A sensory-friendly experience with Santa Claus is being offered at Edmonton’s Kingsway Mall. Sensitive Santa is designed for children and families with sensory sensitivities or mobility challenges, providing a welcoming space with minimal noise and distractions.
“This is nice and quiet so he gets to enjoy Santa at his own time without feeling deregulated and overwhelmed and getting upset,” explained Desiree Hogan, whose 7-year-old Rhys Hogan has a sensory processing disorder. His mom says her family was never able to take a holiday picture at the mall before she heard about sensitive Santa three years ago.
“Rhys is also able to walk a little bit on his own so he did run to Santa and did give him a big hug so he was quite excited to go.”
Sensitive Santa is a free program offering families an extended period of time with Santa.
“We’re still at this stage that we’re figuring out a lot of things about our kids and how they operate so this is just something that parents can use to give us a little bit of a safer, more controlled environment,” said Ian MacLennan, a father.
“I asked Santa that for Christmas I just moved schools and I just wanted someone to play with,” said Maisie.
With sensitive Santa, the music and lights are turned down to create a calm atmosphere.
“There are a lot of kids that are neurodiverse that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to see just by looking at them so it’s really really nice to have these opportunities for families to come out and because this something we do normally,” said MacLennan.
Hogan adding, “He gets to feel like other kids and he gets to enjoy things at his own time and own pace and you know he gets to be like everybody else.”
Sensitive Santa is being offered on Sundays outside of mall hours by appointment only.