9 Santa Call Mistakes Parents Make (and Fixes)

1. Booking for a time your child is tired or hungry

A 10-minute call is short, so your child's mood on arrival matters a lot. A call at the end of a long day, right before dinner or past a usual bedtime can turn a magical moment into a meltdown.

Fix: choose the time when your child is usually at their best. For many younger children that is a weekend morning, and for school-age children a calm evening slot can work well. Read best time of day for a Santa call for more.

2. Over-coaching your child

Rehearsing is helpful. Scripting every line is not. When a child feels like they are performing, they tend to freeze or recite.

Fix: practice one or two easy things, like saying hello and sharing one wish, and leave the rest open. Try saying: "Santa might ask what you want, and you can tell him anything you like."

3. Leaving out the details that make Santa sound like he knows them

On the booking form you share your child's name, age, wish list and fun facts. The fun facts box is where the magic lives. A call without specific details often sounds more generic.

Fix: include things a child would be thrilled for Santa to know, such as a pet's name, a new skill, a favorite song, a recent kindness. Our list of fun facts to share with Santa has plenty of ideas.

4. Forgetting siblings

If a brother or sister is nearby and Santa never says their name, the feelings can get bumpy fast.

Fix: siblings are welcome on the call. Put their names, ages and a wish or two in the fun facts box when you book so Santa can greet them too. Remember the call is still 10 minutes total, so with more than one child, each gets a shorter turn. See keeping the magic for younger siblings if ages are mixed.

5. Waiting until the last minute to test the link

Joining a call is simple, but no one wants to discover a dead battery or a muted laptop with Santa waiting.

Fix: after you book, the Google Meet link is emailed right away, and a reminder comes before the call. No account is needed to click it. Open the email once ahead of time, check your camera and sound, and charge the device.

6. A noisy or cluttered background

A television on in the next room, a barking dog or a pile of laundry behind your child can pull attention away.

Fix: pick a quiet corner with a simple backdrop. Our guide to setting up a Santa call corner at home walks through lighting and placement.

7. Hovering, interrupting or answering for your child

When a child pauses, it is tempting to jump in. But the pause is often them thinking.

Fix: count to five in your head before helping. If they still need support, give a gentle nudge instead of an answer. Try saying: "Do you want to tell Santa about your drawing?" rather than telling the story yourself.

8. Promising things Santa cannot control

It is easy to say "Santa will bring you that" in the heat of the moment. Then the child expects it, and Santa never said so.

Fix: let the call be a conversation about wishes, not a contract. Santa can say he heard the wish and would do his best, without any guarantees. Setting expectations ahead of time helps. See Santa's tips for writing a wish list.

9. Treating the call as the only chance

If everything rides on one 10-minute window, any wobble feels huge.

Fix: keep the call one part of a bigger season. Ask your child ahead of time what they hope will happen, keep the afternoon light and do something cozy afterward, like hot chocolate. If the call is not a perfect movie moment, it can still be a sweet memory.

A quick before-and-after

The second version leaves space. Space is what makes a child feel safe enough to chat.

When something goes sideways anyway

Sometimes a child cries, hides or goes silent, and that is okay. A real-beard Santa in a velvet suit is used to a wide range of reactions and can adapt. Stay calm, smile and let your child set the pace.

If you need to change a booking, call 855-916-9921. If you are still deciding between options, compare the live video call with the personalized video message, or see pricing.