Healthy Kids: Santa Cares Overview

Being naughty or nice now includes adequate exercise and healthy eating habits for children. The day has several parts. The public joins Santa, Santa Helpers, Mrs. Clauses, and Elves for the morning 'Healthy Walk With Santas' and for 'Healthy Lunch' at Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant. The Symposium has 2 parts: Healthy Santas Symposium in the morning sessions, and Santa as Entertainer and Entrepreneur in the afternoon sessions. Concurrent with the Healthy Santas Symposium, seminar sessions for Mrs. Clauses and Elves are in parallel. Media interviews, video and photos are expected to be concentrated between 8:45 and 9:15 AM. Registration is being done at <http://santasnorcal.eventbrite.com> for a nominal ticket fee. The entire day is eminently affordable. Consider joining us in San Jose on August 16, 2008 for the fun!

Healthy Santas Symposium:

Healthy Walk with Santas

Session 1 – 7:45 AM sign-in; Walk 8:00 to 9:00 AM

Please join Santas, Santa’s Helpers, Mrs. Clauses, Elves, Reindeer, family members, friends, and people from the community for a Healthy Kids: Walk With Santa. Since the media will be invited, we should be dressed in Casual Claus or its equivalent. Everyone is welcome to walk as little or as much as desired or able. Maps of the courses will be provided, as well as juice, water, oatmeal, breads, cereals, and other refreshments before and after. To make it look really official, we will be issuing numbers to attach! Of course, everyone will be a winner, since it is for good health. The public participants have the opportunity to raise funds to support the American Heart Association. The Walk begins at 8:00 AM; however, stagger starts for later arrivals is fine. All walkers should be coming off the course by 9:00, which should be manageable with clover-like path options from a central stem. Media are invited; photographer Shane will take dozens of shots for personal use and press releases.

Healthy Santa: Living Healthy and Having Fun

Session 2 – 9:15 to 10:15 AM
Following the opening remarks and welcome, the first sit-down session will be lead by Mary Johnson, RN, MBA, a noted expert on geriatric care, and she will briefly discuss good health practices. Get enough sleep! Wake up every day determined to enjoy life, smile, and have fun. Be active, engaged, and connected to others. Then she will demonstrate balance testing, blood pressure checks, pulse rates, exercise for older citizens, and practices to adopt for a long and healthy life. Website resources will be shared. The handout will be packed with practical suggestions for a variety of ages and physical conditions. There is ample opportunity for Q and A at the end.

Assisting Santa: Elves & Mrs. Clauses

Session 2 B - 9:30 to 10:15 AM
Splitting off after the opening remarks, the Elves and Mrs. Clauses are welcome to consider effective strategies for being Santa's assistants. Potential problem situations will be discussed and role plays of possible scenarios will be acted out. Depending on the size of the Christmas party, strategies may need to be adapted. Roles of Mrs. Claus, a companion elf, an entertainment elf, and an elf-in-charge at large parties will be explored. An integral part will be the development of a position-description.

Healthy Santa: Nutrition, Menus, Food Preparation

Session 3 A – 10:30 to 11:15 AM
Eating a balanced diet is essential to aging well; antioxidants to retard aging appear naturally in many foods. While calorie needs decrease as we age, it is important to have the right vitamins and minerals in the diet. The food pyramid helps everyone, even seniors, understand how to make good food choices. Maintaining a healthy weight, cooking choices at home, and eating well while dining out are all important subtopics. Handouts will include menus, recipes, and healthy guidelines.

Assisting Santa: Stage Presence and Costume

Session 3 B – 10:30 to 11:15 AM
Since looking and acting the part are essential, costume, makeup, personal demeanor, answers to common Santa questions, and developing a character persona are covered. By considering several character traits and options, each person will have an opportunity to crystallize and develop a unique persona. Costume and makeup options are part of a round-robin discussion with input from everyone.

Heart Healthy Lunch

Session 4 – 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Please join us for a heart-healthy lunch, great visiting and socializing, and with general fun being had by all. While the real Santa is incognito, Santa's Helpers will be visiting families waiting in line and at the tables in shifts. Free photo sessions with the public will be held outside the restaurant from 12:00 to 1:00 PM with various Santas volunteering for shifts. Hopefully, the photo set will include a gingerbread house and a red Santa's sleigh.

Santa as Entertainer: Singing Session

Session 5 A - 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM
While focusing on Santa as entertainer, Nancy Wait-Kromm, Music Department Chair at Santa Clara University and noted director, soloist, and vocal teacher, will teach us singing techniques for Santa to lead group singing as well as to sing from the stage. Practice CD and Background CD add resources which should enhance Santa's role as entertainer. (Santa Clara University is a short drive away)

Santa as Entrepreneur: Marketing Plan

Session 5 B - 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM
Being a professional Santa spans a broad set of preparations, which can be expensive. In order to support the role of Santa, marketing for paid appearances to some degree is desirable to offset the overhead costs. Each Santa and/or spouse will have the opportunity to explore the possible elements for a personal marketing plan, including

Santa as Entertainer: Storytelling Session

Session 6 -- 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Since not all children are the same ages, storytelling, paraphrasing, and reading of stories must vary to fit the 'audience.' Each Santa will leave with at least one book ready to go, and at least one new story to tell. Presentation will include 'hooking' the listener, building interest and excitement, and wrapping up the story are all touched on, including how to recover if the story winds up struggling along. A few additional books will be available for purchase, if desired.

[Revised as of June 3, 2008 -- Santa Walter]

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 03 June 2008 13:18 )

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