{"id":40595,"date":"2022-12-05T09:42:06","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T09:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/ftf\/?post_type=first-things&p=40595"},"modified":"2022-12-06T21:43:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T21:43:23","slug":"santa-brings-joy-but-he-can-also-cause-stress","status":"publish","type":"first-things","link":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/es\/first-things\/santa-brings-joy-but-he-can-also-cause-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa brings joy, but he can also cause stress"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many families, having their child\u2019s picture taken with Santa Claus is a holiday tradition. The jolly old elf makes himself available at shopping centers and stores, and folks line up for their turn.<\/p>\n

Some young kids are thrilled by the chance to share their Christmas wish list with him, but for others, Santa is a scary dude. Being handed over to him, away from the comfort of a parent, can turn an Instagram moment into a freak out.<\/p>\n

More and more, such set-ups involve side-by-side chairs or benches instead of Santa\u2019s lap, and that can reduce some of the situational stress for little ones. And that is what\u2019s behind the big emotions that some young children display with Santa \u2014 stress.<\/p>\n

Stranger Distress<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The stress young children may feel around Santa or other strangers is perfectly normal. It\u2019s related to the emotional attachment they form with their parents or primary caregivers. They naturally want to stay close to the ones who meet their needs and make them feel safe and secure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate the terms stranger anxiety and separation anxiety,\u201d says Dr. Tracy Spinrad, who teaches infant and toddler development at Arizona State University, \u201cbecause anxiety implies pathology, that something is abnormal. I prefer to call it distress or stranger wariness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Children may begin to show signs of distress around strangers, or when a trusted caregiver leaves the room, around crawling age, usually between 7 and 10 months. But not in all babies. Some babies are naturally more easy going, while others are more prone to experiencing stress from new things, places and people.<\/p>\n

\u201cStranger distress can last quite a while, usually through age 2 or more,” says Dr. Spinrad, “but these reactions are temporary and can even provide an opportunity for parents to teach their young children regulation skills.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

Tips for Meeting Santa<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
    \n
  • Stay close.<\/li>\n
  • Age matters, so you should probably have different expectations with a 12 month-old than with a 3- or 4-year old.<\/li>\n
  • Think ahead about how you\u2019ll respond in the moment if your baby flips out. Are you okay if they\u2019re not smiling in the photo?<\/li>\n
  • For older children, it can help to talk with them about the visit beforehand so they know what will happen and what to expect.<\/li>\n
  • Keep in mind that a little stress is okay for your child, and that how your child reacts to strangers, like Santa, is not a reflection on your parenting. It\u2019s more a sign of their age, maturation and natural temperament.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    The Best Gifts for Young Children<\/p>\n

    Check out FTF’s guide to free or low-cost gifts and toys for young children at each age and developmental stage.<\/p>\n

    Open the Gift Guide<\/p>\n

    Updated from December 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    For many families, a visit with Santa Claus is a holiday tradition, but it doesn\u2019t always go to plan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":40598,"template":"","tags":[73],"class_list":["post-40595","first-things","type-first-things","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-social-emotional-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSanta brings joy, but he can also cause stress - First Things First<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It's normal for some young children to feel stress when meeting Santa. 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