Do your kids write letters to Santa?

Q: Do your kids write letters to Santa?

A: YES! Every year around this time, my kids and I sit down and write letters to Santa together. I encourage them to start by saying hello, reminding Santa who they are, and then thanking him for last year’s gifts. Then they respectfully "suggest" three things they would like to receive for Christmas. (I am forever reminding them that they can ask for three things but, as per tradition, Santa only brings one gift per kid at our house.)

When they were really young, they would cut pictures out of the November issue of Today’s Parent (on newsstands now or get it on iTunes), catalogues or newspaper fliers. The kids would end their letters by sending their best regards to Mrs. Claus and wishing Saint Nick safe travels — while reminding him to take some time to drink the milk and eat the cookies we leave him at our house on the big night, and to take the carrots we leave for the reindeer, too.

I always make a copy of their letters before we put them in envelopes, (addressed to Mr. Santa Claus, c/o The North Pole, HOH OHO), and I have filed them away. I love going back to see what the kids have said in years past. Then, we take the letters to our town’s annual Santa Claus parade and give them to the mail carriers who walk through the entire procession.

Writing letters to Santa at our house kicks off the season, especially since it coincides with the parade. Since many of the parades start this weekend, I asked the awesome web team at Today’s Parent to help parents and kids with their letters by designing a downloadable template.

Here’s to a fabulous start to the happiest holidays ever!

Best,
Karine Ewart