Making the letter
- Pick a design: stars or snowflakes in the corners, a candy-stripe band at the top and bottom, or a plain double frame.
- Choose plain lines or handwriting lines. Handwriting lines have a dotted middle line and suit children who are still learning to form letters.
- Type your child's name if you like. It prints in light gray on the first line so your child can trace it.
- Add a reply page from Santa and a page of envelope labels if you want them, pick the paper and a color, and download the PDF.
The preview shows each page as it will print; use the arrows under it to see the reply and the labels.
Helping your child fill in the prompts
The letter walks a child through it one line at a time: their name, their age, something they did this year, what they would love, and something they wish for someone else. Read each prompt out loud and let your child answer in their own words, even if the spelling wanders. "This year I" works well for a proud moment, such as learning to swim or starting school. "Something for someone else" is a nice moment to talk about a sibling, a grandparent or a friend.
Children who do not write yet can answer by drawing. The box near the bottom is for a picture for Santa, and a younger child can draw the wishes there instead of writing them. Sign the letter together on the "Love," line at the end.
Writing the reply from Santa
The reply page prints a short letter from the North Pole with your child's name and your own sentences in the middle. One or two sentences are enough, and the more specific they are, the more magic they carry: a skill they practiced, a kind thing they did, a pet they cared for. The reply makes no promises about gifts, so it fits whatever is under the tree. If you leave the sentences empty, three lines print so you can write them by hand in your best curly writing.
Print the reply separately from the letter if your child watches the printer, or print it later on a different evening. Slip it into an envelope with the To label and leave it where your child will find it.
Envelope labels and mailing
The label page has a label addressed to Santa Claus at the North Pole, a From label for your child, a To label and a From Santa label for the reply, and two round seals. Cut along the dashed lines and glue them onto plain envelopes. If you want your child's letter to go through the mail, check your national postal service's website for any letter-to-Santa program it runs this season, and follow the address and dates it gives.
More holiday ideas for kids
Many children ask how long it is until Christmas every single morning. The days until Christmas countdown shows the days, hours and minutes left. For a quiet afternoon, the word search generator makes a printable puzzle from your own winter words, such as snow, sleigh, mittens and cocoa. If your family draws names for a gift exchange, the Secret Santa generator does the drawing, and the Christmas wish list gives every child a page of boxes to draw or write the wishes, which works well as a first draft before the letter. The printable advent calendar fills the days in between.
Frequently asked questions
Is the letter to Santa free?
Yes. Pick a design, download the PDF and print it as often as you like, for your own kids, a classroom or a holiday party. There is no signup and no watermark; one small line at the bottom of each page names our website.
Which lines are best for my child?
Handwriting lines have a solid top line, a dotted middle line and a base line, like the paper children use when they learn to write. They suit children who are still forming their letters. Plain lines leave more room for words and suit children who already write in small, even letters.
How does the reply from Santa work?
Tick the reply letter, type your child's name and one or two sentences about their year, such as something they learned or a kind thing they did. The reply prints as a clean letter on a second page, with a few fixed lines from the North Pole around your sentences and signed "Santa". Leave the sentences empty and three blank lines print instead, so you can write a note by hand.
Can my child trace their name?
Yes. When you type the name, it prints in light gray on the "My name is" line, big enough to trace over with a pencil or a crayon. Leave the name field empty and the line stays blank for your child to write on.
What is on the envelope label page?
Six pieces to cut out: a label addressed to Santa Claus at the North Pole, a From label for your child, a To label for the reply with your child's name, a From label signed by Santa, and two round seals for the back of the envelopes. Glue them onto plain envelopes with a glue stick.
Why are some characters missing from my text?
The PDF uses the standard Helvetica and Times fonts, which cover English and most Western European letters, but no emoji and no other scripts such as Greek, Cyrillic or Chinese. Those characters are left out, a few rare accented letters lose the accent, and a note under the fields tells you when that happens. The preview shows the text exactly as it will print.