By Victoria Stone-Meadows
CRANBOURNE Park Shopping Centre is offering families with children who have sensory challenges the chance to create precious memories with Santa Claus.
The Sensitive Santa sessions at Cranbourne Park are available to any families whose children are hypersensitive to light and sounds.
The sessions are held before the regular opening hours of the shopping centre to allow children to meet Santa away from the regular hustle and bustle of the centre.
Alison Hellmuth brought her boys Oliver and Ashton to Cranbourne Park all the way from Phillip Island to have a session with the Sensitive Santa.
Her older son Oliver was this year diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, and Ms Hellmuth was worried that getting photos of her sons with Santa would not be possible.
“Oliver’s on the spectrum, and he doesn’t like a lot of things that are different from his usual routine,” Ms Hellmuth said.
“It was the first time we heard of Sensitive Santa and the first year he has got a diagnosis, so we thought we would give it a go.”
Ms Hellmuth said the experience was one that she would recommend to any family whose children are hypersensitive.
“For us, it was all about the time they got,” she said.
“The time they got with Santa meant we were able to sit there with Ollie until he felt more confident to stand next to him, and he even sat for a minute once he had a bit more confidence.”
“For any kid that has sensory issues or special needs or anything, I think it’s awesome.”
For the first time the Hellmuth family were able to get a family photo with Santa where both the young boys were calm and relaxed.
Ms Hellmuth said Santa’s helpers who spoke with her sons and kept them calm and collected made all the difference to the family’s experience.
“We got a couple of really nice photos and even got a family one which we have never had before,” Ms Hellmuth said.
“We got a photo of them reading next to Santa and sitting with Santa which was awesome; it was a really good experience.”
The Sensitive Santa at Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre will be available for bookings on Sunday mornings from 8am – 10am before the centre opens on 4 December and 11 December.
