Are the kids eager for Santa? There are several ways to track Santa Claus on his flight through the sky — for some FREE Christmas Eve fun! Christmas Eve will be here before you know it.  If you’re looking...

Are the kids eager for Santa?
There are several ways to track Santa Claus on his flight through the sky — for some FREE Christmas Eve fun!

Christmas Eve will be here before you know it.  If you’re looking for something to do at home, why not make a little magic for the kiddos and follow Santa Claus on his flight around the world?

Here are a few fun ways to “track” Santa and his crew of reindeer on their magical flight through the night skies.

Track Santa with NORAD

Since 1955, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) has kept track of Santa’s sleigh flying through the sky. Starting on Christmas Eve, kids all over the world can use NORAD to find Santa’s exact location. NORAD tracks him from the moment his sleigh takes off, to its return landing at the North Pole.

Plus, during days before Christmas, kids can go to the NORAD Santa web page to explore Santa’s Village, play games, and watch movies.

NORAD won’t reveal its top-secret tracking techniques, but it’s believed to be a combination of radar, satellites, and Santa-Cams. In fact, Rudolph’s glowing red nose gives off an infrared signal that can be detected by NORAD’s satellites!

Besides the website, NORAD offers Santa tracking via its free NORAD app.

Kids can also call the toll-free number (1-877-HI-NORAD) to get an automated Santa tracking update, or visit NORAD’s social media accounts. Ambitious kids can write an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com to subscribe to tracking updates.
Visit the NORAD Santa web page

Track Santa with Alexa

You can track Santa with your Amazon Echo or other Alexa-compatible device. Or, install the Alexa app on your mobile device to check Santa’s status.

You’ll first have to visit Amazon’s parental permissions page for Santa tracking to enable this skill — OR do it through the Alexa app (you only have to do this once).

On most days, when you ask Alexa for a Santa update, she’ll tell you he’s at the North Pole and then give you a countdown to Christmas. Then, starting on Christmas Eve, you can find out where Santa is now, and when he’ll arrive at your house.

Questions to ask Alexa:

“Alexa, ask Santa Tracker where Santa is.”
“Alexa, ask Santa Tracker when will Santa be in Atlanta”
“Alexa, ask Santa Tracker when Santa will be here.”
“Alexa, ask NORAD Tracks Santa, where’s Santa?”

Track Santa with Google

Do you have a Google Home or Nest Home enabled speaker?
Just ask, “Hey Google, where’s Santa?” to get Santa Tracker updates.

Or, try this: “Hey Google, what’s happening at the North Pole?”
The elves will read you the latest updates in a newscaster voice.

Or, install the Google Home app on your mobile device to check Santa’s status.

Google also has a Santa Tracker website that kids can visit all year long, to play games, create digital art, watch videos, and even learn about Christmas in other cultures. There’s a countdown to Christmas in the upper right corner.

 

Track Santa with ONSTAR

OnStar Members with an active account can push their blue OnStar button to discover the location of Santa and his reindeer each year, beginning at 6 a.m. on December 18th until 5 a.m. Christmas Day.

Every time someone pushes their button to find Santa, OnStar will donate $1 to the American Red Cross.

You can alsp follow Santa’s travels on Christmas Eve using the map on the OnStar Guardian mobile app – and even use the app to call Santa during the week leading up to Christmas.

Talk to Santa via the North Pole Command Center app

Just get the North Pole Command Center app for iOS or Android — Note that the free version of the app is likely to have ads and in-app purchases. There is also a paid version.

Kids can text or call Santa with this app, and even talk to him on his magic Sleigh on Christmas Eve!

Parents can customize the app, so Santa knows a child’s name, age, favorite color, etc.

The app also includes lots of kid-friendly activities, a Naughty or Nice Scanner, and photo frames that let you add a Santa beard or elf hat to a picture.

Use Siri’s Christmas Countdown to build excitement

Want to know EXACTLY how long you have left to wait until Christmas? Just ask Siri!

You can ask:
How many seconds till Christmas?
How many minutes till Christmas?
How many hours till Christmas?

Siri will tell you the number,  and it will appear on your iPhone or iPad screen.

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