The Christmas journal

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.

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A 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.

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“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.

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Before 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.

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Dinner’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.

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Evening 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.

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Goodnight 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.

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When 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.

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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.

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A 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.

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Baby 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.

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What 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.

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“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?”

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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.

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How 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.

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A 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.

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Christmas 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.

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Something 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.

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A 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.

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“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.

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Real-life Christmas questions

Plan the day

Santa between two homes: a Canadian family Christmas plan

If your child is spending Christmas in two homes, tell them where they’ll wake up, when they’ll travel and what comes with them.

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When a parent works on Christmas Day

A shift may move your family celebration. Tell your child what will happen without tying it to an exact arrival time.

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Christmas away from home: Santa, luggage and winter travel

A visit to family is easier when you decide which gifts travel and which can wait at home.

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When your child asks whether Santa is real

A question at school, in the car or after seeing a receipt may call for different answers. Listen before deciding how much to say.

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When an older sibling has figured out the Santa story

Let your older child choose whether to help. Adults can handle the younger children’s questions.

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Planning a calmer Christmas morning for a sensory-sensitive child

A simple plan can help when visitors, gifts and unfamiliar sounds all arrive at once.

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Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Making room for both

If your family has a Christmas Eve réveillon, you can still save stockings for the morning.

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NORAD, Google or your family’s own Santa story?

Enjoy the world map together, then decide the timing of your own celebration at home.

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Write a Santa message without handing over your child’s information

One detail from family life is more meaningful than a form asking for a photo, school and exact address.

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Waiting for Santa off-screen: three plans for different amounts of time

A short activity can make the wait before bed easier, whether you’re at home or visiting family.

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When a child asks why Santa gave someone else more

A gift comparison can sting. Help your child feel heard without turning presents into a measure of worth.

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A first Christmas together in a blended family

A new family arrangement can keep old rituals while trying one new thing together.

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Santa or le père Noël? Naming the Christmas visitor in Canada

English and French names can meet at school, on packaging and around the same family table.

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Nochebuena and Santa in a Canadian household

A December 24 gathering and a December 25 stocking can fit together without asking children to guess which gifts come when.

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Santa and le père Noël in a bilingual Canadian home

English and French can share a Christmas story when the message follows the family’s own words and schedule.

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Choose a Christmas movie that fits your family’s evening

Compare up to three Christmas movies by running time, content and the language or accessibility options your family needs. Use the choice sheet to see what fits tonight and what still needs checking.