Am I the only one who makes my kids write to Santa AFTER Christmas? A few people look at me strangely when I’ve said my kids always write thank you letters to Santa.
I just think it is good manners and teaches them respect. Thank you notes to Santa are in some ways more important than other thank you notes because he doesn’t hand you the present to get even a cursory ‘thanks’.
My expectations of the letter have changed over time (as my kids get older they are capable of more of course) – I wrote the first few with their input but now I let them write their own letters and am pleased to say they do it pretty well.
Writing two letters a year isn’t a big ask, especially given how much Santa does for us!, and is much better than just writing one letter all about what you want! Do you have any other relationships in your life where that would work well?
This year we made the thank letters part of our Boxing day – it is a quiet day at home, exploring new things and tidying away wrapping paper, etc so it seems like a good time to write those letters.
But seriously, does no one else do this???
Hi Sarah, I agree that writing a thank you letter to Santa is simple good manners. And teaches kids a valuable lesson about gratitude and showing appreciation.
I have heard some people leave a basic thank you note with the Santa snack on Christmas Eve – better than nothing but I don’t think it is as good as a letter showing appreciation of actual gifts received.
My kids do write thank you letters to Santa – and hopefully other families do likewise!
My daughter (when she was younger) always wrote a thank you letter to Santa and she also left him a Hello and have a safe trip note with his milk and cookies. I have always taught my daughter to be appreciative for things she receives from anyone, so Santa of course was no different:)
Thanks for joining in Blueeyes:) Good to hear from someone else who includes Santa in the general good manners we expect from our children.
I think this is a great idea! A lot of parents these days don’t teach their children the art of “Thank You” notes. I think it’s something every child needs to do. PLus, I love receiving handwritten thank you’s from younger children. They are always so cute and sloppy! 🙂
Hi Erica, you’re right – those letters can be so cute! And it can be interesting to see what they actually thank you for – it is not always what you expect (my son once said ‘thanks for sitting on my couch’ to a visitor rather than the common ‘thanks for visiting’!)
Hello Sarah,
I’ve never thought about doing this with my kids but this definitely a great way to teach them about gratitude. Thank you for this smart idea!
Hi Chiller.
It is a great idea isn’t it – simple and obvious but amazingly not a standard part of Christmas traditions. You’re starting something Sarah!
I, myself, never had to write thank you letters to Santa or known anyone to do it, but if I were asked to do it, I would do it. It’s a good way to teach children manners and respect when they’re younger and it seems to have become a good traition to have. It can bring families closer if done right like you have.
It is interesting how few people wrote thank you letters to Santa as kids, yet we all sam to agree it is good manners to do so. I suspect Santa will start getting more letters next January!
When I was very young my parents would have us write thank you notes, but as I got older we eventually stopped. If I ever have kids though I would definitely have them write them though! I agree with the previous posters in that it does help teach manners and gratitude.
Thanks for adding your voice Niconi! And good to hear your family already did this.