The regular mall Santa visit is a long line, bright lights, piped-in music, a crowd pressing in from every side, and a stranger in a red suit who expects your child to climb onto his lap and smile. A sensory friendly Santa event removes most of those demands before you arrive, which is why so many autism families plan around one in late November and December.
The first year we tried the regular line with our son, we made it about ten feet. The next year we booked a quiet morning slot, and the visit lasted less than five minutes. Those five minutes were enough.
What a sensory friendly Santa event actually is
Most sensory friendly Santa events follow the same basic format. The largest program in North America is Santa Cares, run by Cherry Hill Programs. According to the Santa Cares booking site, most events happen outside normal shopping hours, lighting and music are turned down, Santa and staff receive sensory-friendly training, and advance registration limits how many families attend. Simon malls call the program Caring Santa, and Washington Prime Group malls call it Sensitive Santa.
The program is not small. In 2019, Fox News reported that 582 shopping destinations across the US and Canada hosted 747 Santa Cares events, and that the trained Santas follow cues from the parent or caregiver who knows the child best.
Booking a reservation has been free in past seasons, with photo packages sold separately, as listed on UIC's Division of Specialized Care for Children event page. Dates, times and prices vary by location, so check your mall's listing for this year before you plan around it.
How to find a sensory friendly Santa near you
- Start with the Santa Cares location list. The booking site lists participating malls by state. Search "Caring Santa" and "Sensitive Santa" too.
- Book early and pick the quietest slot. Registration caps the number of families, so spots go. The first slot of the morning usually means the shortest wait and the freshest Santa.
- Check local options. Libraries, autism support groups and therapy clinics sometimes host their own quiet Santa visits, and a small room can work better than any mall.
- Show the visit before the visit. Look at photos of the mall entrance, the Santa set, and last year's picture if you have one. A short picture story walks through each part: parking, walking in, waiting, saying hi, and leaving. Our guide on how to write a social story shows how to build one.
- Let your child choose the distance. Sitting on the lap is one option. Standing next to Santa, sitting on the floor in front of him, waving from across the room, or holding up a drawing all count. Ask the staff ahead of time what is possible at your location.
- Pack the regulation kit. Headphones, a comfort item, a familiar snack and clothes your child already likes. A new holiday sweater on photo day is one more demand.
- Plan the exit as part of the visit. Decide in advance what comes after Santa, such as the car, a favorite snack or home. A clear ending makes the middle easier to get through.
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Why preparation helps
Preparing ahead with pictures is not a holiday trick. Social narratives and visual supports are both on the list of 28 evidence-based practices for autistic children and youth identified by the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice in its 2020 review. A child who has seen the Santa set, the waiting area and the way out ahead of time does not have to spend all their energy figuring out where they are.
Waiting is often the hardest part, even with a reservation. Our guide to teaching waiting and patience helps, and holidays and family gatherings covers the rest of the season.
Skipping Santa is also fine
A sensory friendly Santa visit is an option, not an obligation. Some kids love the idea of Santa and want nothing to do with the man in the suit. Writing a letter, leaving a drawing at the mall mailbox, or waving at a Santa in a parade from the car are all real ways to take part in the season. The photo is for the family album. The day is for your child.
VizyPlan was built by an autism dad and an autism mom who is a licensed speech-language pathologist so the drive, the wait, the hello and the ride home can be a picture plan your child sees all week before the visit.
Download VizyPlan and show the Santa visit before the Santa visit. Try it free for a week. If it helps, keep going for $6.99/month or $59.99/year.
VizyPlan was built by an autism dad and an autism mom who is a licensed speech-language pathologist who needed something that did not exist. Start your free trial.
