Is my child on the Nice List? A gentle guide for parents
By the Claus Post team · Updated 29 October 2026
The short answer: in the Christmas story most families tell, the Nice List isn't for perfect children. It's for children who are kind, who keep trying and who say sorry when things go wrong, so yes, your child is on it.
That's the answer most children are really asking for. Below are some gentle ways to say it, what to do if your child is worried, and a few fun ways to share the good news before Christmas.
What is the Nice List?
In the story, Santa (or Father Christmas, if that's the name in your house) keeps a list of children and checks it before Christmas Eve. The famous song has him checking it more than once. How the list works is entirely up to your family's version of the story, and there is no single right answer.
What most parents choose to tell is simple: the list notices good things. Kindness to a brother or sister. Being brave at the dentist. Trying hard at something new. It isn't a scorecard of every wobble.
"Am I on the Nice List?" What to say
Children usually ask for one of two reasons: excitement or worry. Either way, a short, warm answer works best.
- Keep it simple. "Yes, you are. Santa has seen how kind you've been." Young children want the answer, not a speech.
- Name something real. "I think he noticed when you helped Grandma carry the shopping." A specific memory means more than general praise, and it's true.
- Turn it back to them. "What do you think Santa liked most about your year?" Many children love talking about what they're proud of.
If your child is worried
Some children take the Nice List very seriously, especially after a tricky day. If yours seems anxious, it's worth easing the pressure:
- One bad day doesn't change the list. You might say: "Everyone has grumpy days, even elves. Santa looks at the whole year."
- Saying sorry counts. Many families tell it this way: saying sorry and trying again is exactly what Nice List children do.
- Keep it a happy story, not a threat. Lots of parents decide not to use the Nice List as a warning, because it can make Christmas feel worrying rather than magical. That's your call, but if your child seems upset by it, a reassuring answer is always fine.
If a worry seems bigger than Christmas, you know your child best, and a chat at a calm moment is usually the place to start.
"What about the Naughty List?"
Some children ask about the other list, often with a big grin. Plenty of families enjoy a joke here, as long as it's gentle and ends well. Our Naughty List notice is written that way: it says plainly that it is not the Naughty List, puts the good news first, tells your child they're "nearly there" and gives them a 10-night challenge. You can add a second envelope with a Nice List letter and certificate to give them afterwards.
Fun ways to share the Nice List news
You don't need to buy anything to make the moment special. Some ideas families use:
- A note from Santa. Write a few lines in your best "North Pole" handwriting and leave it on their pillow, by the advent calendar or in their shoe.
- A breakfast announcement. Read the news out at breakfast in your best Santa voice.
- A Christmas Eve box. Pop the news in with the pyjamas and hot chocolate, so it's the last thing they hear before bed.
- Tie it to something real. Whatever you choose, mention one or two true things from their year. That's the part children remember. For age-by-age ideas of what to say, see what to write in a letter from Santa.
A Nice List letter that arrives by post
If you'd like the news to come through the letterbox, that's what we make at Claus Post.
Our Original Letter is a personalised letter from Santa or Father Christmas about your child's year. It has a gold scratch panel on the letter: scratch it, and underneath is their Nice List result. In the same envelope is a Nice List certificate with their name, finished with a red seal added by hand. The envelope carries their name, a real stamp and red-and-white twine.
You tell us about your child in a short form, then read the letter and approve it before anything is printed. We post it with free Royal Mail Tracked 48.
Just want the certificate? The Nice List certificate comes with their name printed, or blank for you to write it in yourself.
When to share the news
There's no wrong time. Some families do it on 1 December to start the season, some save it for the Christmas Eve box, and some time it for the last day of school. Our guide on when to give a letter from Santa has more ideas.
If you're ordering a letter, please order and approve it by 16 December so there's time to print and post it. The Santa letter posting dates 2026 guide has Royal Mail's dates too.
Questions parents ask
Can a child be taken off the Nice List?
In the story most families tell, no. Children have good days and hard days, and the list is about the whole year. Saying sorry and trying again is part of being on it.
At what age do children stop asking?
Every child is different. Some keep asking for years, and some stop early. Follow your child's lead.
Is the Nice List the same for Santa and Father Christmas?
Yes. Use whichever name your family uses. Our letters and certificates come from either.
Does a Nice List certificate mean my child is better than others?
No. In the story, every child who is kind and keeps trying is on the list. A certificate simply celebrates your child.
Next step
Want the Nice List news to arrive by post, with a scratch reveal and a certificate? Choose their letter.