Christmas often begins with a magical moment: your child writing their wish list for Santa. They dream about toys, books, games, and all the wonderful presents they hope to find under the Christmas tree.
But once the letter to Santa is ready, parents face a practical question: how do you share those Christmas wishes with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives so everyone can organize their gifts?
The easiest way is to turn your child’s Santa wish list into an online Christmas gift list for kids, then share the link with family and friends. Your child makes the wishes, and the adults take care of the planning.
Here’s how to do it in five simple steps, without losing the magic of Christmas.
How to share your child’s Christmas wish list in 5 simple steps
You don’t need complicated spreadsheets or endless family conversations. Start with your child’s letter to Santa, create an online version for the adults, and share one link with everyone who wants to participate.
Step 1: Start with your child’s letter to Santa
For many children, writing a letter to Santa is one of the most exciting Christmas traditions.
Some carefully write down the toys they’ve been dreaming about. Others draw pictures, cut images from toy catalogs, or ask their parents to help write their wishes.
However your child prepares their list, let them enjoy the moment. It’s their opportunity to imagine Christmas morning and share what would make them happy.
The letter doesn’t need to be perfectly organized. It might contain a few very specific presents, some general ideas, or even wishes that change as Christmas gets closer.
That’s perfectly normal. The important thing is to start with what your child actually wants, rather than creating a list of gifts chosen entirely by adults.
Step 2: Turn their Christmas wishes into an online list
Once your child has finished their letter to Santa, you can create a digital version of their wishes using an online Christmas wish list tool such as itsmyList.
Add the gifts mentioned in their letter, along with any useful details that will help relatives choose the right present.
For example, you might include:
- The exact name of a toy or game
- A particular LEGO set or book edition
- The preferred color, size, or model
- A product link when you have one
- Alternative ideas at different price points
If your child has asked for a bicycle, for instance, adding the appropriate size can help grandparents avoid choosing the wrong model.
You can also include a few additional ideas based on your child’s interests, especially if their letter contains only one or two wishes.
The goal isn’t to replace the letter to Santa. It’s to make those wishes easier for the grown-ups to understand and organize.
Step 3: Get the Christmas wish list sharing link
Once you’ve added the gift ideas, use your wish list’s sharing option to get a link.
This link gives your family one place to consult your child’s Christmas wishes instead of relying on different messages, screenshots, or copies of the original letter.
Before sharing, check the list’s visibility settings and make sure you’re comfortable with the information relatives will be able to see.
There’s no need to publish personal information about your child. The purpose of the shared list is simply to help trusted family members find gift ideas.
Step 4: Share the link with grandparents, family, and friends
Now you can send the list to the people who want to buy Christmas presents for your child.
You can share the link through whichever communication method your family prefers:
- Telegram
- Messenger or Facebook
- SMS or other messaging apps
- Any other way of sending a link
Some grandparents might prefer an email, while aunts and uncles may find it easier to use the family WhatsApp group. Both work perfectly well.
You can also send the link individually if you don’t want to create a group conversation.
The important thing isn’t which platform you use. It’s that everyone receives access to the same Christmas wish list.
Step 5: Let the adults coordinate their Christmas gifts
Once relatives have the list, they can look through your child’s wishes and decide what they’d like to give.
Instead of everyone asking the parents for ideas separately, the family has a shared reference.
If your wish list tool supports gift reservations, relatives can use them to coordinate their choices and reduce the risk of buying the same present.
This is particularly helpful for popular toys, specific games, and expensive gifts that several people might otherwise choose.
The parents can focus on helping their child enjoy the Christmas season while the adults handle the practical side of gift-giving.
A message you can send when sharing the Christmas wish list
Not sure how to introduce the list to your family? Keep it simple and friendly.
Here’s an example you can copy into WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, an email, or any other messaging app:
Hi everyone! 🎄
Our little one has written their letter to Santa! 🎅
We’ve put their Christmas wishes into an online list so it’s easier for everyone to find gift ideas and organize presents.
Here’s the link: [Christmas wish list link]
Of course, there’s no obligation to choose something from the list. It’s just here to help, and surprises are always welcome!
Happy Christmas planning! 🎁
For a shorter family group message, you could write:
🎅 Santa’s wish list is ready! We’ve put the gift ideas online to make Christmas shopping easier for everyone. Here’s the link: [link]. 🎄🎁
Feel free to adapt the message to your family’s traditions and the way you usually communicate.
Who should receive your child’s Christmas wish list?
There’s no rule about who should receive the list. Share it with the people who have asked for gift ideas or are planning to participate in your child’s Christmas celebrations.
That might include grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, close friends, or relatives who live far away.
If your child celebrates Christmas in several households, sharing the same list can also help adults coordinate their purchases across different family gatherings.
For example, a child might receive presents from one side of the family on Christmas Eve and visit other relatives on Christmas Day.
Having one shared reference makes it easier to organize gifts without needing to reveal every surprise in advance.
Remember that the list is intended to help, not to create pressure. Nobody should feel obligated to buy a particular present or spend a certain amount.
Does sharing a Christmas wish list spoil the magic of Santa?
Not at all. Your child has already written their letter to Santa, so they know what they’ve wished for. But that doesn’t mean they know which presents they’ll actually find under the Christmas tree!
Every family celebrates Christmas differently.
In some families, Santa brings all the presents. In others, children receive gifts from Santa as well as from parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Some families also enjoy giving unexpected presents that weren’t mentioned in the original letter.
A shared Christmas wish list doesn’t change those traditions. It’s simply a practical way for adults to organize themselves.
The child doesn’t need to know how the grown-ups coordinate purchases, and the list doesn’t have to determine every gift they’ll receive.
If your child can access the online list, check how your chosen service handles gift reservations and whether those choices are visible to them.
The child makes their wishes, the grown-ups handle the planning, and Christmas morning can still be full of wonderful surprises.
How to avoid duplicate gifts when sharing a Christmas wish list
One of the biggest advantages of sharing a Christmas wish list is making it easier for relatives to coordinate their gift choices.
Imagine your child has asked Santa for a particular LEGO set. Their grandmother decides to buy it, but an uncle has exactly the same idea.
Without coordination, the child could end up receiving two identical sets.
A gift reservation feature can help adults see which items have already been selected, depending on how the wish list service works.
For larger presents, family members can also coordinate directly with the parents before buying.
If you’d like more practical advice on this topic, read our guide on how to avoid duplicate Christmas gifts for kids.
Can you update the Christmas wish list after sharing it?
Of course. A child’s Christmas wishes aren’t always set in stone.
Some children write their letters to Santa early in the season. By December, they might have discovered a new favorite toy or changed their minds about something they originally requested.
Parents can update the online list to reflect those changes while keeping the original letter as a special Christmas memory.
You might need to:
- Add a new gift idea your child has mentioned.
- Correct the size, color, or model of a present.
- Replace a toy that’s no longer available.
- Remove a gift your child has already received.
- Add alternative ideas for relatives with different budgets.
Keeping one online list updated means relatives can consult the latest gift ideas rather than relying on an old screenshot or message.
If you’ve made an important change close to Christmas, you can also send a quick update to the family.
Make sharing your child’s Christmas wishes part of the magic
It all starts with a child’s letter to Santa: a few dreams, favorite toys, and the excitement of imagining Christmas morning.
By turning those wishes into an online Christmas list, parents can make it easier for grandparents and relatives to choose thoughtful presents and coordinate their purchases.
There’s no need for endless messages or complicated spreadsheets. Just one list, one link, and a little organization among the grown-ups.
And while the adults take care of the details, children can keep enjoying the magic of Christmas.
For more inspiration, explore our Christmas Gift List for Kids guide and discover more ways to make Christmas gift planning easier for the whole family.