What is Sensory Sensitive Santa?

For some kids, a visit to the Mall Santa is way too stressful. Enter Sensory Santa, a low-stress source of holiday cheer!

Sensory Santa, sometimes referred to as “Silent Santa” is an opportunity for children with autism and/or sensory processing disorder to visit Santa in a quiet and welcoming, sensory-friendly environment. Sensory Santa's can be found at certain local malls and are often held before the malls open when it's quieter. The time set aside for Sensory Santa is exclusive for children who need sensory sensitive environments and their families.

For the past 2 years, Lake Ridge Community Support Services we’ve been offering a Sensory Santa experience at our annual Holiday Marketplace Fundraiser in November. Parents love it because of the calm and relaxed approach to the classic holiday visit with Santa Claus where your child can stand/sit with Santa and tell him what’s on their wish list or just have a quiet visit. Pictures can be taken on a smart phone keeping it simple without all the flashes and excitement of the mall.

Sensory Santa is all about making holiday experiences accessible in a quiet and welcoming environment. If you’re looking for a Sensory Santa near you a quick search on Google may yield a result. Try searching for “sensory santa” and “silent santa” using your location and if that doesn’t work we recommend searching via sites like Eventbrite or through your local autism advocacy organization. In Ontario that would be AutismOntario.org.

Happy Holidays!