Christmas is only eight weeks away. I know, we have Halloween tomorrow then local council elections, do we have time to think about Christmas?

If you have young children that get a buzz out of writing letters to Santa about how nice they have been this year and what they would like to see under the tree on December 25 and get a personal reply, then it is time for action.

A much-loved tradition, Santa Mail has connected children directly with their number one hero for years, and last year Australia Post received more than 100,000 letters destined for the North Pole.

Australia Post Chief Marketing Officer Amber Collins said the precious letters give children the chance to discover the joy of letter-writing and experience the thrill of receiving a reply from someone very special.

“Santa Mail is one of those Australian traditions that families look forward to every year and it helps bring a sense of excitement and hope at this magical time,” Ms Collins said.

“It’s also a fantastic way for children to practice their literacy skills at home or at school, and we’ve already seen hundreds of schools download this year’s lesson plans designed specifically for classrooms.

“We’re encouraging families to get their letters in nice and early so Santa has plenty of time to respond and to visit our Santa Mail website for handy tips, templates and to follow along with the Santa Mail Tracker.”

Children of any age are encouraged to take part and letters should be addressed to Santa, North Pole 9999 with a 65c Christmas stamp affixed to the front of the envelope, and a name and return address on the back so Santa knows where to send his reply.

Parents and children who have low vision can opt-in to receive a large text reply from Santa by sending their letters to Santa Mail (large text), North Pole 9999.

Santa Mail letters can be placed in any red street posting box, or a dedicated Santa Mailbox in participating Post Offices, and families are encouraged to post letters before Friday 3 December, so Santa can reply before loading up his sleigh.

For more information on how to address letters to Santa, lesson plans, letter templates, and writing tips visit auspost.com.au/santamail, where you can also track the letter’s progress with the Santa Mail Tracker.