Would you let your child sit on Santa's lap?
HelenMFM
admin
Hello
Did you know that some child-protection experts in Australia are demanding that shopping centres and Christmas grottoes update their policies so that children are absolutely not allowed to sit on Santa's lap when they make their present requests?
'The directive would be for children to stand beside Santa,' says Hetty Johnson, spokesperson for child abuse prevention organisation Bravehearts. 'Shopping centres have duty of care to protect children on their premises.'
What do you think of this?
Do you think encouraging children to sit on Santa's lap is just a sweet and harmless tradition, and this is all a lot of silly fuss about nothing?
Or do you think the Aussie campaigners are right to take their 'no laps' stand?
Do please post here and let us know what you think!
Replies
Hi Helen
Although slightly delayed to comment on your post i do feel that although the concept of 'Santa' for Young children can enhance their imagination i will agree with the Australian campaigners and do think it is going too far to hold children in the laps of Santas in shopping centres. Afterall we do not expect teachers in schools to be putting children in their laps and neither would a stanger in any other circumstances. It is a case of being able to see through the creation of Santa as a concept although to still embrace it and find a way to compromise if that means children standing by the side of Santa then that should be the alternative.