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Northern Lights watching with kids

It'll mean staying up past bedtime, of course - so seeing the Northern Lights with kids is sure to be a hit. The older they are, the more they'll get out of it; there's a lot of waiting around involved, not to mention the cold! But older children and teenagers will have a blast husky sledding, snowshoeing, building snowmen or simply sledging down snowy slopes. And of course, you can always go and meet Father Christmas...

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Seeing the Northern Lights with kids

The key to seeing the Northern Lights with kids is to keep them busy.

The younger the child, the less fascinated they will be with the lights – and even less so by the hours of waiting in the chilly, Arctic darkness. When seeing the Northern Lights with kids, families should travel as much for the destination as for the lights themselves, and basing the trip out of a town can provide more entertainment options.

Well-planned daytime activities – including snowman-building and Santa for littluns, and cross country skiing for teenagers – ensure they enjoy the trip as much as their parents, and are active enough to keep warm. Reindeer sledding, snowshoeing and tobogganing will keep all ages entertained for hours. In general, Arctic destinations are safe when exploring with the know-how of expert activity guides. The cold is the number one challenge – be careful driving on icy roads, and ensure kids are properly dressed.

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Activities for families

Reindeer sledding

Reindeer sledding is as delightful for adults as it is for children. Lapland has some wonderful winter landscapes – from frozen fjords to snow-capped mountains, pine forests and deep river valleys – so you can make the most of it during daylight hours as well as learning about Sami culture along the way.

Meet Santa

Say "winter vacation" to a child – and they will think "Santa Claus". Fortunately for kids – and their parents – it’s Christmas year-round in parts of Lapland, particularly in the Finnish town of Rovaniemi, where letters addressed to Santa tend to end up. If you're seeing the Northern Lights with kids in Alaska, Fairbanks also has Santa experiences.

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Digging snow caves

Thick, powdery snow is a rare occurrence outside of the Arctic – and kids love it. So instead of planning endless guided tours and activities, be sure to leave some space in between for little ones to get creative with the snow. Local guides can offer great inspiration – and they can even dig their own snow cave.

Fun for all the family

Ali McLean, from our family adventure specialists Activities Abroad, says: “For families, a Northern Lights break has a universal appeal. Adults can gaze up at the swirling lights, knowing that they are experiencing a special moment with their children that they will remember forever. For children, the aurora take on a more magical slant, with local guides sparking their imaginations with legends such as the Firefox, whose sweeping tail creates the lights by sparking against the sky. Of course, Aurora breaks also bring opportunities for other enchanting moments too! From private meetings with Father Christmas to reindeer sleigh rides and sledging to simply enjoying the magic of Lapland in the snow!”