They shouldnt be forced. My middle daughter was the total opposite and she would cry if she wasnt allowed to go and talk to Santa.

Agree with all this, but have viewed some hilarious (joining in with laughter and not laughing at them) photos of young friends and families not enjoying their Santa visit, and now a fun memory especially as the years add nostalgia.

I agree, we should never force our kids to sit with Santa . When our kids indicate they don’t want something we should respect them

Times have really changed haven’t they? What was once so innocent is not so these days. It makes me sad, Christmas has lost all its magic and wonder for our kids today. Honestly if my child wants to stand next to santa or sit on his knee I trust her to make the decision she feels comfortable with. I would never force her to do anything that makes her uncomfortable. Merry Christmas everyone x

I hate seeing kids being forced into sitting with Santa – he’s a scary looking guy. Don’t we teach them about stranger danger? I’m not an advocate for the forced photo.

My daughter isn’t interested at 4.5
She loves saying hello but doesn’t want a photo. I need to respect that and maybe she will be comfortable next year or the next.
If someone told me I had to go sit with an old man dressed in Red I’d probably get scared too.

if the kids are happy to sure, why not, but it makes me angry when I see crying kids being forced into it.

I don’t think it’s funny or cute to see kids hysterical with santa. It’s just not worth putting your kid through that just for a picture

I totally agree because first he is not a real Santa and totally a stranger for the kids, secondly there are other ways of taking a photo with Santa other than sitting on his lap. If parents force the kids than they contradict the statement of Stranger danger and confuse the kids about who to trust and who not to trust.

this statement is so true, not just in this circumstance but in many parts of parenting “parents’ desires override the child’s needs”. I read in a book not too long ago that parents who recognise and respond appropriately to their babies/childrens emotional needs actually help in raising them to be emotionally aware and more controlled and happy than parents who are overly responsive and those who don’t respond at all.

My 4 yo sits next to Santa.
If she didn’t want to, I would NEVER make her.
I don’t want her to feel like she can’t say no in social situation.

My child sits on Santa’s lap but I would never force it.

My son did not enjoy his first 3 years of photos with Santa so we just stopped doing it.

I think the hardest part is waiting in line for so long to be honest haha

I understand teaching kids to say no if they don’t feel comfortable and not forcing them to do that particular thing.
I do like how they now give an option to sit next to Santa’s on a provided plush chair.
I’ve had to comfort my eldest for her second Christmas but all the others have been fine and my youngest always… and I mean always pulls Santa’s beard

I think Santa should offer his seat to the children and let them decide. I agree that kids should not be forced to sit on Santa’s lap!

My kids, 5 and 2, are unlikely to sit on Santa’s lap this year. I don’t force it. But i am hoping to get a photo of santa with just the kids…. without me!

Both my kids was fine with Santa. I have seen other kids that get very upset with Santa. I just dont know why parents would put them threw that

My son (8yo) is a little wary of Santa, so when we saw him the other day he stood about 1.5m away to hold a conversation. It was hilarious!

I always got my boys to get a photo with Santa but it was their choice whether they sat on his knee or stood beside him. This way there were no tantrums and they looked forward to seeing Santa for a photo