In the Toy Time Special, Santa steps away from his busy Christmas preparations to do what children love best: play. The video follows Santa as he explores a collection of bright, festive holiday toys, in a lighthearted, imaginative bit of fun from the House of Kringle.
It’s a delightful watch for younger children especially, who love seeing Santa enjoy the simple magic of the season right alongside them. There’s no song and no story to follow, just the cheerful, unhurried fun of playtime at the North Pole.
There’s something quietly reassuring for a child in watching Santa play. So much of the Santa story is about work: the workshop, the list, the long Christmas Eve journey. Seeing Santa simply enjoy himself, delighting in toys the way a child would, makes him feel warmer and more relatable. He isn’t only the figure who brings the toys; he genuinely loves them too.
Play is also how young children make sense of the world, and a video like this meets them exactly where they are. Watching Santa pick up a toy, examine it, and enjoy it models the kind of imaginative, unhurried play that childhood is built on. For many families, it’s a gentle, screen-time-worthy watch that feels in keeping with the spirit of the season rather than a distraction from it.
It can spark real-world play, too. Children often want to join in: pulling out their own favorite toys, narrating their own “toy time,” or showing Santa what they’d play with. A short video becomes the starting point for an afternoon of imaginative play, which is one of the best gifts the season can offer.
And it’s a natural moment to talk with children about the toys they’re hoping for, the ones they already love, and the joy of sharing and giving them, keeping the focus on wonder and generosity rather than just the wish list.
If your little ones would love to share a moment like this with Santa themselves, here’s how.
Santa Can Visit From Anywhere
Not in Southern California? Santa can still visit your family virtually, from anywhere in the world.