture of his dad holding him next to him, and another one of me with santa and my son LOL. this year he did alot better and sat on santa's lap no problem.
we still need to go see santa and i am afraid he might be scared, will just have to wait and see- thanks for the tips
My oldest was only afraid of the Easter Bunny one year, so I didn't really have this issue with him, but the youngest was nervous last year, but they let me hold him down in front and since his big brother was there...he was better...not smiling, but not scared. I don't think it would be worth it to have the pic, if my kid was terrified.
When we first took DD to see Santa when she was 10 months old, he spent a few minutes with us telling us what we should do for the next year because she would then be the age to fear strangers. His best piece of advice was telling us to take her to see Santa a few times BEFORE getting the picture taken. That way, she'll be more used to him.
My DD who is 8 months old didn't smile and had this look on her face as if she was saying who is holding me and why?? Now my 2 1/2 year old DS was a different story he hates Santa and was like yeah man I'll take your candy cane now let me go to the toy section...lol...and last week I was in the picture with him and today he stood there for a minute but I still had to hold him, but they cut me out..lol.
Want to leave a comment and join the discussion?
Sign up for CafeMom and become a member. As a member you'll be able to leave comments, join groups, write journals, share photos, and more. Already a member? Click here to log in.
Or, leave a guest comment (guest comments are moderated and won't appear immediately)
Around CafeMom
Check out some of the most popular topics today in Answers:
- How far along where you when you found out you were pregnant???
- Is this strange for Thanksgiving or is it just me?
- Another tax!! Are they nuts? How much more do you have to give?
- What do you think of the suggestion that Michelle Obama take over from Oprah Winfrey?
- does anyone else feel like they get pregnant any time they have unprotected sex?
We put her on backwards with her Daddy talking to her the whole time. Then we snap the picture quickly so that before she notices who she is sitting on we have a shot. That is our strategy any way, I will let you know how it works after we do it. Last year that was what we planned but she fell in love with him and we were able to get an awesome shot of Santa holding her in the air and they are looking at each other. This year she does not like beards or strangers so we are back to this plan.
Peajewel Dec. 5, 2008 at 2:15 PM