Pro Santas Addressing Crisis and Tragedies with the
Children
Continuing
Educations and Information
for
serious New and Veteran Professional Santas
based
upon level 1 core curriculum from
Professional
Santa Claus School (PSCS) of Denver Colorado.
Founded
in 1983
to
support great men with great hearts (Real Santas!)
in maintaining our great tradition.
in maintaining our great tradition.
Advice to Santa
Claus; Handling Conversations with Children about National Tragedies.
As
a Santa Claus Trainer for 31 years, our local (Colorado) Santas have dealt with
the shocking 1993 Santa Claus Death Threats and the heartbreaking 1999 Columbine
Massacre, as the unexpected boot camp / training
grounds, for teaching our Santas and PSCS Santa students, how to effectively
talk with the children about crisis and tragedies. Recently, we've have taken on children's questions about the Aurora Theater Shootings. (Children spend most of their time living in the REAL world... until they get to YOUR LAP!)
As
the world changes, Santas nationwide have had to face scattered conversations
about horrific events and disasters that grip the nation, such as; 911,
Hurricane Katrina, Osama bin Laden, the Joplin, MS Tornado, Sandy Hook and
sadly, this week, the Boston Marathon Bombings, and the West, Texas fertilizer
plant explosion…
In
a child’s eyes, sometimes it seems as if Santa may be the only one who can
“fix” these tragic realities of life. Prepare your Santa-self mentally! Honor
and accept this grave responsibility. Address the children seriously at the
developmental level of each child who brings their concern to Santa. (Santa! Ditch
the “faerie dust” approach on these REAL, media-covered, heartbreaking crisis!)
Children
are now exposed to a world where world news is instant, repetitive and overly
abundant. Children see the news clips over and over like we do. (I agree, it is
the parents who need to turn off the TV to avoid the horror and nightmares, but
children are still “overexposed” to reality.) Even as adults, with a concrete
point of reference, we are afraid, upset, have nightmares and worry. Imagine
how scary this is for the children! Their small, safe worlds have just become global and ugly. Embrace the feelings of these little ones!
Questions
WILL come up, so Santa needs to be prepared. Telling a child it is “OK” and “they
are safe,” is a flagrant illusion on Santa’s part. Children today are much too
savvy to buy that “cop out.” Even as adults we are sickened, shocked, afraid
and don’t feel we have “the answers” or words to heal. We’d prefer to simply
avoid the entire topic but we cannot leave children alone to struggle with
their fears, especially IF they elect to bring their concerns to us in the
Santa chair!
This
situation in the chair will, of course, require that Santa immediately switch gear / mindset, from the typical holiday “candy
cane” conversations. And it will mean that this
interaction with the child will take a bit longer, effecting the pacing of your
line for an extra minute or two. That’s just fine! This child NEEDS Santa now,
and photos can just wait!
.Here are some
suggestions for Professional Santas
from Professional Santa Claus School of Denver, CO…
2. Take a big, deep breath. Clear and open your mind as you “switch gears.”
3. Give your prearranged hand signal to your Mrs. Claus, elf and or photographers, that this visit will need some extra time and attention from Santa.
4. LISTEN! Provide a safe and connected environment where the child can express themselves. Allow the child to fully express their thoughts and concerns to Santa, as best they can, at their age level, without interrupting them. LISTEN to what the child is truly saying…Are they afraid this will happen to them? Do they want to take action? Do they feel the loss of a friend who was affected by the tragedy? etc.
5. Briefly
and sincerely, AS SANTA, dovetail into the specifics of what the child has told
you. “Santa understands / agrees, this is
a terrible thing… or Santa wants to stop this too!…” Or “Santa hurts too because Santa has special
friends he has also lost in this tragedy,” etc.
6. Confirm
to the child that it is OK to feel this way. Santa feels sad, upset, etc., too.
Whatever the child is feeling, Santa feels too! (Because it’s true!)
7. Ask
if the child has spoken to parents, teachers, friends, classroom or with school
counselors about this? Ask what was discussed… Agree or add simple input from
Santa’s universal perspective. (Santa may even wish to call the parent/s over after the child has left your lap, to
cue the parents to discuss this topic with the child at home at the appropriate
time.)
8. ASK…
“Is there something you would like Santa to
DO?” See if there is some action,
suggested by the child, that Santa can take, to help satisfy the child’s
concern. Again, LISTEN! Children often come up with some amazing suggestions!
9. Respond
appropriately (not just “I’ll fix it.”)
Try something like;“Yes, Santa has his
special elves helping bring food and blankets to the people who were in that
earthquake, Mrs. Claus is making cookies, pies and cakes for them.” “Santa has
his secret service elves looking for the bad guys…” etc.
10. ASK… “Would
that be OK?,” to see if Santa’s suggestion/response has helped subside the
child’s immediate fears or concerns.
11. Demonstrate that Santa has strength, hope,
confidence, (whatever emotion is appropriate) to help calm the child’s fears or
anxieties over this situation.
12. Understand that even Santa, cannot
remedy world tragedies in a 3 minute encounter but, Santa CAN begin to calm the
immediate fears and worries, brought to him by the little ones. That is Santa’s
goal.
13. Give the child an age appropriate, positive ACTIVITY to perform, a special
request from Santa, such as, “Tonight, instead of watching the news,
for Santa, will you make 3 of your special cards or pictures and send them to ________. Santa just loves the wonderful pictures
you color. I like the colors you pick. Your pictures are SO beautiful! You are
a very good artist!”
14. If the child still has worries or questions, repeat the process…LISTEN and RESPOND! Repeat until the child appears more calm and relaxed.
15. ALWAYS conclude
your interaction on a positive note once you see the child has shown signs that
their concerns/fears have subsided. “Santa
knows you had something special you wanted for Christmas! Is it still the same
present? Or have you decided upon something different?”
16. End each visit with a hug, high 5 or
fist bump. AND “Santa loves you!” or “Santa
is SO very proud of you!” Or other parting comment you typically use.
17. If required, call parents over to alert
them of your Santa conversation with their child, so they may follow up with a
more in depth family discussion.
18. IF you believe in a Higher Power, say a prayer, each time that Santa gets dressed, that Santa is filled with His inspirations, to address and respond to the concerns of the children, as each of them needs in your appearances today. Add another prayer that these tragic events stop happening!
Leave us your comments, ideas, suggestions and tips on how YOU,
Santa Claus, address these serious concerns of the children ...
See you at the Santa School Conference this fall!
Susen Mesco
Master Santa Claus Trainer since
1983!
31st Professional Santa
Claus School Denver, CO
August 30 – September 3, 2013
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