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Preparing for a Virtual Visit to Santa
Unless you have been lucky enough to spend the year on a remote island with no contact with the outside world, you will know that celebrating Christmas 2020 will have to be managed a little differently. Whether we are in full lockdown or not, a COVID Christmas means that a lot of our usual festive celebrating is going to have to be done via video rather than in person. The year has been disruptive and upsetting enough for adults, but for children it has been particularly confusing, and establishing some familiarity and fun back into their lives at Christmas is much needed for everyone.
For many children, a highlight of their year is visiting Santa Claus, where they can tell him what they want for Christmas and make sure they're not on his naughty list - and if they are, have plenty of time to do their chores and tidy their rooms to make sure they're on the nice list instead!
It could be that your child has already expressed worry about being able to see Santa, or whether Christmas is even going to happen this year.
The good news is, not only is Christmas going to happen, but they can also still see Santa in true 2020 fashion - and that is over Zoom.
How does a virtual visit to Santa work?
If you've been making Zoom calls over lockdown for work and to keep in touch with friends and relatives as a family, you already have all the basic equipment you need for a live video call with Santa Claus. The children will already be familiar with video calls to friends and family too, so it will not seem too unusual that that is how they are going to see Santa this year.
All you need to do is book a convenient time, and your child can speak directly to Santa, Mrs. Claus, or even to one of the Elves. Some younger children can find talking to the big man himself daunting, so an elf's view on getting ready for Christmas can feel much less scary.
Live Santa video calls last approximately 8 to 10 minutes, and the magic of green screen technology means that we are in Santa's grotto live from the North Pole, right here in the UK. All grotto characters are experienced performers and are fully DBS-checked. Although you can speak to Santa from anywhere in the world, please note that our Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Elves only speak English.
What do I need to do?
It is easy - just choose a convenient time to Zoom Santa, and book in. Let us know some information about your child in advance so that Santa can make the call really special for them by knowing so much about them. You will need to be present with your child on the call.
Calls start at only £19.99 for approximately 8 to 10 minutes of one to one time with Santa, Mrs. Claus, or one of Santa's Elves. You can book in a call at any time from mid-November to Christmas Eve (please note that prices increase in the week before Christmas to £24.99, and to £29.99 on Christmas Eve itself).
What does my child need to do?
It's very exciting for a young child to have the opportunity to call Santa, so they might want to plan in advance what they want to say, particularly if there's something special they'd like Santa to bring them for Christmas. It is easy to become tongue-tied when you are faced with Santa and he asks you a question about Christmas presents!
Your child might also have special questions they want to ask Santa, Mrs. Claus, or the Elves. It is easy to forget these in the excitement of a virtual call, so they might want to write them down before they video Santa. Santa can tell your children all about how reindeer really fly and might even let you into some secrets about how he manages to visit the whole world in one night!
If this is your child's first visit to Santa, you might want to establish some background around who he is first, and how he visits children to leave them presents on Christmas Eve when they are asleep by coming down their chimney, or using his magic key to get into their homes if their house doesn't have one. A year is an awfully long time in the life of a child, and 2020 has been very strange for them so Santa might seem a distant memory. It is a very welcome opportunity to put some magic and certainty back into their lives.
This is also a great time to get some Christmas spirit going and dig out the Christmas jumpers and Santa hats - Christmas video calling is not the same without it!
Is it possible to have a recording of the call for the future?
Yes, it is - a truly magical Christmas is all about making special memories and we know how important it is to capture the magic when your kids still believe in Father Christmas. We can supply this for you for a small extra charge.
Whether it's an exciting call to start the day or a bedtime treat in the week before Christmas, a virtual visit to Santa is a great start to Christmas, and having a record of it to watch in future years is a bonus.
Other extras you might like to add to the call is to have one of the North Pole residents - Santa, Mrs. Claus, or one of the Elves - read your children a Christmas story. Suitable for children who can sit and listen to a story for 5 to 10 minutes, this is a perfect addition to your call and can really help to build the Christmas magic before the big day.
Start preparing now, a virtual visit to Santa
is a great way to make 2020 a special Christmas after all, and a great way to build some new Christmas traditions that we might even want to keep in future years!
Chief Elf (James Bartlett) of Santa's Calling You has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards - Creative Entrepreneur of the Year!
The Grotto is Open! But here’s why it’s still better to book your guaranteed video call with Santa and stay COVID safe this Christmas.
One treat the whole family can enjoy is our new Secret Santa Box, available as an add-on to your video call with Santa. Packed full with items for the whole family to enjoy together, the Secret Santa Box enhances our message that ‘it is not what is under the Christmas Tree that matters, but what is around it that counts’.
