Kids & Family

Solomon Pond Mall Hosts 'Caring Santa' Event for Children with Special Needs

The event is geared toward children who need a more subdued environment.

Editor's Note: the following is an excerpt of a press release from Solomon Pond Mall.

Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough will host a Caring Santa event on Sunday, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., for families with children with special needs who need a more subdued holiday environment.

HP is the presenting sponsor for the 2013 Simon Santa Photo Experience and will demonstrate its next generation PCs, printers, and tablets in select malls this holiday season. ABC Family, Universal and Gymboree are associate sponsors this year.

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Caring Santa has been developed by the Mall's owner, Simon Property Group, and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community. 

Many steps are taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for the children’s magical visit with Santa. The environment may include:

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· Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the Santa set, dimming the lights, and shutting down fountains during the duration of the event.

·  Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.

·  Special activities and stories geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

Participants are encouraged to RSVP for the Caring Santa event at Solomon Pond Mall by going to www.CaringSanta.com.


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