Sample Letter to Santa: Format, 30+ Ideas and Example Letters

Looking for a sample letter to Santa, or simply wondering what to write? You are not alone: every December, children sit down with a pencil, write "Dear Santa" in big wobbly letters and then stop, unsure what comes next. The good news is that it does not need to be long or perfect. Below you will find a simple five-part structure, more than thirty ideas sorted by theme, three short example letters for different ages and some tips for little ones who cannot write yet.

Letter to Santa format: 5 simple parts

Children find writing much easier when they know the order of things. Talk through these five parts before your child starts, or write them on a scrap of paper as a little map:

1. Greeting. "Dear Santa," or "Hello Santa!" followed by a short hello, such as "I hope you and the reindeer are well."
2. About me. Name, age and one or two things your child loves.
3. My year. Something they are proud of, something they learned or something kind they did.
4. My wishes. One to three wishes for themselves, plus one wish for somebody else.
5. Goodbye. A thank you, a question for Santa, a name and, if they like, a P.S.

That is all. A letter with these five parts feels complete, even if each part is only one sentence long.

What to write in a letter to Santa: 30+ ideas

If your child gets stuck, read a few of these aloud and let them choose. They can copy a line word for word or change it to make it their own.

About me

• My name is ___ and I am ___ years old.
• I live with my mum, dad, brother, sister, grandma or pet ___.
• My favourite colour is ___.
• My favourite food is ___, but I don't like ___.
• When I grow up I want to be ___.
• My best friend is called ___.

My year

• This year I learned to ride a bike / swim / tie my shoes.
• I started school or nursery and I made new friends.
• I helped at home by setting the table / feeding the cat.
• I was brave when ___.
• I tried really hard to share my toys.
• Sometimes I was grumpy, but I said sorry.

My wishes

• For Christmas I would really love ___.
• If you have room in your sleigh, I would also like ___.
• I would like a surprise, because you always know best.
• I wish for a snowy day so I can build a snowman.
• I would love a book about ___.
• I would like something I can play with my whole family.

Kind wishes for others

• Please bring my little brother something nice too.
• I wish that Grandma feels better soon.
• I hope every child has a warm home at Christmas.
• Please say hello to the children who are far from their families.
• I hope all the animals in the forest stay warm.

Questions for Santa

• What is your favourite biscuit?
• Which reindeer is the fastest?
• Is it very cold at the North Pole?
• How do the elves know what every child wants?
• Do you ever get tired on Christmas Eve?

P.S. ideas

• P.S. I will leave a carrot for the reindeer.
• P.S. I drew you a picture on the back.
• P.S. Please don't worry if our chimney is small.
• P.S. I love you, Santa!

Sample letters to Santa by age

Ages 3–4 (dictated to a grown-up)

Dear Santa, my name is Lily and I am 4. I like dogs and pink. I would like a toy dog please. Please give the reindeer a hug. Love, Lily.

Ages 5–6

Dear Santa, I hope you are well. I am Sam and I am 6. This year I learned to swim without armbands. I helped Dad with the shopping. For Christmas I would love a dinosaur book and some new pencils. Please bring my baby sister a soft toy. Which reindeer is your favourite? Thank you, Santa! From Sam. P.S. I will leave you a mince pie.

Ages 7–9

Dear Santa, how are you and the elves? I'm Maya and I'm 8 years old. This year I joined the school choir and I sang a solo in front of everyone, which was scary but fun. I also tried to be more patient with my brother (most days!). This Christmas I would really love a science kit and a board game we can all play together. I also wish that my grandad, who lives far away, could visit us. Do you ever get time to rest after Christmas? Thank you for everything. Love, Maya. P.S. I drew Rudolph on the back for you.

Tips for children who cannot write yet

A letter to Santa is not a handwriting test. Very young children can take part just as fully in a few easy ways:

• Draw the wishes. A picture of a teddy, a scooter or a snowman says just as much as words do.
• Dictate, then sign. Write down exactly what your child says, in their own words, and let them add their name or a mark at the end.
• Trace one word. Write "Santa" or their name lightly in pencil and let them go over it.
• Use stickers or cut-outs. Pictures from a catalogue glued onto the page make a lovely wish list.
• Keep it short. Three sentences and a drawing are plenty for a three-year-old.

This is exactly why the letter page in our printable My Christmas Book has room to write or draw: a preschooler can fill it with pictures, while an older sibling can write a full letter on the same page.

If you would like a ready letter page plus fifteen Christmas colouring pages to keep little hands busy in December, have a look at our guide to the letter to Santa printable and Christmas colouring pages. The English book has 17 A4 pages, prints on A4 or US Letter and is made for children aged 3 to 6.

Get the letter page and colouring book

Start with the free sample (four pages with a Christmas tree and a snowman to colour – enter your email and the download links appear right on the page), or get the full book with the letter to Santa and download it straight away.

Free sample Get the full book · €2.90

Whatever your child writes, the best letters to Santa are the ones that sound just like them.

The files are for your own family, or for your own class or group if you are a teacher. Small printed parts are not suitable for children under 3. The photo scene is AI-generated.