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A 10-minute video call with Santa can be a highlight of your child's December if the moment feels special. The magic is mostly in small, practical things: the room, the timing, your energy and the details you share. This guide covers each one, with nothing complicated and nothing expensive.
Start with the details
The biggest thing that makes a Santa call feel magical is that Santa seems to know your child. When you book a live Santa video call, you share your child's name, age, wish list and fun facts. Use that form well.
- Include specific, positive details: a pet's name, a favorite song, something new they learned this year.
- Keep the wish list to two or three items so it can be mentioned naturally.
- Add one thing your child is proud of.
The fun facts guide has lists you can copy and adapt.
Choose the right moment
Pick a time when your child is rested and fed. Calls run in limited windows: evenings on Tuesday and Thursday and weekend mornings (Pacific time). If you have a toddler, a weekend morning may beat a late weeknight. If your child loves the dark and the lights of the evening, a weeknight may feel more special. Book early, since times are limited.
Set the scene
You do not need a full production, but a few touches turn the living room into a little theater.
Lighting
Face a lamp or a soft light so Santa can see your child's face. Avoid sitting with a bright window behind you.
Background
Tidy the area behind your child. A tree with lights in the background looks lovely on camera.
Sound
Turn off the TV and music. Quiet makes it easier for a child to hear Santa.
Seating
Use a couch or floor cushions. Put the device on a stable stand at eye level.
Cozy extras
Pajamas, a blanket, a mug of cocoa or a plate of cookies make the moment feel like an event.
Build a little anticipation
Children love countdowns. Use the days before to build excitement without making it a test.
Make a countdown
A paper chain or a calendar square for "Santa call day" works.
Talk about the plan
"On Saturday morning, we will see Santa on the screen."
Practice a hello
Let your child practice waving at the camera.
Draw something
A drawing of Santa or the reindeer to show during the call is a charming prop.
Pick an outfit
A holiday sweater, a Santa hat or favorite pajamas.
If you want to extend the buildup, a personalized Santa video message can arrive earlier in December, as a preview that sets the stage. Just remember the last day to order a message is December 21.
Set up the tech early
Nothing breaks the spell like a frozen screen. A few minutes of prep avoids most problems.
- Check your Meet link in the email.
- Open it a few minutes early and allow camera and microphone access.
- Use Wi-Fi and sit near the router.
- Charge the device or plug it in.
- Silence notifications.
No account is needed. For a fuller checklist, see how it works.
Be present, not producing
Parents sometimes get so busy managing the call that they stop enjoying it. Put away your own phone, if you can, and sit with your child. Your face matters to them. If they look at you for reassurance, smile.
- Let Santa lead.
- Do not interrupt when your child is mid-sentence.
- Avoid correcting what they say.
- Laugh when they laugh.
If you are nervous that your child will not talk, read prepare your child for a Santa call.
Include siblings thoughtfully
Siblings are welcome to be on the call. To keep it magical for everyone:
- The booking form takes one child's details, so put your other children's names, ages and a wish or two in the "fun facts" box.
- Agree on turns. "First Maya talks, then Leo."
- Let the youngest sit closest to you.
- Remember the call is 10 minutes in total.
Make room for questions
Children do best with a couple of ideas ready. See what to ask Santa on a video call for lists by theme, and Santa call ideas by age for suggestions that match your child's stage.
Weave in your traditions
If your family has a tradition, mention it in the details you share, so Santa can bring it up. Maybe you bake cookies, read the same book on Christmas Eve or have an Elf on the Shelf at home. (The Elf on the Shelf is a tradition you keep in your own home. See our post on Elf on the Shelf and a Santa video call.) Santa can ask about the cookies or the book, and your child feels seen.
Capture the memory carefully
Take a quiet moment after the call to write down what your child said. Short notes are enough: "Asked Santa if the reindeer get cold." Those notes are gold in ten years. If you want a recording to keep, a video message is delivered as a file you can download, since it is a recorded video made for your child.
After the call
Keep the afterglow going.
- Ask, "What was your favorite part?"
- Let your child draw a picture of Santa.
- Hang the drawing near the tree.
- Read a holiday book together.
- Put a little note in your holiday album.
A final thought
You do not need perfect lighting, a perfect outfit or a perfectly behaved child. A warm Santa, a parent nearby and a child who feels safe are plenty. When you are ready, book a live call or order a video message.
Frequently asked questions
How early should we be ready?
Test the link, sound and camera a few minutes before your time, and settle your child in a quiet room.
Can siblings be on the call?
Yes. Put their names, ages and a wish or two in the fun facts box. The call is 10 minutes in total.
Where can I book?
Use the live Santa video call page. The call is $39, paid in full at booking.