Extra sensitive’s Gift of Time with Santa in Swift Current
The Management of the Swift Current Mall has partnered with SaskFEAT since 2012 to offer this special program. As SaskFEAT (Saskatchewan Families for Effective Autism Treatment) closed their organization this fall, I decided to continue the partnership to present the 6th Annual Sensitive Santa this past Monday.
Children with autism and other sensory sensitivities often feel overwhelmed in malls, particularly around Christmas, when shopping centres are full of bright lights, loud music and harried shoppers. But that doesn’t mean children on the spectrum don’t want to meet with Santa.
It's a time-honoured tradition that most of us take for granted that every child should just be able to go to the mall and have a visit with Santa. There are many children that would prefer a lower key and laid back visit with Santa, and for these visits with Santa, the children take the lead, and Santa follows them, so that's the incredible part.
Sensory Santa is for all children, especially for those who have autism and sensory processing disorders. The lights are dimmed, and there is no music, and no lineups as appointments are booked in advance.
This allows children the chance to experience the tradition of meeting with Santa, while not being overwhelmed all the noise, smells, and sounds.
“It's just an absolutely magical and incredible evening and shows the true spirit of Christmas. It's wonderful to see the children, Santa and the parents and grandparents experience these visits. It is also amazing to see the children through the years as they grow and become more comfortable with a visit with Santa, and after a successful visit with Santa, these children now look forward to going to the Mall to see Santa.”
A lot of parents send out the sincerest appreciation to the Property Manager of the Swift Current Mall, (Choice Properties REIT / CREIT Management (B.C.) Limited) and Santa giving this gift of time.