Every year, as millions of parents bring their children to take a picture with Santa Claus, many encounter a familiar, frustrating scenario: Their child refuses to sit on St. Nick’s lap, won’t look at the camera, or starts to cry.
For parents of children with autism, though, capturing the perfect holiday moment can be even more tricky.
Mum Erin Deely thought the experience would not happen after her son Brayden, six, was diagnosed with autism at the age of three.
But a shopping centre Santa has changed all that and has now garnered international admiration across social media, after photos of him playing on the floor with Brayden went viral.
“I thought we would never get those holiday pictures with him because it’s something he can’t handle – the noise, and the pressure. He gets anxious if you ask him to smile, it’s all too much for him,” Ms Deely told People magazine.
But then she discovered something called Caring Santa.
The initiative, which is sponsored by Autism Speaks, gives children with autism and special needs the chance to meet the big man in a more private and welcoming environment.
Excited about the prospect of her son finally getting the opportunity to tell Santa what he wants, Erin took Brayden to the SouthPark mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, and the events that followed almost melted her heart.
“He [Santa] got down on his stomach and just started playing with him,” Deely said. “They didn’t even talk to each other, really, they just bonded and played, and Brayden started to be really excited and started looking at him and smiling.
“We got to do the same tradition as everyone else, we just do it on the floor.”
Speaking about Santa, she later added: “I just want to hug this man. He’s so wonderful!”
The photos of Brayden and Santa were posted on Autism Speaks’ Facebook page and quickly went viral. The post has been shared more than 50,000 times so far.
Amid the flurry of media attention that followed, the stay-at-home mom called the whole event a “special gift from Santa” to her whole family.