Lapland surprise reveal ideas: how to tell the kids

By the Claus Post team · Updated 29 October 2026

You've booked the trip. Now comes the fun part: telling them. Here are reveal ideas we've seen work for families, from five-minute ones to a full morning treasure hunt, plus a few tips so the surprise doesn't slip out early.

Before you reveal: three quick tips

• Choose the moment. A calm morning works better than a busy evening. Many families pick a weekend breakfast, the first day of December or the day the advent calendar starts.
• Have the camera ready. Prop your phone up and start recording before they open anything. Point it at their face, not the clue.
• Plan what happens next. Young children often ask "When?" straight away. Have a simple answer ready, such as "in 12 sleeps", and maybe a paper chain to count down.

Lapland reveal ideas

1. A letter from Santa with a scratch-off ticket

A letter arrives through the letterbox, addressed to your child. Santa invites them somewhere special but doesn't say where. Inside is a ticket with their name and the date, and a gold scratch circle. They scratch it, and the word underneath is Lapland.

This works well because the post does the surprising, not you. It suits children from about three upwards, and it leaves them with a keepsake ticket.

2. The wrapped-clue trail

Wrap three or four small clues, each in its own paper, and open them in order: a pair of thick socks, a toy reindeer, a torch for the dark, and finally a card that says where you're going. Older children love guessing between each one.

3. A treasure hunt around the house

Hide rhyming clues from room to room, ending at the freezer ("somewhere very cold") or the front door, where a printed picture or a suitcase is waiting. Keep it to five or six clues for younger children so the excitement doesn't fade.

4. The jigsaw reveal

Print a picture of snow, reindeer and the word "Lapland" onto card and cut it into pieces. As they put it together, the picture slowly gives the secret away. This is a good one for children who like to work things out.

5. The suitcase surprise

Pack a small case with winter hats, gloves and a note on top. Tell them you're "just going on a trip" and let them open it. The warm clothes are the first big clue.

6. The Christmas Eve box

If the trip is after Christmas, add the reveal to their Christmas Eve box with the pyjamas and hot chocolate. It turns one exciting night into two.

Which reveal suits which age?

• Under 3: keep it very simple. They'll enjoy the moment more than the news, so a short wrapped clue or a story about reindeer is plenty.
• 3 to 6: letters, scratch tickets and short treasure hunts work brilliantly. This is the age when post from Santa feels most magical.
• 7 and over: riddles, jigsaws and longer clue trails give them something to solve. Let them work it out themselves.

Keeping the secret

• Hide booking emails and confirmations, and talk about the trip only when they're out of earshot.
• If friends or grandparents know, ask them to keep quiet until after the reveal.
• Avoid saying the destination out loud in the car. Little ears hear everything.

Not going to Lapland? These still work

Every idea above works for any Christmas day out: a Santa's grotto visit, a Christmas market, a pantomime or a trip to see family. Just swap the final clue.

Our Lapland reveal invitation

If you'd like the reveal to arrive by post, our Lapland scratch invitation does exactly that, from Santa or Father Christmas, for £14.95.

• A personalised letter that keeps the destination a secret.
• A keepsake ticket on 200 × 85 mm card, with their name and the date.
• A real gold scratch sticker over the destination, added by hand. Up to three short lines fit underneath, so it works for Lapland or anywhere else.
• A North Pole envelope with their name, tied with red-and-white twine.

You fill in a short form, then check and approve the letter and ticket before anything is printed. Delivery is free with Royal Mail Tracked 48. If your trip is before Christmas, order early so it arrives in time. It's a keepsake, not a real ticket, and trips aren't included. We're not connected with Lapland UK or any venue.

Questions parents ask

When should we reveal the Lapland trip?

Most families reveal it between a few days and a few weeks before. Too early and the wait feels endless for young children; too late and there's less time to enjoy the excitement.

Can we reveal it on Christmas Day?

Yes, if the trip is after Christmas. It can be a lovely last present to open.

What if my child guesses?

That's part of the fun. Let them enjoy being right, and still do the reveal. The moment is what they'll remember.

Next step

Want the surprise to come from Santa himself? See the Lapland scratch invitation. For more Christmas planning, see our Santa letter posting dates 2026 guide.