How to prepare your child for Santa's call

🎅 Receiving a call from Santa is a magical moment, but with a little preparation, you can make this experience truly unforgettable! Here are our tips to help your child make the most of this moment.

The anticipation and preparation for Santa's call can be almost as exciting as the call itself. When handled thoughtfully, the preparation phase builds excitement, helps your child feel confident and ready, and ensures that the actual call goes smoothly without technical hiccups or missed opportunities. Think of this as staging the perfect magical moment—one that your child will remember and treasure for years to come.

Many parents approach the Santa call with some nervousness: What if my child is too shy to talk? What if they don't believe it's really Santa? What if technical issues interfere? These concerns are natural, but with proper preparation, you can minimize potential problems and maximize the magic. The key is finding the right balance between building excitement and managing expectations, between preparing your child and preserving spontaneity.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through every stage of preparing for Santa's call, from the days leading up to the event through the actual call and the important follow-up afterward. Whether your child is naturally outgoing or tends toward shyness, whether they're a firm believer or starting to question, these strategies will help you create a truly magical experience that becomes a cherished family memory.

Before the Call: Building Anticipation

The days and hours before Santa's call provide a wonderful opportunity to build excitement and ensure your child is emotionally and practically ready for this special experience. Start by announcing the upcoming call a few days in advance—not so early that the wait becomes frustrating, but with enough time for your child to process the exciting news and think about what they might want to say or ask Santa.

Use this anticipation period to engage your child's imagination and preparation. You might suggest they think about what questions they'd like to ask Santa, or what they want to tell him about their year. Some children benefit from writing down a few thoughts or drawing pictures of their favorite moments to help them remember what they want to share. This preparation helps children, especially those who might be shy or nervous, feel more confident when the actual call happens.

Consider the timing of the call carefully. Choose a time when your child is typically at their best—not overly tired, hungry, or in the middle of other activities. Make sure siblings, pets, and other potential distractions are managed. You want your child to be able to focus fully on this special moment without competing demands on their attention. Clear the schedule so there's no rush to get somewhere else immediately after the call.

Setting the Scene

The physical environment where the call takes place contributes significantly to the magical atmosphere. Think of it as setting a stage for a special performance—you want everything to support the illusion and wonder without being overwhelming or distracting. The goal is creating a cozy, festive setting that feels special but still comfortable and familiar to your child.

Consider decorating the space where your child will take the call. Perhaps light your Christmas tree, put on some soft holiday music in the background, or light some candles (safely out of reach). The sensory elements—twinkling lights, the scent of cinnamon or pine, festive music—all contribute to the magical atmosphere. These environmental cues signal to your child that something special is happening and help transport them into the Christmas spirit.

Test your technology in advance. Make sure your phone is fully charged, the volume is adequate (but not too loud), and you know how to put the call on speaker if desired. If you plan to record the call for posterity, test your recording method beforehand. Technical difficulties during the call can break the spell, so eliminate as many potential issues as possible through advance preparation.

🏠 The ideal environment

• Choose a quiet spot – Turn off the TV and move away from noise so your child can fully focus
• Create a magical mood – Light a few candles or Christmas lights, put on soft holiday music
• Get comfortable – A cozy couch, maybe with a special Christmas blanket
• Keep the phone handy – And make sure the battery is charged and the volume works well!
• Manage distractions – Make sure siblings and pets are occupied elsewhere

⏰ Perfect timing

During the Call: Facilitating the Magic

When Santa calls, your role shifts to facilitation—helping the call flow naturally while staying in the background as much as possible. Have your child answer the phone themselves if they're old enough and comfortable doing so. For very young children or those who are nervous, you might answer first and then pass the phone to your child, introducing them to Santa.

Stay close enough to provide support if needed, but try not to hover or interrupt. Some children need encouragement to speak up or respond to Santa's questions, while others will eagerly dominate the conversation. Follow your child's lead. If they're shy, you can gently prompt them ("Tell Santa about your soccer game!") or even relay information to Santa on their behalf. If they're talkative, let them run with the conversation while ensuring Santa has opportunity to share his messages too.

Be prepared for a range of reactions. Some children are awestruck into near-silence. Others become chattier than usual, wanting to tell Santa everything about their life. Some might suddenly become skeptical, asking pointed questions about how Santa got their number or how he knows so much about them. All these reactions are normal. Stay calm, maintain your own belief and enthusiasm, and support your child's experience whatever form it takes.

💡 If your child is shy or overwhelmed

That’s completely normal! Here’s how to help:

• Stay by their side to reassure them with your presence
• Help them respond if they’re stuck by gently suggesting answers
• Whisper encouragement like “You can tell him about your pet!”
• Remind them Santa is very kind and there’s no pressure
• Relay information if needed – If your child is too shy, you can tell Santa some things for them
• Validate their feelings – Let them know it’s okay to feel a little nervous talking to Santa

👂 Encourage listening

Remind your child to listen carefully to Santa. If they talk at the same time, they might miss magical details! Santa may mention something very special or personal that shows he truly knows your child—those moments are precious and deserve full attention.

🗣️ Speak clearly

Encourage your child to speak close to the phone and articulate. The North Pole is far away! A clear voice and good articulation help keep the conversation flowing and ensure Santa can hear all the wonderful things your child has to share.

After the Call: Extending the Magic

The moments immediately after the call are almost as important as the call itself. This is when you help your child process what just happened, validate their experience, and cement the memory. Gather as a family to talk about the call. What did Santa say? What was the most exciting part? What questions did they forget to ask? This discussion reinforces the reality of the experience and gives your child opportunity to relive the magic.

Consider documenting the experience in your family's traditions. Maybe you take a photo of your child right after the call, capturing their expression of wonder and excitement. Perhaps you write down what was said in a special Christmas journal that you can revisit in future years. Some families make the Santa call an annual tradition, building a collection of photos or recordings that document their child's growth over the years.

Use the call as a positive reinforcement tool if appropriate. If Santa mentioned being proud of your child's helpfulness or kindness, reference this in the days leading up to Christmas. The call can motivate continued good behavior and give you a powerful ally ("Remember, Santa said how proud he was of you when you share with your sister!"). Just be careful not to overuse this or turn Santa into merely a behavior management tool—the magic should remain primarily about joy and belief.

Special Considerations for Different Ages

Toddlers (ages 2-3) may need extra support during the call. They might not fully understand what's happening or may be too shy to speak. That's perfectly fine—the magic of the moment works even if they mostly listen. Keep the call brief for very young children, as their attention spans are limited. The goal is planting a magical seed, not having a lengthy conversation.

Preschoolers (ages 4-5) are typically at the peak of Santa belief and will be thrilled by the call. They may need help remembering what they wanted to say, so having a few prompts ready can be helpful. This age group often asks wonderful, imaginative questions about Santa's life at the North Pole, the reindeer, or how toy-making works. Encourage these questions—they enrich the experience.

Early elementary (ages 6-8) children can engage more fully in conversation with Santa. They may have specific requests or questions and will remember the call in detail. This is often the sweet spot age for Santa calls, when belief is still strong but comprehension and memory are well-developed. These children will likely want to tell everyone about their special call.

Older children (ages 9+) who still believe (or want to believe) deserve the same magical experience. If you sense your child is questioning but wants to maintain belief, the personalized nature of the call can actually reinforce their faith. If they've largely stopped believing but want to participate for the magic and fun, that's valid too—the experience still creates joy and family bonding even without literal belief.

Creating Lasting Family Traditions

Many families who experience HoHoHoCall find that it becomes an annual tradition—something children look forward to year after year. As your child grows, the calls can evolve with them. A call for a three-year-old is structured differently from a call for an eight-year-old, and we can adapt the experience so it remains age-appropriate and magical throughout your child’s believing years.

The Santa call can also become a catalyst for other family traditions. Maybe you always take a photo of your child during the call, creating a series over the years. Maybe you prepare special cookies and milk to enjoy during the call, making it an event rather than just a phone conversation. Some families gather together to share the moment. Others might record the call (with permission) to keep it as a keepsake.

These layered traditions—the call itself plus the rituals you build around it—create a rich family culture and give children a sense of continuity and belonging. Years from now, when your kids are grown, they’ll remember not just individual Santa calls but the entire tradition: the anticipation, the family gathering, the special treats, the magic. That’s the true gift HoHoHoCall enables: not just a phone call, but a foundation for lasting family memories and traditions.