How to help kids write a Christmas list
Updated 31 October 2026 · By Rob and Chris, two Sheffield dads, and our families
Help your child write a Christmas list by keeping it short and splitting it into parts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, something to do and something to give.
When should kids write their Christmas list?
We like the middle of November: after Bonfire Night, before Advent. Children have time to think and swap things round, and you have time to plan. If they are writing to Father Christmas, Royal Mail’s Letters to Santa page has this year’s address and last posting date.
How do you keep a Christmas list short?
These are our own ways, not rules:
- Use the six parts. One thing in each: want, need, wear, read, do, give. It turns a list of 30 toys into six real choices.
- Star the top three. Children choose what matters most, so nobody is crushed if a long list isn’t all there.
- Write in pencil. Changing their mind is part of it.
- Talk about the budget early, in words that fit your family. Our Christmas present budget for kids shows older children how to plan with their own money.
- Add the “give” line. Something they will make or buy for someone else.
How do you write a Christmas list with each age?
| Age | How it works for us |
|---|---|
| 3 to 5 | Cut pictures out of a catalogue or draw them. A grown-up writes the words underneath. |
| 6 to 8 | They write it themselves, one thing per line, with the six parts as headings. |
| 9 to 11 | Add a reason for each thing and a rough price, then star the top three. |
| 12 and up | A short list with links and prices, plus one experience they would like to share with the family. |
What can go on a Christmas list besides toys?
- Things to do: a trip to the cinema, a day out, a baking afternoon with a grandparent.
- Things to make: a craft kit, a model, seeds to grow in spring.
- Books: the next one in a series they love.
- Outdoors: a torch, wellies, a ball, a kite.
- Things to give: a present for a brother or sister, or a box for a food bank. See our reverse Advent calendar.
How do you check a toy is safe?
CAPT says to be really careful when buying for under-3s, as they’re most at risk from dangerous toys, to buy from brand names you know, and that if you have never heard of the seller and the price is really tempting, the toy could be dangerous. A swallowed button battery can badly hurt or kill a small child, and swallowed super-strong magnets can cause life-threatening injuries. The government’s 2021 advice is to follow the age labels on toys, which are based on risks such as choking, to check button batteries are behind a screwed-down flap, and to find out as much as you can about the seller on an online marketplace.
My Christmas list
One thing in each row. Star your top three.
Or use your browser’s Print. Only this sheet prints.
| My idea | Star | |
|---|---|---|
| Something I want | ||
| Something I need | ||
| Something to wear | ||
| Something to read | ||
| Something to do | ||
| Something I’ll give |
Get the Famoo app Family life, sorted together. The family calendar, jobs and lists, shared by everyone at home.
app.famoo.app
Questions parents ask
How many things should be on a child’s Christmas list?
There is no right number. We like six, one for each part (want, need, wear, read, do, give), with the top three starred.
When should kids write their Christmas list?
We suggest mid-November, after Bonfire Night and before Advent, so there is time to change their mind and for you to plan. Royal Mail’s Letters to Santa page has this year’s last posting date for letters to Father Christmas.
How do I stop my child’s Christmas list getting too long?
Give it parts instead of a blank page, ask them to star their top three, and talk about what Christmas looks like in your family before they start.
What can kids put on a Christmas list instead of toys?
Days out, experiences with family, craft kits, books, outdoor things such as a torch or wellies, and something to give to someone else.
How do I check a toy is safe?
Take extra care with toys for under-3s, buy from brands and sellers you know, follow the age labels, and check any button batteries are behind a screwed-down flap.
More from Famoo
Next up: an Advent calendar with something to do each day
In Famoo, your family’s Advent calendar opens one door a day from 1 December, with an activity, picture steps and a part for each age. You choose the 24.
Famoo is a family app for UK homes, in beta, so things may change.
Where this comes from
Each fact on this page links to one of these. Everything else is our own view from our families.
- Child Accident Prevention Trust, Buy safe toys, checked 31 October 2026
- GOV.UK (Office for Product Safety and Standards, 2021), Buy toys safely this Christmas, checked 31 October 2026
- Royal Mail, Letters to Santa, checked 31 October 2026
