How to write it
Say who the elf is
Give the elf’s name and one fun fact, like their favorite snack or that they are very good at hiding.
Give a happy reason for the visit
Santa sent the elf to share some Christmas fun with your family. Leave out reporting back or keeping watch.
Name the day they fly home
Children like knowing the plan. Christmas Eve is the usual choice, but any date works.
Add one true thing about your child
Something from this year that only someone who knows them would mention.
End with a game
“Can you find where I’m hiding tomorrow?” turns the elf into a playmate.
An example
Another way to say it
These are examples we wrote to show the tone. They are not customers’ letters.
Questions parents ask
Do I have to use a naughty or nice list?
No. Plenty of families introduce the elf as a friend who came for the holidays. The letter sets the tone, so if it never mentions a list, your child won’t expect one.
What if my child is too young to read?
Read it aloud on the first morning and keep it to three or four sentences. Toddlers mostly want to hear their name and the elf’s name.
When should the letter arrive?
With the elf, on the first day. Many families start around December 1, but the letter works whenever the elf arrives.
Want one written for your child?
Tell us a first name and a few true things about their year. A letter from Santa Claus with a matching certificate is ready to print in a minute or two. From $3.99, nothing to mail.
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