How to de-scary Santa?

[Ginismyfriend]

DD (2) has picked up a bit about Father Christmas recently, mainly from nursery I think, and has become completely terrified.

Last night she woke up shouting that he was going to come to the front door and eat her . It's a combination of accidentally catching sight of some trick-or-treaters in Scream masks at Halloween, generally being afraid of strange men and men with beards in particular, and the idea of someone rocking up at your house in the night I guess (I can see why this would be scary).

Ideally I'd just postpone the Santa idea until next year but he's quite hard to avoid and realistically she's going to see Santas at nursery and different groups.

Can anyone suggest anything - maybe a nice book that shows Santa coming, leaving gifts, and departing without eating anyone? Is this a common thing? DD is going through a phase of very being scared of a lot of things - not sure why - and I don't want her to be scared all of December...

[SlightlySuperiorPeasant]

Get the Father Christmas DVD (same makes as The Snowman). A complete introduction to the nation's favourite saint :o

[Scroobius]

I don't have any children yet but she sounds fairly sensible to me; stranger sneaking into your house in the middle of the night, will punish you if you're naughty etc.
I agree with Slightly though; I used to love the Father Christmas short film and at the minute you can get it for £2.99 with any purchase in HMV so if you were planning on getting any other presents from there it'd be cheap too.
I also think maybe actually meeting 'Santa' might be a good idea if you think having you there would keep her calm enough to realise it's just some guy in a red suit who's going to gve her presents?

[Ginismyfriend]

A great idea, thank you both. Have ordered the book and will arrange a Santa outing with the family before he hits nursery and she frightens all the other children with her child-eating santa stories .

[LadyMaryChristmas]

I'd say your 2 year old is being very sensible. Some old bloke dressed in red breaks into your house, steals your sherry/mince pie and leaves you a load of tat! It's not a good thing if you think about it.

[neverquitesure]

If you don't manage to get rid of all the nervousness, perhaps you could write a letter and arrange for Father Christmas to leave her presents in the car/garage/shed/neighbour's house this year. I also have a 2 year old DD and I think they go through a generally fearful period at this age. Mine is currently scared of her bedroom ceiling

[berri]

What about one of those video clips you can pre-record where they 'talk' to the kids personally? We did one last year for DS and he LOVED it, and she might feel like she's spoken to him and feel more reassured? It's recorded so it seems like they are talking back.

Google Portable North Pole TV (I think, on phone so can't check properly)

It's free btw!

[Longtalljosie]

Yes, we have the same issue! Our DD is 3 now and last year she saw a guy dressed as Santa and freaked.

This book is useful. But she's adamant her presents this year have nothing to do with Father Christmas. Maybe next year...

[Ginismyfriend]

Oh I love the idea of the video clip. I'll definitely try that. We've also booked a trip to see him together before he turns up at nursery. If all else fails we'll tell him to leave the presents in the shed like the vegbox man .

[Merrin]

I would say that Father Christmas is magic and he knows which children are afraid so he leaves their stockings on the door step until they are older and braver, because he is kind and lovely.