| Children love to write letters to Santa Claus. Usually | | | | then write the letter by himself. The 5 and 6 year olds |
| parents lend a hand. How should a parent help a child | | | | will need a bit of additional help. It helps to have a chart |
| write a letter to Santa Claus? Here are some tips that | | | | showing the form of a letter to Santa, for example, |
| will make your child's letter to Santa more than just a | | | | showing where to put the date, the greeting, the body |
| list of gifts he or she wants. | | | | of the letter, and the closing. Your child should tell Santa |
| Dear Santa......... | | | | the good things they have done during the year, as |
| First of all, a letter to Santa should be a personal | | | | well as what they wish for as gifts. |
| message from your child to Santa Claus, not to a | | | | Grades 3 through 5 |
| parent or grandparent. The child's own words should | | | | Children in grades 3 through 5 probably don't believe in |
| be used and his or her personality should shine through. | | | | Santa Claus, but can be encouraged to write a letter |
| Very young children ages 2 to 5 can draw or cut out | | | | anyway, "for fun". Encourage your child to tell what |
| pictures to show gifts they want for the holidays. The | | | | good deeds he/she has done during the year and how |
| parent can write down words just as the child says | | | | he/she has helped others. Have the child put in a |
| them. Encourage your child to watch as you print and | | | | "Good wish for the world." The child can also tell |
| say the letters out loud. Talk about the sounds the | | | | "Santa" their goals for the coming year. Parents can |
| letters make. Show the child how to leave a space | | | | respond to these letters, giving advice and sending |
| between each word. | | | | love to their children. Keep the letters to Santa Claus |
| Kindergarten through Third Grades | | | | for posterity. |
| For children in kindergarten through third grade, making | | | | All children should send best wishes to everyone at |
| a chart of words is a great idea. The child can think of | | | | the North Pole. The letters may be mailed to: Santa |
| words first, get help spelling them, illustrate them, and | | | | Claus, The North Pole, The Arctic, Earth. |