Quote from Penny McCarthy on November 28, 2024, 2:15 pm

As Christmas creeps closer, it's clear that children are preparing for a visit from Father Christmas, as online searches for “letters to Santa” have shot up by 323% in the last month alone, with searches still set to rise and peak in early December.*

However, it appears some little ones will struggle with this festive task as, unfortunately, a recent Ofsted report has revealed that there is a skills dip in foundational reading and writing for those at Reception and Key Stage 1 level.

As such, the early years educational experts at EDURINO are urging parents to encourage their children to write letters to Santa this Christmas, not only as a way to get in the festive mood - but also because of the educational benefits of this festive tradition.

Brigid Shine, EYFS teacher from EDURINO said, “Writing letters to Santa is a festive classic, and while most parents may find it an easy way to know what’s the best gift for a child, this activity is actually a great opportunity to improve critical developmental skills your children in a fun and engaging way.”  

Early years educational experts, EDURINO, offered their insights into how this tradition supports 5 crucial elements in early years education.

1. Enhance future learning development 

Something as simple as signing a name at the end of a letter can help improve reading and spelling skills in your child.  A report from The National Early Literacy Panel (NELP) concluded that name-writing skills had significant positive correlations with later reading abilities including decoding, reading comprehension, and spelling.

Key early writing skills—such as independently writing uppercase and lowercase letters, using unconventional writing to convey meaning, and writing letters can also help prevent future reading difficulties.

2. Improve reading and writing skills

Crafting a letter to Santa encourages children to practise sentence formation, spelling, and grammar in an engaging way.

It’s easy to let children only focus on learning when they’re at school, but it’s important they use these skills outside of the classroom as well. Writing a letter to Santa at home is a great way to enhance the skills they work on Monday to Friday.

Rather than having them work from an exercise book, encouraging them to write out a Christmas list or a letter to Santa will be a fun way of learning, and will allow your child to feel more engaged and fulfilled - leading to a positive experience with less tantrums!

3. Boosting presentation skills

Addressing Santa will foster a sense of purpose in their writing. Children will learn to structure their thoughts, present their ideas clearly, and even use persuasive techniques as they list their festive wishes.

Consider asking your child to read out their letters to you once completed as this can help boost their confidence in reading out loud and with their speech development.

4. Promoting emotional development

Writing letters provides children with an avenue to process and articulate their emotions in a structured way. It will encourage your child to slow down and thoughtfully consider how to communicate their feelings and experiences.

This reflective practice can lead to greater emotional clarity and self-awareness, as seen in studies highlighting the therapeutic benefits of expressive writing.

For example, asking children to reflect on the past year and writing about their achievements, hopes, and gratitude helps them develop self-awareness and emotional intelligence - making it a great way for kids to express themselves in a safe, creative format.

5. Encouraging creativity

Writing may not be for every child, but parents can keep this festive activity fun by making the letters more interactive and creative through colour, drawing, and decoration. Ask children to imagine Santa's reaction to their letter and this can help stimulate imagination, creativity, critical thinking and fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination and visual learning.

Set up your children with crafting supplies such as:

• Pens and paper
• Glue and scissors
• Glitter, felt and wool

“Encouraging creativity in children is crucial as it enhances problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, and cognitive abilities while fostering resilience, self-confidence, and social collaboration.” 

“Creative expression allows children to process emotions, embrace failure as a learning tool, and explore innovative solutions to challenges. By nurturing creativity, children develop the flexibility and confidence needed for personal and professional success” explains Brigid.

3 essential tips for supporting your child’s writing

1. Guide, don’t correct

When you are working on your letters to Santa it's very important that you guide your child rather than correcting them. Offering gentle guidance will help with spelling or formatting but also allow your child to take ownership in their writing and efforts.

2. Focus on positivity

Maintaining a positive attitude toward your child's effort when writing a letter to Santa is crucial. How adults respond to early writing attempts can either foster or discourage a child’s natural interest in writing and further learning.

Understanding the stages of writing development and offering supportive feedback can inspire children to feel confident and excited about writing.

Positive reinforcement encourages children to continue exploring and improving their writing skills, nurturing a lifelong interest in self-expression and creativity.

3. Lead by example

To encourage your child to not only write to Santa, but to also regularly practice their writing every day, you should show them how writing fits into your own life.

Whether this is you writing your own Christmas list with them, showing them thank you letters, or even a shopping list and notes, involving your child will illustrate the importance of writing in daily life, will help them follow your lead.