As adults, we can be caught up in all the busyness of "the holidays" to the point that we just wish it was all over so we could clean up the pine needles and kick back with the last of the eggnog.
But children enjoy the anticipation of Christmas for weeks ahead of time.
Whether they're checking out the new arrivals in the toy aisle or studying the toy ads in the Sunday paper, they're excited about Christmas and all its traditions.
One of those traditions is writing a letter to Santa Claus.
Writing a Santa letter is fun and can even be a learning experience for your child.
Spend quality time with your children helping them to write a letter to Santa.
This is a great project for a snowy Sunday afternoon.
Make some peppermint cocoa and enjoy a plate of cookies while you craft and write your letters.
Helping a Preschooler Write a Letter to Santa Your child can cut and paste or draw pictures of the things on his wish list.
You can help by printing the words he dictates.
Show him how to put a letter in proper form, and print his words, but be sure to use his own words.
Have him point out the letters and sound out simple words.
You might lightly pencil a series of dots spelling his name on the signature line and letting him sign the letter by following the dots.
Helping an Elementary Child Write a Letter to Santa Remind your child of the proper form of a letter (date, greeting, body, closing).
Help him with the spelling of words, and encourage writing more than just a shopping list.
Have him give Santa some examples of good behavior throughout the year, and send best wishes to Mrs.
Claus, the elves, and the reindeer.
Helping a Tween Write a Letter to Santa Again remind your child of the proper form of a letter.
Encourage neat penmanship, and suggest he tell Santa his goals and dreams for the coming year.
Address letters to Santa Claus, The North Pole, The Arctic, and Earth This project can become a sweet holiday tradition.
Save the yearly letters.
You'll all enjoy reading through them in years to come.
Enjoy Mail from Santa Parents can also answer the letters in the form of a letter from Santa Claus to the child.
Enjoy reading the letter together.
There are many options for ordering customized Santa letters for your child, with some even including little gifts.
Or you can find dozens of online templates for creating your own letters from Santa Claus.
This will allow for even more personalization.
Some post offices have special holiday postmarks for Christmas mail.
Santa mail can be a great opportunity to spend quiet time with your children, a learning experience, and just plain fun as you make the kind of holiday memories that can't be bought at any mall.