09/12/2025
SEN Grotto experience - a message from the owners
This year we felt it was important to introduce a SEN session, why? Let us explain.
Being parents of a SEN child comes with enough challenges, and Christmas time can be another challenge.
Although some SEN children won’t struggle, there’s some children out there that will struggle with the stuff neurotypical children won’t notice.
However, everywhere is busier, there’s more lights, more noises, new smells.
And that’s without adding a grotto into the works. Going into a strange environment with strangers who want to ask questions.
Some SEN children may not understand, they may struggle to communicate. They might find the whole experience so overwhelming.
And for the parents? There may be the failed expectations of a lovely grotto experience, the picture with Santa.
And even more so if the parents have other children, other neurotypical children.
You may be struck with the guilt of “do we take the children to see Santa? The SEN child might cause a fuss and the neurotypical children won’t experience the magic”
They might question if it’s worth it, if they should take the kids separately.
This all comes from a place of experience.
We have 4 children, 1 SEN, and the other 3 neurotypical.
For our daughter, aged 4, Christmas isn’t exciting for her. In fact, the change of routine on Christmas morning is traumatic for her. She doesn’t get Santa, she doesn’t get the fuss, she certainly doesn’t like going to grottos. (The idea was to get a picture of her in the SEN area pictured, but that didn’t transpire)
In previous years we’ve battled with the screaming, the embarrassment, we’ve battled with the horrible emotions and anxiety that surrounds any sort of Christmas activity.
And that’s why this year, when we took over the garden centre, we wanted to make it our priority to make a grotto experience where SEN children can be included. And for families to experience a more relaxed grotto experience.
For families like us with SEN and neurotypical children to experience it as a family without worrying that one of the children is missing out.
Our SEN sessions allow families with both SEN and neurotypical children to have a more relaxed experience.
We have included a SEN area with sensory aids to help your child regulate. (A bean bag, a furry rug, spinning chair, sensory tube light, peanut ball, textured floor tiles, a basket of fidget toys) We are opting for low level music and lights. And a longer time slot as we understand it can take a little time for a SEN child to regulate.
There’s so pressure to make your child sit with Santa and have a picture, again we’ve experienced the battle that comes with that.
If your child feels comfortable in the sensory area and for Santa to sit with them, that’s where their experience with Santa can be.
Our aim is to ensure families can still experience the magic of Christmas all together 🎄🎅
