Santaphobia

Christmas is a fun time of the year for most young children, and Santa Claus is the happy, cheerful symbol he’s meant to be. But this isn’t always the case.

For some kids, Santa is he who must not be named. Santaphobia is most common in younger children who find him overbearing and confusing. However, some kids keep the fear until around seven years old.

When kids are scared of Santa, it makes Christmas more difficult. No grottos and no Santa visits mean missing out on the magic of Christmas!

Thankfully, Santaphobia is something kids naturally grow out of, and there are also a few things you can do to make him more bearable.

Children under 3

Children under three can’t be reasoned with, so no amount of telling them not to be scared will help with Santaphobia.

Instead, put on a few cartoons of Santa Claus that are age-appropriate to try and familiarise them with the red clothes and white beard.

Another thing you can do is buy a fake beard and Santa hat and put them on in front of your child, to show them there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Children under 7

Between 4 and 7, children develop a greater concept of danger but may still associate Santa with fear, stimulated by past trauma.

The best thing to do, barring a meltdown, is to visit Santa’s grotto. It might sound impossible, but this will be a watershed moment for your child.

If your child is terrified, then lead by example. Talk about Santa, reveal that your kid’s friends love Santa, and demonstrate there’s nothing to fear.

Do children grow out of Santaphobia?

Children always grow out of Santaphobia. By age 5, your child should be familiar enough with Santa to feel comfortable around him.

It is only really up to 5 that children are scared of Santa, and this goes for most other irrational toddler fears like certain types of food. Between 4 and 5, children learn to manage their emotions and understand their worries better.

How to stop your child from being scared of Santa

There are a few ways you can stop your kid from being scared of Santa:

Santa soft toys for babies and toddlers 

For your child’s first few Christmases, introduce Santa Claus with a soft toy so your kid associates Santa with something they can cuddle to make sure the red clothes and white beard aren’t alien to your kid.

As your child grows, keep up the soft toy idea but introduce reindeer and other animals to turn Christmas into a cute time of the year.

Visit Santa 

Try visiting Santa to nip Santaphobia in the bud.

If you try this tactic, don’t make a big deal out of it on the big day. Stay with your kid at all times in the grotto and reassure them it’s okay. Hopefully, when your child sees you talking to Santa and smiling, they will reflect your emotions.

Familiarise your kid with Santa

The big reason children are scared of Santa is that he’s so different. You can counteract this with a few simple things:

• Watch Santa movies and cartoons
• Pepper Santa Claus decorations around the house
• Bake Santa Claus biscuits
• Tell stories about Santa Claus
• Get an advent calendar with Santa Claus on the front

Dress up as Santa

This could terrify your child or lull them, so it’s your call.

You know your child’s limits better than anyone, so dressing up as Santa is a great way to introduce them. You can tune your mannerisms to reflect your child’s personality and retreat when you know things are becoming too much.

You could also try putting on the Santa beard and hat in front of your kid, which will show that Santa is not a stranger but a familiar person.

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