Tips to ensure Santa finds you while on holiday

If you are travelling at Christmas time and have children who still believe in Santa Claus, you might have to reassure them that they will still receive a visit from Santa, even if they are not at home.

But, this might seem easier said than done. To make this task a bit simpler, here are a few tips to help parents out:

1. Send a special video message from Santa.

This is not as difficult as it might seem. All you have to do is click here, and create and send a customised video message, complete with your children’s names in the message. Just think how excited they will be when Santa himself tells them that he knows where they are! Just a few things to remember; have Santa’s message delivered a few days before you leave home and if Santa is only delivering gifts at home, and not your travel destination, include a comment about this in the message.

2. Deliver a special letter from Santa.

Write a letter from Santa telling the kids that he knows they are travelling, and that he won’t forget them. Have it “magically appear” on Christmas Eve. Be festive and creative with the letter! And be sure to put it in an envelope addressed to your travel destination, and with The North Pole as the return address. Remember to not write it in your own handwriting (as your children might recognise it) and be creative. But, don’t despair if you are not that creative, you can visit https://www.portablenorthpole.com/, https://www.santaclaushouse.com or https://www.freelettersfromsantaclaus.com/ to get help.

3. Pack the Christmas stockings.

Nothing says Christmas like stockings hung by the fireplace, so, when travelling, bring them along! Once at your destination, hang the stockings up and on Christmas Eve, after the children fall asleep, slip a few goodies from Santa into each stocking. Don’t forget to pack a few hanging hooks to hang the stockings with and remember to put a letter from Santa into the stocking.

4. Decorate with ornaments from home.

Pack several special ornaments from home, and, once at your destination, have a family decorating party to make that room merry and bright. The children will enjoy a festive and familiar touch of Christmas from home. Have each child choose one special decoration to bring along and use some hanging hooks to create a ‘rope effect’ from which to hang the ornaments.

5. Ensure that there are gifts under the tree back home.

If you can’t take the gifts with you, make sure they are placed around the tree or on the kitchen table back home before you return. Find a trusted family member or friend to play Santa Claus while you are away and place the gifts in a pre-determined location. Just imagine the children’s excitement when you get back home! Make it even more special by asking “Santa” to snap a photo of the gifts and send it to you. Show the kids that photo on Christmas morning as “proof” that Santa didn’t forget them. You can also include the photo in a letter from Santa. They’ll think he took the photo!

6. Bring a coveted Christmas family tradition with you.

Incorporate a portable, yet special, family Christmas tradition into your travel plans. Perhaps its’s the oh-so-popular The Elf On The Shelf or maybe it’s a special Santa Claus plate for the Christmas Eve cookies. Taking a little of Santa’s magic with you can help the children remain confident that Santa knows where they are.