On every Santa Call NZ phone call there is a moment where Santa stops and asks, "What would you like for Christmas this year?" Then he waits. For a child, being asked that question by Santa himself is a very big deal. A little preparation makes it go smoothly.
Talk about the list beforehand
A day or two before the call, chat about what is on their list. Not to rehearse an answer, just so the question does not catch them off guard. Children who have thought about it answer with confidence instead of freezing.
Keep it to one or two things
Santa listens for a few seconds and then carries on. A child who starts reading a list of twenty items will be talking over him. Suggest they pick their favourite one or two things to tell Santa, and save the rest for the letter.
It is fine if they go quiet
Some children are so surprised that they say nothing at all. That is completely normal. Santa waits for a moment and then carries on cheerfully, so there is no awkward silence. Many parents say the shy ones are the ones who talk about the call for days afterwards.
Put it on speaker
If the phone is on speaker, the whole family hears both sides, and you can gently whisper a prompt if they need one. It also makes the recording clearer if you asked for one.
Little ones and big asks
Very young children often ask for something wonderfully specific: a blue digger, a unicorn, "a real reindeer". Older ones may ask for something you were not planning to buy. Santa's reply is warm but makes no promises, so you are never locked in. He simply says it sounds like a wonderful idea and that he will tell the elves.
Get the recording
If you tick "record the call" when you book, the whole call is recorded, including their answer, and emailed to you a few minutes later. It is a lovely way to remember what they wanted at three, at five and at eight. Some families keep one every year.
Use the answer
What they tell Santa is useful information. Write it down after the call. If it is something you can do, a small surprise on Christmas morning that matches exactly what they told Santa is the kind of thing that keeps the magic going for another year.