Sensory-friendly Santa’s Grotto brings Christmas magic to children

More than 40 families of children with additional needs have been given a unique opportunity to enjoy the magic of Christmas with a special visit to a sensory-friendly Santa’s Grotto.

The two-day event was facilitated by staff and students from the School of Psychology at University of Galway, who took on the important roles of elves and Santa’s helpers.

The annual Sensory Friendly Santa’s Grotto has been a highlight of the year at University of Galway since 2017 and has grown to a two-day weekend event, giving 40 children with additional needs and their families the opportunity to visit Santa.

The organisers hope to build on that, by setting a goal to create a freely available ‘how-to guide’ on running similar inclusive and accessible Santa’s Grotto events. The aim is that it will encourage other businesses and organisations across Ireland to provide this unique opportunity for more families of children with additional needs to experience the magic of meeting Santa.

Dr Ciara Gunning from the School of Psychology coordinates the event with a team of volunteer staff and students from the PhD and MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis and the BSc Psychology program at University of Galway.

The team transform rooms into a winter wonderland to ensure children and their families have a magical visit. Children receive individualised, sensory-friendly gifts from Santa and have photos taken, creating special Christmas memories.

Dr Ciara Gunning, Lecturer in Applied Behaviour Analysis, School of Psychology, University of Galway, said: “Visiting Santa is a very special part of every child’s Christmas, but it can be difficult for children with additional needs to visit Santa Grottos in busy shopping centres with lots of noise, bright lights and queues. The Sensory Friendly Santa’s Grotto at University of Galway provides a unique, magical Christmas experience for children with additional needs and their families. For some families attending, this is the first time that they have had a chance to visit Santa.

“The event is set up to be accessible and inclusive with some tweaks to the Grotto and the environment. Santa and the team connect with the families attending in advance to support each child to enjoy their visit at their own pace and in their own way. It is truly a team effort with our Santa, elves and helpers working very hard behind the scenes – making real life magic.

“A huge credit goes to all those who volunteer – our staff and students at the School of Psychology. We are also so grateful to our incredibly generous sponsors from Galway and across Ireland, as well as the School of Psychology and College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies for supporting the event.”

The event coordinators continued their annual tradition to collect for COPE’s Christmas appeal with visitors and volunteers donating items for Christmas hampers for those in need.