New research of UK consumers commissioned by Santa’s Lapland has revealed that post-pandemic, more children than ever are using alternative methods to contact Santa with Santa hotlines making up 15% of correspondence to Lapland and 15% using a smart home device.
A once common part of the festive season, the act of writing physical letters to Santa is one which has shifted in recent years due to the rise in social media and digital gadgets being offered to children. Of the children who have ever contacted Santa (74.7%), 16% of these have used email whilst others have gone through social media including Facebook (12%), TikTok (11%), Instagram (10%) and Snapchat (8%).
Santa’s Lapland, who arrange magical trips to visit Santa in his home, are the experts in the magic of Christmas so are encouraging children to make the most of the holiday spirit by sending a handwritten letter to Lapland this December and enjoying the benefits it brings. This new research shows that a third of parents (33%) directly link writing to Santa with helping their children be more grateful in the run up to Christmas. 40% of parents say that it helps them to understand what their children truly want as presents on the big day.
Interestingly, a third of children (33%) have never put pen to paper to write a letter before on any occasion with a further 44% of children only writing letters once a year. However, over half (51%) of adults recognise that handwriting letters helps to develop grammar and writing skills; and Santa’s Lapland believes there is no better time to start than with a joyful letter to the big man himself.
Julie Taylor, Education Lead of the Children's Literacy Charity notes that “letter writing today is used less and less as other methods of communication dominate our lives and since Covid, our experience as a charity working with primary schools is that writing has become a significant challenge for many children who have fallen behind with their literacy. Writing to Santa provides an exciting and inspiring opportunity for children to write for an authentic purpose while thinking about not only the writing process but also the composition element of crafting a real letter. It’s a wonderful tradition and an important skill that all parents should encourage.”
Santa’s Lapland believes it’s such an important and magical part of Christmas that every child visiting receives a special pack ahead of their holiday to help write a special letter and have their letter delivered to Santa before they meet him. For a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas experience to take away any of the stress from the festive period, Santa’s Lapland offers the ultimate Lapland trip perfect for a family Christmas, with two or three-nights in Santa’s magical home in Lapland. From sleigh rides, huskies, reindeers, elves, igloos and winter activities, families can explore the other-worldly location deep in the Arctic Circle with the tour operator who knows how to make it a Christmas like no other.
Santa’s Lapland is available to also book for 2023 at https://www.santaslapland.com/.
