Child's Play

Scores of tour operators have jumped on to the Father Christmas bandwagon and the quality of holidays they offer varies enormously. Scantours has avoided the commercialism of Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland and the centre of the Father Christmas industry, preferring instead to take its customers to unspoilt villages deep in the forests of Lapland. To visit the great man, log on to www.scanmeridian.co.uk.

For a truly authentic - but no less magical - experience, go on a reindeer safari. Visit www.visitfinland.com for plenty of holiday options, from staying on a reindeer farm and listening to herders' tales, to learning how to harness the creature to a sleigh and trekking through the forest.

It would be a rare child who didn't enjoy the prospect of sledging with huskies, although because of the speeds and distances involved, some organisers have age restrictions and request that children travel with the tour guide. Alaska Dog Sledding (www.alaskadogsledding.com), however, offers a family package. Children can travel with their parents and try their hand at driving the sledge. The highlight of the holiday is helping to feed and look after these amiable animals.

Families that enjoy camping could try the winter equivalent and stay in an igloo. Five Stars of Scandinavia (www.5stars-of-scandinavia.com) runs a Unique Igloo Escape in northern Lapland. Sleep on reindeer skins in a glass 'igloo' and witness - if it's a clear night - the northern lights, a phenomenon that invokes awe in all who witness it. The holiday also includes a husky safari, a reindeer safari and a snowmobile safari.