Terry King and his wife, Doreen, know the trauma of taking children with special needs to the mall to see Santa Claus.
“We have six kids, and three of them have special needs,” King said. “We were going through the mall, and we said, ‘There has to be a better way.’”
So the Kings decided to take advantage of their multi-acre property and numerous outbuildings, not just for their own family, but for all local families of children in need of special accommodations.
“We have a lot of outbuildings on our property, so we turned one of them into a really great elves’ workshop,” King said. “It’s a wheelchair-accessible shed. They can have private visits with Santa Claus. It’s all by appointment, so there’s no waiting. They can come in and sit with Santa. Kids who are scared of Santa can play with the toys and just ignore Santa if that’s what they’d prefer to do.”
King said the elves’ workshop, which he and his family call Santa’s Satellite North, provides an opportunity for special needs kids and their families to escape the chaos of the mall and enjoy some peace and quiet while still experiencing traditional holiday atmosphere and cheer.
“Kids with sensory issues don’t have to go through the waiting at the mall,” King said. “For kids with special needs, it can be an overwhelming place for them. It can make it tough on the whole family. This is a safe place. They don’t have to worry about tantrums or setting off the kids.”
Santa’s Satellite North, which is free of charge, is just for kids with special needs, but it does also welcomd their siblings. The Kings opened up the elves workshop – and welcomed Santa – last year for the first time with one weekend, by appointment only. The demand was such that this year, they will be expanding it to three days of appointments, Saturday, Dec. 10, Sunday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 17. Appointments will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. all three days. For more information on how to make an appointment, visit the organization’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/pages/Santas-Satellite-North.
When parents do make an appointment, King said they should make sure to note any allergies.
“When you make an appointment, make sure you mention any allergies they have or any foods or anything you don’t want them to have,” he said. “If you don’t want them to have hot chocolate, that’s fine. Just let us know. Whatever works for your family.”
In fact, if kids are reluctant to see Santa, King said that’s fine, too.
“If they’re afraid of Santa, that’s okay,” he said. “There’s other things for them to do. There are toys for the kids to play with. It’s all decorated. Kids can come in, have cookies and hot chocolate and candy canes. They can have an interaction with Santa and parents can take pictures, and it’s all free.”
King said he and his wife thought the general experience was important for children and their families to have during the holiday season.
“Visiting with Santa, it’s what typical kids do without a second thought,” he said. “With special needs kids, going to see Santa can be a very taxing experience for the whole family. We want to make it relaxing and enjoyable for the kids.”
