What should a child write in a Christmas card to Grandma?

Whatever they'd tell her on the phone: what they did this week, what they hope Santa brings, that they love her. Write it down in their words and let them sign it.

What do you write to a grandparent with dementia?

Short sentences, your name and how you're related ("It's Owen, your grandson"), one simple piece of news, and love. Avoid questions and "remember when". A clear photo of familiar faces helps.

How do you sign a Christmas card from the whole family?

List every name, grown-ups first, kids next, pets last: "Love, Kate, Dan, Owen, Maisie and Biscuit." Kids old enough to write can sign their own.

Journal · 4 min read

What to Write in a Christmas Card to Grandparents

Christmas messages for grandparents on the back of a photo postcard to Grandpa, beside the grandkids' Christmas photo — Small and true beats long and general.

What do you write in a Christmas card to grandparents?

One specific thing: something the kids said, a memory with them, a small piece of news from this year. Then sign every name. Below are 51 short Christmas messages for grandparents, sorted by who's writing and where the grandparent is this year. Each one copies with a tap.

Christmas messages for grandparents from the little ones

The sweetest Christmas messages for grandparents come from the kids themselves. Ask what they want to tell Grandma and write it down exactly as they say it.

Merry Christmas, Grandma! I lost a tooth. Santa better know.
Merry Christmas, Nana! I can count to 100 now. Ask me when you call.
Grandpa, I'm leaving a cookie out for you too. Merry Christmas!
I love you more than candy canes. Merry Christmas, Grandma!
Merry Christmas! Can we make the pancakes again when I visit?
This year I learned to swim, read, and whistle (almost). Merry Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa!
Your hugs are the squishiest. Merry Christmas, Grandma.
Merry Christmas, Pop-Pop! I'm taller than the dog now.
I'm saving you a spot next to me on the couch. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Grandpa! I drew you a reindeer. He's purple on purpose.

Starry postcard back from Ava to Grandpa about a purple reindeer she drew, with Ava and her new art set on the front — Write it down exactly as they said it.

Polka-dot postcard back from Leo telling Pop-Pop he's taller than the dog now, with Leo walking the dog on the front

From the older grandkids

Merry Christmas, Grandma. I still use your trick for wrapping corners.
Every time I fix something myself, I hear you saying measure twice. Merry Christmas, Grandpa.
Christmas at your house is still the one I'd pick, every year. Love you.
Thank you for every card with five dollars in it. I kept the cards. Merry Christmas, Nana.
I'm a grown-up now and I still want your fudge. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas from college. Finals are rough, and your texts help more than you know.
Thanks for teaching me gin rummy and never once letting me win. Merry Christmas, Grandpa.
I'm bringing someone home this year. Be nice. (Okay, be you.) Merry Christmas, Grandma.

Plaid postcard back from Maisie thanking Grandpa for teaching her gin rummy and never letting her win — An older grandkid can write the whole thing.

From you, their grown-up kid

You're writing to your own parents about being grandparents. Thank them for one thing they do for your kids.

Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad. Watching you be grandparents is my favorite part of the year.
Thank you for loving our kids the way you loved me. Merry Christmas.
The kids ask about you every day. Mostly about the candy drawer. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Dad. Ella says you're "the fun one." I have questions.
Merry Christmas to the grandparents who said yes to every sleepover. We owe you.
Thank you for every pickup, every sick day, every Sunday dinner. We couldn't do this without you.
Merry Christmas, Mom. The kids got your laugh. So did I.
Merry Christmas to my in-laws, the grandparents our kids are lucky to have.

Snowflake postcard back about the kids asking after Grandma's candy drawer, with the family raising glasses of cider on the front

From a new baby's first Christmas

Write it in the baby's voice. It's allowed.

Merry Christmas, Grandma! It's my first one. I'm told you're a big deal.
My first Christmas! I can't hold a pen yet, so Mom wrote this. Love you, Grandpa.
Merry Christmas from your newest grandchild: twelve pounds, very loud, all love.
First Christmas, first tooth, and first time meeting you soon. Merry Christmas, Nana!
Merry first Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa! (Yours as grandparents, mine as a person.)
I eat, I sleep, I smile at your picture. Merry Christmas, Grandma.

Plaid postcard back written in the baby's voice, it's my first one, with the baby in a Santa hat by the tree on the front — Signed by Theo, written by Mom.

For grandparents far away

Merry Christmas from 900 miles away. Closer than it looks.
We can't be there this year, so here we all are, fridge-sized. Merry Christmas.
Leave a light on for us. We'll be there at Easter. Merry Christmas!
Missing you this Christmas. We'll call at 9 your time, so keep the phone close.
Different time zones, same Christmas songs. Love you both.
The kids set a place for you at the table. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas. Next year, your house. We promise.

Postcard front with four Christmas photos of the grandkids, the snowflake back with a Miss you sticker underneath — Four photos is the most a card holds, and enough for the fridge door.

For the other eleven months, here are ways of staying close to grandparents far away.

Sending a card at Thanksgiving too? Here are Thanksgiving card messages for grandparents and everyone else.

For a grandparent in a nursing home or memory care

Say who it's from and how you're related. Keep to one easy piece of news, and skip questions they'd have to answer. A clear photo of faces says the rest.

Merry Christmas, Grandma. It's Owen, your grandson. We love you.
Merry Christmas, Grandpa. This is all of us at Christmas. We're thinking of you.
Merry Christmas, Nana! We'll visit on Sunday and bring cookies.
Here's our tree this year. The kids hung your ornament first. Love you.
Merry Christmas, Grandpa. Lucy, Sam and the baby are all well, and we all love you.
It snowed here today. We made your hot cocoa recipe. Merry Christmas, Grandma.
You're in our hearts every day. Merry Christmas, from all of us.

Plain postcard back in clear print type: Merry Christmas, Grandma, it's Owen, your grandson, with two children's faces on a sled on the front — Say who it's from. Faces she can see clearly do the rest.

For a grandparent spending Christmas alone this year

Name the person they lost. Don't ask them to be merry.

Merry Christmas, Grandma. We miss Grandpa too. We'll be over on Christmas Eve.
Thinking of you this Christmas, Grandpa. Grandma would have loved this tree.
First Christmas without him. You don't have to be cheerful. We'll just be with you.
We set out Grandma's nativity this year, just how she did. Love you, Grandpa.
You're not on your own this Christmas. Not even a little.

Plain cream postcard back to Grandpa saying Grandma would have loved this tree, with two children by the tree on the front

Merry Christmas, Grandma, on a real card

A printed 4×6 postcard front of two kids icing gingerbread with a Merry Christmas sticker, its plaid message side underneath — Photos on the front, your line on the back.

Put the kids' photos on the front of a Christmas photo postcard and your message on the back. We print it and mail it, postage included, and the grandparents don't need an app or anything else.

Sending for Christmas? Please allow up to 15 days. USPS can run a little slow, especially in December. To be safe, order by Dec 10.

Just one card, for one grandparent? Have the Christmas card mailed for you: even a single card, stamped and sent.

Mailing a card yourself? Check the last day to mail Christmas cards this year.

Writing to the rest of the list too? Here are Christmas card messages for everyone else.

And if a present is going with the card, here are Christmas gifts for Grandma.

Frequently asked questions

What do you write in a Christmas card to grandparents?: One specific thing (something the kids said, a memory with them, a bit of news from this year), then Merry Christmas and every name. "The kids ask about you every day. Mostly about the candy drawer. Merry Christmas!"
What should a child write in a Christmas card to Grandma?: Whatever they'd tell her on the phone: what they did this week, what they hope Santa brings, that they love her. Write it down in their words and let them sign it.
What do you write to a grandparent with dementia?: Short sentences, your name and how you're related ("It's Owen, your grandson"), one simple piece of news, and love. Avoid questions and "remember when". A clear photo of familiar faces helps.
How do you sign a Christmas card from the whole family?: List every name, grown-ups first, kids next, pets last: "Love, Kate, Dan, Owen, Maisie and Biscuit." Kids old enough to write can sign their own.