The first letter. One last game at Grandma’s.
And everything in between.
Practical schedules, words to borrow and ideas for when plans change. Take what fits your family.
Plan the day
Christmas Eve with children: four moments to look forward to.
Breakfast, a quiet break, setting the table and presents. Four things that may already be in your plans. Add a small activity or a letter to each, and leave room for the rest of the day.
Read the article ↗Plan the dayA book and a blanket after lunch. Even on Christmas Eve.
There are crumbs on the table, it’s getting dark outside and dinner is still a while away. If your family usually has a quiet break after lunch, keep a place for it between the Christmas letters.
Read the article ↗Plan the day“One more game!” Leaving Grandma’s on Christmas Eve.
The hats are waiting in the hallway, but there’s a game still spread across the table. Before the coats go on, let the children finish one thing and tell them what you’ll do when you get home.
Read the article ↗Plan the dayBefore Christmas dinner: place cards made by the children.
Dinner is still cooking and your child wants to help. Put some paper and pencils on the table. Each plate can have a name card, a star or a drawing for the person who’ll sit there.
Read the article ↗Plan the dayDinner’s running late. What happens to Santa’s arrival?
The children are waiting for the last letter, but there are still plates on the table and the presents aren’t ready. You can hold the arrival. Meanwhile, a short message can explain a little stop along the way.
Read the article ↗Plan the dayEvening or morning presents? Write the right last letter.
In some homes, a bell rings after dinner. In others, children find their presents when they wake up. The last evening letter can invite them to the tree or wish them goodnight.
Read the article ↗Plan the dayGoodnight to the new toys too: a final Christmas letter.
The wrapping paper is tidied away, but the new toy car could keep driving for hours. Before bed, find it a garage together. A short letter can then say goodnight to the children and their new toys.
Read the article ↗Plan the dayWhen should you check the Christmas map? After your walk, perhaps.
You read the first letter, close the map and go outside. When you return, see how far the journey has come. Checking the map can be a small part of the things you already enjoy doing at Christmas.
Read the article ↗Maps and family traditions
“Where is he now?” A way to show children what comes next.
The first question arrives at breakfast. Then again while you’re putting on coats, and once more at Grandma’s. Four little pictures can help show what’s still to come.
Read the article ↗Maps and family traditionsA Santa tracker: around the world or on the way to you?
Your child finds Santa on the far side of the world and asks when he’ll reach your house. Before choosing a map, decide what you’d like to follow: his trip around the globe or his arrival at your tree.
Read the article ↗Maps and family traditionsBaby Jesus in English, Santa in Czech: a bilingual Christmas.
At home you call him Ježíšek, but Grandma reads to the children in English. Or Santa comes to your house and you’d like his letters in Czech. Choose the character and language separately, then add your family’s own words.
Read the article ↗Maps and family traditionsWhat does Baby Jesus look like? A star can mark his journey.
In your child’s drawing, Baby Jesus has wings. In another family, everyone imagines him differently. A little star can show his route on the map and leave children’s pictures as they are.
Read the article ↗Maps and family traditions“That’s the road to Grandma’s!” A map for curious children.
Some children spot a familiar river, town or road straight away. Pause at those places when you look at the map together. “Is he here yet?” might briefly become “Which way will he go next?”
Read the article ↗Messages and moments together
Young children and a Christmas map: one letter can be enough.
Your child sits on your lap, points at the little star and wants to open the envelope. You read two sentences, then they’re off to play again. That can be your whole visit to the Christmas map.
Read the article ↗Messages and moments togetherHow to write a Christmas message: a name and one familiar detail.
“Dear children” could be for anyone. “Alex, is there room for Teddy under your blanket?” sounds closer to home. One familiar detail can make a short Christmas letter feel personal.
Read the article ↗Messages and moments togetherA Santa voice message: read it aloud first.
A greeting, a little news from the road and a goodbye. That’s enough for a short Santa voice message. Generated audio is still being prepared; you can write the words and read them to your children now.
Read the article ↗Messages and moments togetherChristmas messages for siblings: a detail for each child.
One child loves dinosaurs; the other has a whole family of soft toys in bed. A shared Christmas journey has room for both. Start with each child’s name and one familiar detail.
Read the article ↗Messages and moments togetherSomething green, something soft: a Christmas hunt at home.
Close the map for a moment and look around the room. What’s green? What’s soft? Is there a star anywhere? Three simple clues are enough for a little hunt between letters.
Read the article ↗Messages and moments togetherA letter to Baby Jesus can be a single drawing.
There’s a big digger on the paper, a small Christmas tree and a few letters squeezed into the corner. The letter is finished. Children can draw, dictate or write in their own way while you help capture what they’re looking forward to.
Read the article ↗Messages and moments together“Grandma, open the letter!” One journey in two homes.
You read the first letter at breakfast at home, then another after lunch at Grandma’s. Her screen shows the same journey and messages. When you go home, she can keep following along.
Read the article ↗See what your children will see.
Open the first letter, follow the star on the map and try holding the arrival. You don’t need an account for the preview.
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