So, my dad has agreed to be Santa...

[BelfastSmile]

A family friend is organising a Christmas fair thing, at which the children can visit Santa. She was stuck for someone to be Santa for one of the shifts, and has talked my dad into it.

He's good with kids, but has never done anything like this before! He's been practicing his "Ho Ho Ho", but what advice would you give him?

I've said that he needs to make sure he doesn't promise to bring whatever a child has asked for, but says something like "I'll see what the elves can do!".

He's a bit worried that he won't understand the really little ones, but they should be accompanied by a parent who can hopefully translate!

Any advice? What makes a good/bad Santa?

My dad does Santa for various play groups and he says that you have to have a convincing, realistic looking beard, whiten your eyebrows so they are the same colour, rosy cheeks, plenty of padding and a good quality suit and a magic key for the children who don't have a chimney.
He's had a couple of his grandchildren visit him and they didn't recognise him so I think he's pretty good!

Has he got a real Santa belly??

I'm not sure what the costume arrangements are, but he'll need padding as he's very skinny! I think his eyebrows are white already, so that's ok!

Def make him a fake belly then!
And remind him to tell the dc to leave him treats for supper and carrots for the reindeer!

@Justbookedasummmerholiday good thinking!