Puzzle answer key
Every Project AURORA answer and hint, so you can help without spoiling the fun.
The Grown-Ups' Desk
Thanks for stopping by. Here's what this site is, how it keeps your child's privacy, and everything you need to help with the puzzles.
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Letter-writing tips
How to help children of different ages write, draw or dictate a letter, and how to mail it.
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Accessible gifting guide
Choosing and adapting gifts for blind and low-vision children, and children with other disabilities.
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About the licensed designs
Which licensed designs (toys you’ll also find in shops) appear in the inventory, where the list comes from, and how the Workshop labels them.
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Free printables
Letter stationery, a cipher wheel, a code chart and an Elf ID badge to color in.
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For teachers
A free sample lesson using the portal for letter-writing and logic.
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Shop
Printables, a personalized Workshop Report and Night Shift merch. This is how the site pays for itself.
This desk is safe to read aloud
Little eyes wander, so everything on the Grown-Ups' Desk is written to keep the magic intact. Where we need to tell you something important, we use a little grown-up shorthand. You'll understand it straight away; a child reading over your shoulder will just see more North Pole paperwork.
- "Decided much closer to home"
- Nothing on the Portal predicts or promises any particular gift. Production figures are for fun, every status is cheerful, and nothing is ever shown as "sold out". The final say belongs to the people who know your child best.
- "Licensed design"
- A toy the North Pole makes under license from a toy company, so you'll also see it in shops this season. "North Pole original" toys are the elves' own. The full list, and how we chose them.
- "Production status"
- How the elves are getting on. It isn't a stock checker for any shop.
- "Only paperwork leaked"
- The FROSTBYTE "leak" involves workshop paperwork and nothing else. No letters, no names, nothing about any child. The culprit turns out to be a kind junior elf, and the incident report ends warmly, so it's fine to read together if hackers sound worrying.
- "Show a grown-up!"
- Every puzzle clue ends this way, so you're always in the loop. The answer key has every solution.
- "Night Shift delivery"
- Anything from the shop that arrives by post is best opened by a grown-up first.
What the Portal is for
Children can see what the workshops are making, how far along each toy is, and what the elves are gossiping about in their memos. It helps them write a more thoughtful letter, and in December it gives the whole family a mystery to solve together.
How we protect your child's privacy
- No accounts, no sign-ups, no names collected. The Workshop asks for nothing.
- Letters never leave your device. The letter builder works entirely in the browser. There's no "send to Santa" server.
- No cookies and no third-party trackers in the Workshop. We count page visits without cookies or identifiers.
- No ads, and no store links, in the Workshop. All buying happens here on the Grown-Ups' Desk, with an adult at checkout.
- Puzzles never ask children to contact anyone, go anywhere, post anything or share anything about themselves. And every clue ends with "Show a grown-up!"
Full details: Privacy Policy and the version written for kids.
Accessibility
The site is built to WCAG 2.2 Level AA, with built-in Large Print and High Contrast modes, a "Keep things still" setting, and a text version of everything (including the Santa Tracker map and every puzzle clue). Find them under Display settings at the top of every page. More on the Accessibility page.
How the site pays for itself
Through the shop: printables, a personalized Workshop Report, and Night Shift merch. We don't sell data, we don't run ads to children, and we don't use affiliate links. Details on How we make money.