Live Santa Call

Traditions

Virtual Santa for Families Who Live Apart

Families spread across towns or two households can still share Santa. Practical ways to use a live call or a video message when everyone is not under one roof.

Published October 8, 20266 min readLive Santa Call

On this page
  1. First, how each option works
  2. Setup one: the call at one home, the story shared afterward
  3. Setup two: a video message for the people you want in the loop
  4. Two households, one Santa story
  5. Making distant relatives feel part of it
  6. Setting expectations with kids
  7. Which one should you pick?
  8. A simple timeline
  9. Frequently asked questions

Plenty of families celebrate in more than one place. Parents live in separate homes, relatives are a few states away, or a work schedule means the whole group never fits in one living room. Santa does not have to be a casualty of the distance. A virtual visit can fit a spread-out family, as long as you plan around what each option actually does.

This guide walks through two simple setups and a few ways to keep the people who are not in the room feeling included.

First, how each option works

It helps to be clear about the logistics before you plan anything.

  • The live Santa video call is a 10 minute, one-on-one conversation on Google Meet. You get a Meet link by email right after booking. The call happens at your child's home, on one screen, and the family sits together there with the child. No account is needed to click the link.
  • The personalized Santa video message is about 30 seconds, made for your child. You get a private link to watch and download it. That link is yours to share with people you trust, which is what makes it so handy for families in different places.

That difference is the key to everything below. The call is a shared moment in one home. The message is something that can travel.

Setup one: the call at one home, the story shared afterward

If your child splits time between two households, pick the home where they will be on the day you book and treat the call as that household's moment. The Meet link works on whatever screen you choose, so a laptop on the kitchen table or a tablet propped on the couch both work.

  1. Choose a slot from the limited times (evenings Tuesday and Thursday, weekend mornings, Pacific time) that falls when your child is actually with you.
  2. Tell the other household the date and time so they can ask about it afterward.
  3. Put your child's name, age, wish list and fun facts into the booking form. See fun facts to tell Santa for ideas.

After the call

  • Let your child tell the other parent or relatives about it in their own words. Kids are usually the best reporters.
  • If you choose to record your own side of the call on a phone, that is your decision, and you can share the clip with people you trust.
  • Ask the child one open question, such as "What was the best part?", and let the story build from there.

Try saying to the other household: "She talked to Santa tonight and told him about the new puppy. Ask her what Santa said back."

Setup two: a video message for the people you want in the loop

A video message is the easier fit when you want more than one household to see the same Santa moment. Because the private link can be shared with people you trust, you might:

  • Watch it with your child at your home, then send the link to the other parent so they can watch it together on their own schedule.
  • Share it with a close relative who lives far away so they can see their loved one's reaction in the weeks that follow.
  • Save the download for the holiday gathering and play it on a bigger screen when everyone is finally together.

Orders are open now. Messages are delivered starting Dec 10 and within 3 days after that, and the last order date is Dec 21. If your family has a holiday gathering date, order a few days ahead so the video is ready.

A note on sharing: the link is private, so only send it to people you would hand your phone to. Messages that mention your child's name and details are best kept among family.

Two households, one Santa story

When a child has two homes, the biggest risk is mixed signals. One home mentions a call, the other has never heard of it, and a child gets confused or feels pulled between the two. A few simple habits help:

  • Agree on the basics

    Decide together whether Santa visits at one home, both, or through a message the child can watch in each.

  • Keep it positive

    The goal is a good memory, not a competition over who gets the Santa moment.

  • Do not make the child the messenger for scheduling

    Adults arrange the logistics.

  • Mention it neutrally

    "Mom booked a Santa call for Tuesday night at her house, and I'd love to hear all about it" works better than anything that puts pressure on the child.

If the adults are on good terms, one easy plan is to use the call at one home and a video message at the other, so each household has its own Santa moment.

Making distant relatives feel part of it

Relatives who are not in the room can still be a big part of the wish list and the fun facts. Before booking, ask them for details only they know:

  • A favorite tradition from their house, such as cookies on a special plate
  • A kind thing the child did on their last visit
  • A pet or a garden the child loves to visit
  • Something the child is learning from them, like a song or a card game

Put the ones you want in the "fun facts" box. Santa can then say something that makes the child think, "How does he know that?" and it becomes a story to tell the relative afterward.

You can also let your child prepare something to show Santa that they made for a faraway family member, such as a drawing. After the call, take a photo and send it along.

Setting expectations with kids

Children who miss someone during the holidays can have big feelings around a Santa moment. A few gentle ideas:

  • Say plainly that the call is for the child, and the family is sitting beside them.
  • Let your child say hello to Santa without pressure to perform.
  • Offer a quiet way to wind down afterward, such as a snack or a cuddle.
  • If your child gets teary, acknowledge it. "It's okay to miss Nana's house. Want to draw her a picture?" Avoid hurrying past it.

For a calm start, prepare your child for a Santa call a day or two before.

Which one should you pick?

  • Choose the live call if your child will be with you on the day and you want an interactive moment in your living room.
  • Choose the video message if you want something you can share and rewatch, or if schedules do not line up.
  • Choose both if you have two homes and want each to have its own moment.

For help comparing, read Santa video call vs. pre-recorded Santa video, or see the pricing page. The live call is $39 and the message is $19.

A simple timeline

  1. 1

    Now

    talk with the other household about who is doing what.

  2. 2

    Early November

    book the call or order the message.

  3. 3

    Late November

    watch for the Meet link or the video delivery.

  4. 4

    Call or delivery day

    keep the setting calm and the timing relaxed.

  5. 5

    Afterward

    let the child share the story, and send the link only to those you trust.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child's other parent join the call from their own home?

The call is set up as one screen at your child's home, and the family sits together there. If the other parent is not in the room, the video message is the better way to share the moment, because its private link can be sent to people you trust.

Can I share the video message with relatives?

Yes. You receive a private link to watch and download, and you can share it with people you trust.

What if my child will be at two different homes during the season?

Pick the home where your child will be on the call date, and consider a video message for the other household. You can change a booking by calling 855-916-9921.

How long is the live call?

It is 10 minutes, one-on-one with a real-beard Santa on Google Meet, and siblings who are with you are welcome to say hello too.