Writing letters to Santa is a classic holiday tradition. Every year American kids send over a million letters to Santa Claus for Christmas. And it’s that time again to put crayon to paper! Writing to Santa doesn’t have to be all about the “wants”; however, it can be an engaging activity to get creative, reflect on the year that has passed, and even think about other kids’ needs. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind as you craft your letters.
A Time for Reflection
One interesting exercise to do with your kids’ letters to Santa is to turn it into a diary entry of sorts. Encourage your kids to reflect on the year they’ve had and what they hope the new year will bring. They could even ask Santa what kind of year he’s had.
Make An Event of It
It’s Christmas, so keep it Christmassy! When you’re writing and sending letters to Santa, crank up the Christmas music, grab some of your favorite holiday treats, throw on those ugly Christmas sweaters, and have a blast. You’ll all treasure the Santa letter writing memories longer than whatever toys they’ve asked for on those lists.
Writing Letters to Santa For Other Kids
Christmas is a time to be thankful for the things you have. Encourage your kids to reflect on their good fortune by having them ask Santa for gifts for those less fortunate than themselves. This is a great way to talk about giving back and foster social consciousness in your kids in a fun and carefree atmosphere. Plus, it’s a great way to get on the good list.
Take Advantage of the USPS Christmas Event
Did you know the United States Postal Service has a special procedure for handling Santa’s letters? It’s true! If you follow the right steps, you can get the post office to deliver your child a personalized letter from Santa with a North Pole postmark!
Write out “Santa’s” personal response to your child’s letter, put it in an envelope with your return address, then include both your child’s letter and your response in a larger envelope with a first-class stamp addressed to North Pole Postmark Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99530-9998. Just make sure it gets there before December 15th!
Yes, Virginia, Santa Cares About Formatting
As well as being a fun bonding activity, helping your kids with how to write a letter to Santa is a great educational opportunity. Take the chance to teach your kids about properly structuring a letter: putting the address in the right place, following proper punctuation, and ending with an appropriate complimentary close. After all, Santa understands the importance of learning!
Get the Elf Out to Help Out
Do you do Elf On a Shelf with your kids every year? Combining the Elf On a Shelf with the Santa letter writing process is a great way to integrate your various holiday traditions. For example, by writing on small piece of paper, you can create an elf-sized letter you can hand directly to Santa’s little helper. Once your kids are asleep, your elf can take their letter haul to Chris Cringle directly.
Have Santa Make Some Requests of His Own
It’s not fair that the kids should have all the fun, right? If you do write a personalized response to your kids’ letters to Santa, throw in a few fun requests of your own. Nothing too demanding –as tempting as it might be to have them do the laundry for a year, but maybe Santa wants your kids to spend more time outdoors or share with their siblings.
It’s All About the Decor
Christmas is a time for decoration! That goes doubly so for letters to Santa. Once you and your kids have finished crafting your brilliant letters, don’t let the fun stop there. Turn the process into an artistic event and have them decorate their letters! This is also a great idea for younger kids who are still learning to write. Rather than crafting the letter for them, you can have them draw a picture of what they wish for.
Most of All, Be Thoughtful
At the end of the day, the true meaning of the holiday season is about spending time with family, spreading joy and kindness, and making memories. Encourage your kids to think about a wish they might have for the world, like a cleaner environment or an end to hunger. While Santa might not be able to deliver, it’s a great way to start a conversation about what you can do as a family to help.
Don’t Forget Santa’s Helpers
The tremendous number of letters and packages processed and delivered throughout the holiday season is a massive undertaking. Postal workers are the real magic makers and they do it all without the benefit of being the jolly old elf. While you’re crafting those “Dear Santa” letters, take a minute to write a thank you note to your mail carrier.
What are some meaningful holiday traditions in your family? Share your favorite things to do during the holidays in our Local Anchor Facebook group.
