What to write in a letter from Santa: ideas by age

By the Claus Post team · Updated 23 October 2026

A good letter from Santa has four parts: your child's name, one or two true things they did this year, a short funny story from the North Pole, and a happy look ahead to Christmas Eve. Keep it short, use their own details, and match the words to their age. Below are ideas for each age, from 3 to 10.

The four parts of a Santa letter

• Hello, by name. "Dear Oliver" is the moment they realise the letter is for them.
• Something true from their year. A first swim without armbands. Being kind to a new baby brother. Learning to tie their shoes. Specific beats general: "you read your first chapter book" lands better than "you worked hard".
• A little North Pole story. Something funny at the workshop: a reindeer who sneezed glitter, an elf who wrapped himself up by mistake, a toy train that would not stop.
• Christmas Eve. Santa is looking forward to visiting, with perhaps a gentle nudge: "keep being a kind big sister".

Sign off warmly, from Santa or Father Christmas.

Ideas for ages 3 to 4

Short sentences. Big feelings. One idea at a time.

• Their favourite toy, by name: "Is Bunny still sleeping on your pillow?"
• A new skill: using the potty, putting on their own coat, a first day at nursery.
• Their pet, or a favourite animal.
• A simple funny moment: Dasher tried to eat the Christmas pudding.
• One gentle wish: "Keep sharing your crayons."

Ideas for ages 5 to 6

At this age they love to see that Santa knows them.

• Starting school, a new friend, a teacher they like.
• Learning to read a new word, ride a bike or swim a width.
• A kind thing they did that a grown-up noticed.
• A workshop story with an elf they can picture.
• A question back: "What colour should the elves paint the rocking horse?"

Ideas for ages 7 to 8

More detail, and a little more humour.

• A club, sport or hobby: football, Brownies, dance, Lego builds.
• Being brave: a hospital visit, a house move, a new school.
• Helping at home, or with a younger brother or sister.
• A slightly longer North Pole story with a punchline.
• One growing-up nudge, kept positive.

Ideas for ages 9 to 10

They may be starting to wonder. Keep it warm and specific, and never babyish.

• A proper achievement: a certificate, a part in the school play, a tricky maths topic.
• Kindness to a friend or a grandparent.
• Their sense of humour. Santa can joke back.
• Trust: "I know you'll help keep the magic going for your little cousin."

Things to leave out

• Promises about presents. Santa can mention a wish, but don't promise a specific gift.
• Anything that could upset. Keep worries, telling-offs and sad news out of Santa's letter.
• Too much. One page is plenty. Two true details beat ten.
• Things your child would never have told anyone. Santa knowing a secret can feel strange rather than magical.

Make the arrival special

How the letter arrives matters as much as the words. An envelope with their name on it, coming through the door, feels very different from a sheet left on the table. A surprise helps too. Our Original Letter has a gold scratch panel: your child scratches it to find out if they made the Nice List.

Would you rather we wrote it?

If you'd rather not write it yourself, we can do it for you.

• You order, then fill in a short private form: their name, their proudest moment, a pet, a favourite toy.
• We write the letter about your child, using these same four parts and words that suit their age.
• You approve every word, or ask for a change. Nothing is printed until you approve.
• We print it on antique-coloured paper and post it from the UK within 1–2 working days of your approval, with free tracked UK delivery.

Next step

Writing it yourself? Our step-by-step guide to writing a Santa letter takes you through Santa's voice and the North Pole details. Want it written, printed and posted for you, with the Nice List reveal? See the Original Letter, £16.95, or the Classic Letter, £12.95. Order by 16 December.