A tradition that I share with my children each Christmas is making sure they get a letter from Santa in the mail before Christmas. At the beginning of December I set aside a time to sit down with my children and help them write letters to Santa Claus. After we mail them off, I also arrange for them to receive a letter from Santa that is personalized and addresses what they brought up in their own Santa letters.
Not only is this a memory that my children cherish, I have also discovered that the letter from Santa is an excellent teaching and parenting moment. If you are considering ordering your children a letter from Santa, below are some things you may want to think about to turn the letter from Santa into a true learning opportunity.
1) Reflection. This activity encourages children to reflect on the year and and also give some considered thought on what they would like to receive as a gift that year.
2) Using the letter from Santa as a parent's helper! The letter from Santa is a good lesson for etiquette and courtesy. I tell my children it was the fact that they wrote a letter thanking Santa for what he brought them last year that he wrote them back before Christmas. I also remind my children how good it feels to get a letter from Santa and how other friends and family feel the same way when they hear from them. I say something like, "Don't you want Uncle Joe to feel as loved and appreciated as you did when you got your letter from Santa?"
3) More than just presents. A letter from Santa is also a way to take the pressure off of gifts at Christmas. Getting a personalized letter form Santa can make your childen feel that Santa cares about their Christmas wishes, but it can also convey the sense that Santa wants to wish them a Merry Christmas and enjoy the Christmas season beyond the gift-frenzy of Christmas day. You can ask "Santa" to remind your children about the true meaning of the Christmas season and the warm feeling that comes with giving - at Christmas, but all year too.
4) Managing expectations for Christmas Day. A letter from Santa is a good way to prep a child if there is something they've asked Santa for that won't likely be under the Christmas tree come Christmas morning. In this regard, Santa letters can be a blessing, as it both keeps the magic of Santa alive for your child, but also lets them down gently if their Christmas wish list is a little longer than what Santa's workshop will be able to deliver.
For the last two reasons especially, if you are looking into giving your children a letter from Santa, I highly recommend ordering personalized Santa letters especially for your child. Some letters from Santa that you can order are form letters, but you miss out on so many teaching opportunities, and children will be wise to the lack of authenticity of a form letter from Santa! Another tip is to make sure your letter from Santa is coming from a place that it will be postmarked "North Pole" - your kids will look!
2) Using the letter from Santa as a parent's helper! The letter from Santa is a good lesson for etiquette and courtesy. I tell my children it was the fact that they.... Learn more at letter from santa and
Then at that point in time you can have an intellectually appropriate discussion about immigration reform