Write a Letter from Santa

Children have been writing letters to Santa Claus for more than 150 years.[1] Why not surprise your child by having Santa write back? There are ways you can make a letter from Santa more believable and heartfelt.

Steps

Creating Personalized Content

  1. Address the letter to the specific child. If you want the child to believe the letter is really from Santa, you should address it to that child. Mention the child’s age in the letter too. Mention their name in the body of the letter at least twice in addition to addressing it to the specific child.
    • Thread details into the letter that show Santa knows the child. For example, you could praise something specific that the child did that year. You could thread references that are specific to your household, also. For example, if your house doesn’t have a chimney, you could explain that Santa can get in anyway.
    • You could also reference a favorite pet, the child’s interests, or something he or she did recently at school. You could mention family events or excursions to make the letter seem believable.You may want to mention the birth of Jesus Christ, if you are religious.
  2. Create positive reinforcement. Use the letter to encourage the child to continue to be good. Explain specifically what the child did that deserved rewarding. Tell the child whether he or she made Santa’s “naughty or nice list" (only mention it if they are on the "nice" list though!)
    • Inform the child that, if he or she continues to demonstrate similar positive behavior, the child will be rewarded at Christmas time.
    • Focus on milestones and achievements from the past year (such as the child becoming potty trained or earning a Cub or Girl Scouts badge). This will encourage the child to demonstrate positive behavior throughout the rest of the year, also.
  3. Ask the child to do something. You could ask the child to do something specific. Children take requests from Santa seriously, so here’s your chance!
    • Ask the child to leave cookies and milk and to not forget to give a carrot to Rudolph and the other reindeer! You could instruct the child to go to sleep early on Christmas Eve. Basically, close the letter with instructions.
    • You can ask the child to perform specific tasks throughout the year too (whatever the child needs to work on), such as doing his or her homework on time or helping with the dishes.
  4. Stay positive. This cannot be emphasized enough! A letter from Santa is not the time to scold or discipline a child for misbehavior! Describe good qualities the child demonstrates, such as having a good sense of humor, smiling a lot, and caring about animals.
    • Use words that are positive. Even if your child has misbehaved in key ways, encourage him or her for the things that he or she has done right over the year. Children like to be told they are liked and loved, that they are interesting and special, that they make people smile, and that their company is appreciated.[2]
    • Many websites have lists of affirming words that may have meaning to a child. They include “kind, respectful, willing to help, responsible, trustworthiness, gentle, and good.” [3]
    • Use warm, affirming words that indicate that the child is loved and appreciated.
  5. Stay in character. When writing a letter to your child, make sure to say the things you would expect to hear Santa say[4].
    • Stay jolly and merry.
    • Talk about the reindeer or Mrs. Claus.
    • Don't forget to Ho-Ho-Ho

Using the Post Office Program

  1. Write Santa through the United States Post Office and get a letter back. The Post Office has a longstanding “letters to Santa” program for children.
    • First, have the child write a letter to Santa. Have the child address it to Santa Claus, North Pole. When the child isn’t looking, write Santa’s response on the back of the letter. Then, send the letter to the following address: North Pole Holiday Postmark, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Dr, Anchorage, AK, 99530-9998.
    • Be specific in the letter. Reference your child’s accomplishments, such as how proud Santa is that the child helped at something specific. Sign it, Santa Claus. Put the letter in a new envelope addressed to the child. Put a first-class stamp on it. The return address on the envelope should say Santa Claus, North Pole.
  2. Don't miss the due date. If the Anchorage postmaster receives the letter by Dec. 15, the postmaster will remove Santa’s letter addressed to your child, apply the North Pole postmark, and send it back to your child.
    • The child will then receive the letter from Santa in the mail.[5][6]
    • It's more believable to a child when a letter arrives in the mail. Just make sure it's not in your handwriting if the child might recognize it.

Using Templates for the Letter

  1. Look up templates online. You can find many free templates online for how to write a letter from Santa Claus.[7]
    • Many sites have customizable letters. They will provide the template, and you personalize the letter by adding identifying details about the child, such as his or her name and hometown. Some of these sites are free, and some will make you pay.[8]
    • There are also many sites that will allow you to download Santa stationary to write your own letter on, so the letter is more believable to the child.[9]
  2. Use a Santa letter writing service. Many museums, for-profit companies and non-profit organizations allow a child to receive a letter from Santa if the child writes one first. [10]
    • These letters can seem believable to a child because they are designed to respond to specifics in a letter the child wrote.
    • The letters often arrive in the regular mail, making the child convinced you didn’t send it (especially if it has a stamp or postmark from the North Pole).
  3. Make the letter look old. The letter will look fake if you just print it off the computer. So, you should use stationary instead of plain white paper, and let it look a little rumpled.
    • Handwritten letters are more convincing as long as they don’t match your own! Have a co-worker or neighbor pen the letter.
    • Don’t forget a North Pole return address. Make sure you sign the letter from Santa Claus.

Doc:Letter from Santa

Tips

  • Don't get caught!
  • Consider rolling the letter and tying it with a ribbon.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/arts-culture/brief-history-sending-letter-santa-180957441/
  2. ↑ http://matthewljacobson.com/2013/11/18/450/
  3. ↑ http://karacarrero.com/affirming-parent-child-love-language-relationship/
  4. ↑ http://www.12lettersfromsanta.com/how-to-write-a-letter-from-santa/
  5. ↑ https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2014/pr14_063.htm
  6. ↑ http://kfor.com/2015/12/02/write-a-letter-to-santa-get-a-response-letter-with-help-from-usps/
  7. ↑ http://www.samples-help.org.uk/sample-letters/free-letters-from-santa-to-print.htm
  8. ↑ http://www.freelettersfromsantaclaus.com/ecard_1.php
  9. ↑ http://mrprintables.com/printable-letter-from-santa.html
  10. ↑ http://santaclausmuseum.org/letters-to-santa/
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