Toddler father christmas films

[Alicetherabbit]

I've booked just turned two year old to see santa, on four occasions this year (different family members coming along) when she saw santa last week she was terrified, loved everything else around, the snow, reindeers, sleigh, elves etc.
So I'm trying to get her used to it, can anyone recommend a toddler friendly santa movie, she wasn't interested in miracle on 34th street

Arthur Christmas

Polar express

I would cancel the other three visits to be honest, she is very young and likely to get freaked out again if you force the issue too soon. Maybe the family members who don't go with her this year can go other years, if that's what you want.

I would look to see if there's some short animated programmes she would lije, rather than full length films at that age.

Why would you take a two year old to see Santa four times?! And why would you even want her "to get used to it"? She's two FGS.

Blimey, my DD is 2.3 and there's no way she'd sit through a film. What about the Peppa Pig Father Christmas episode?

I second the PP who said she doesn't need to see him 4 times, especially if she hated it the first time!

I don't bother taking my kids to see Santa including the almost 2. He does make appearances at the odd Christmas party so it's less of a big deal. 2 year olds won't sit through a whole movie but my little one loves Singing Hands and their Christmas songs. Look them up on YouTube.

I agree with apostropheuse re: the short animations. I think I'd start with cartoons like Christmas Peppa Pig or Ben and Holly - or other characters/shows she's familiar with and take it from there.

Polar Express for a TWO YEAR OLD??! No.

It sounds like (please correct me if I am wrong) that you are taking your DD to see FC to please family members.

I would contact them and explain DD did not enjoy her first FC experience, so will not be seeing him again this year.

Review next year when she’s three.

You don’t need to get her used to something like this that she doesn’t like.

The Christmas episodes of Peopa Pig and Ben & Holly.

But honestly I wouldn’t force her to see 3 more Santa’s if she reacted that badly to the first.

I’d cancel the other visits, continually taking him will just make him terrified.

Last year my daughter was a similar age and was terrified, we didn’t take her again. She wants to go this year but I still think she’ll be scared so going to go somewhere where we won’t have to queue long as she’ll probably only want to stand on the other side of the grotto. (Like a school fete, library or community centre)

My son is 2 and tells me regularly he doesn’t like Father Christmas, this started after a Ben and Holly episode, I’m not going to try and get him to like Father Christmas at the end of the day it’s a random man dressed strange I’m not shocked toddlers aren’t a fan!

Your daughter might like him after that episode though!

Christmas should be about enjoyment so if she doesn’t enjoy seeing Santa do something else.

Agree with the Ben and Holly Xmas episodes. There’s a Charlie and Lola one too. My two year old likes Stick Man and this ancient Mr Man cartoon on YouTube called The Mr Man Christmas Letter.

I would not take her on the other visits either.
Toddler films - the Snowman by Raymond Briggs was popular with mine. The Snowdog too. Stick Man animation.
Doubt they would have watched a whole film.

The Snowman! Of course.

I wouldn’t take my 2 year old to see Santa and I think it would scare him although he loves Santa in shops.
He wouldn’t sit through any films either, unless it’s cars related 🙈😂
Can you take him shops with lots of Santa stuff, we’ve been home bargains, Home sense looking at Xmas stuff and he loves it. Even the supermarket!

DD1 ( now 3y8m) was the same her second Christmas. We didn't try last year, but she is now showing interest in the photo of her and Father Christmas as a baby so we'll try again this year. I'd leave it if she was upset, explain that it's distressing for her to your family members then get a nice photo of her in a festive outfit instead.

But If you want to show her a film how about Father Christmas animation by Raymond Briggs (I think). It probably won't make her want to see him though but she might enjoy it!

My son didn't like Father Christmas at 2 either.
If you feel you HAVE to go again, I would book a breakfast/ tea with santa. That way, he's out on the open (so to speak) and you see him with other kids. They will see the older children interact with him and not be so scared when it's their turn. That way, You don't go in to a darkened room and forced to sit on a strange mans knee. (Which, in hindsight, is what my son hated)

None of the visits are just to see FC, they all involve trains, except one which is animals. Maybe will should just skip the santa part of them till next rear.
She's super confident and usually doesn't have an issue with strangers, just hates the animated santa (not tried a real one yet)

My two year old ds was petrified of santa at 2, he's 4 now and still a bit hesitant about meeting him. And he loves Arthur Christmas but the thought of seeing santa still scares him a bit. I think they eventually grow out of it but I probably wouldn't go to the other santa visits this year.

When mine was two (also usually v confident), she totally freaked out on first visit to Santa, and subsequent events were really stressful - she ran out of a room howling "no no no!" at the appearance of a father christmas at a party! It took two further years for her to be happy at seeing a Santa again, so be .careful not to entrench a fear of him - I'd drop the santa bit of the next few events just to avoid making her more upset and avoidant.

Agree too about the short Christmas films - at 2 my DD loved Gruffalo's Child and The Snowman; and lots of the usual children's TV shows have a Christmas episode or two that they start showing as Christmas approaches (Sarah & Duck, Abney &Teal, etc.)

Like pp I'd first dump the plans for three more Father Christmas meets - no chid needs that even one that isn't put off by him!

Secondly I would look at films/tv series that introduce the magic of Christmas gently - the Snowman, the gruffalo, Christmas episodes of her favourite shows etc.