Five Ways You Can Talk to Santa Online

Did you know that you can email Santa Claus? Santa is on the web, and he checks his email regularly throughout the day. Here's some information about writing an email letter to Santa:

Email Santa: Visit Email Santa with your kids. This site is interactive, not the standard form letter you might see in other Santa letter sites. You or your child chooses a stamp and enters some information (after the site warns never to give out certain personal information). When you're done, you receive an immediate email reply, or you can view the reply at the website.

Northpole.com: All kinds of fun stuff to do here in addition to sending Santa a letter. You can play games, read stories, or try out karaoke. You need to sign up for a free account (either a child account or a parent account) before you can write a letter to Santa or send postcards from the site.

Claus.com: Not only can you send email to Santa here, but you can also check your Naughty or Nice meter, play with the reindeer, and track Santa on Christmas Eve.

Looking for a special way to let your kids (or anyone who believes in Santa, for that matter) hear from Santa Claus? You'll want to check out the Portable North Pole, one of the best sites on the web for holiday cheer, not to mention a direct, personalized video from Santa Claus to anyone. 

This site offers free, personalized video letters for all ages and relationships, with charming touches that make the recipient wonder how Santa knows what he knows. The video letter may mention special toys that are on a kid's wish list, whether the child has been doing well in school (or perhaps not so well), and whether they help out with chores or are nice to their siblings. Plus, you can add in three free images that put the icing on the cake. Children who see themselves in Santa's Naughty and Nice book are shocked (in a good way). Give it a try. You can make as many videos as you want, for as many people as you want. 

If you have someone in your house who wants to call Santa on the phone, arrange a personal phone call to the big guy at Santa's Hotline. Have your child call the hotline number listed on the website and wait for Santa to answer. Your child can then leave a message for Santa. 

When the call is placed from a mobile phone, Santa sends a text message of your child's call.

If your children are old enough to type, they can enjoy chatting with Santa at the Santa Chats website. They type a greeting or question into the field, and Santa responds immediately. Although the chat responses are automated and some responses are more polished than others, chatting with Santa can be amusing for your children.

A similar site, Santa Bot, is also automated, but it is a fun website for children and adults alike.

You can't leave a letter for Santa here, but you can get plenty of "real-time" information during the holiday season. The NORAD Santa Tracker, active beginning on December 1 each year and especially active on Christmas Eve, is a fun way for kids to "track" Santa Claus as he makes his way around the world with presents. The site includes videos, a fun kid's countdown, a cookie counter that tracks how many cookies Santa Claus has eaten so far, and a reading of "The Night Before Christmas."