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When Santa greets a child by name and asks about the loose tooth or the new puppy, the child's face says it all. That moment does not happen by luck. It happens because a parent filled in the booking form with a few good details. This guide shows you which details work, how to word them and what to leave out.
Why fun facts matter so much
On a live Santa video call, you get 10 minutes with a real-beard Santa in a velvet suit. That is enough time for a warm, unhurried chat, but not enough time for Santa to discover everything about your child from scratch. The booking form asks for your child's name, age, wish list and fun facts. Santa reads those before the call and uses them as conversation starters.
Think of fun facts as a set of doors Santa can open. A child who will not answer "What do you want for Christmas?" may happily answer "I heard you taught your dog a new trick!" The more specific the door, the easier it is to walk through.
You can see the full list of ideas on our fun facts to tell Santa page. This post goes deeper on how to pick and phrase them.
The five kinds of details that work best
1. Recent wins
Something your child did in the past few weeks that they are proud of. Santa can celebrate it, and children love being noticed.
- Learned to ride a bike without training wheels
- Finished a first chapter book
- Lost a front tooth
- Swam across the pool for the first time
- Started kindergarten and made a new friend
2. Specific favorites
"Likes dinosaurs" is fine. "Loves stegosaurus because of the plates on its back" is better, because Santa can ask a real question about it.
3. Names that matter
Pets, best friends, stuffed animals and siblings. Hearing "How is Biscuit the beagle doing?" is a small thrill for a six-year-old.
4. Helpful things
Chores, kind moments and acts of generosity. These give Santa a natural way to talk about the nice list without lecturing. For more on this theme, read kindness and the nice list.
5. Quirks
The funny, particular things only family knows. A child who insists on wearing rain boots every day, sings in the bath or makes up songs about vegetables is giving Santa wonderful material.
How to write a fun fact Santa can use
A good fun fact is short, concrete and written in plain language. Santa is reading quickly, so lead with the main point.
Instead of: "She is really into art right now and has been doing lots of projects."
Try: "Maya, age 7, painted a purple horse named Thunder last week and hung it on the fridge."
Instead of: "He's had a tough year with school."
Try: "Leo worked hard on his reading this fall and just read a whole book by himself."
Notice that both examples give Santa a thing to ask about. That is the test: can Santa turn this into a question?
A sample set of fun facts, by age
These are examples only. Swap in your own child's details.
For a toddler (ages 2 to 3)
- Says "moo" and "baa" for every animal, including the cat
- Carries a blue blanket named Bun everywhere
- Waves at every garbage truck
For a preschooler (ages 4 to 5)
- Wants to be a firefighter and a ballerina, sometimes both in one day
- Has a loose tooth and is very nervous about it
- Calls reindeer "rain-deers"
For an early reader (ages 6 to 8)
- Built a Lego castle with a working drawbridge
- Learned to whistle last month and whistles all the time
- Helps feed the neighbor's chickens on weekends
For a big kid (ages 9 to 12)
- Plays goalie on a soccer team
- Is saving up for a guitar and has already earned some money mowing lawns
- Writes jokes in a notebook and loves telling them
What to leave out
A few things are better kept off the form.
Disappointments you do not want to revisit
If a rough patch is over, let it be over. If you want Santa to be encouraging about something, frame it positively.
Anything that would sound like a threat
Santa is there for a warm chat. Avoid details meant to scold, such as "Please tell him to stop hitting his brother."
Gift demands for a specific, expensive item you cannot promise
Santa cannot promise toys, and neither should the form. Put wishes in the wish list box and keep them realistic.
Private family details
Keep it to things you would be happy to have said aloud in a living room.
Do not forget the siblings
The booking form has room for one child's name, age, wish list and fun facts. If a brother or sister will be on the call too, add their names, ages and a wish or two to the fun facts box. That gives Santa what he needs to greet everyone. The call is still 10 minutes total, so with two or three kids, it helps to keep each sibling's details to a line or two. For tips on keeping younger siblings in the magic, see keeping the magic for younger siblings.
A quick fill-in template
Copy this into a note on your phone and fill it in a few days before you book.
- One thing my child did recently that I am proud of: ______
- A favorite thing right now (be specific): ______
- A pet, friend or stuffed animal Santa can ask about: ______
- One kind thing they did: ______
- One funny habit: ______
- Siblings joining (names, ages, one wish each): ______
Even three filled lines will make the call feel personal.
Let your child help
For children old enough to talk about it, ask: "If Santa could know one thing about you, what would it be?" Their answers are often better than ours. A five-year-old might say, "I can do a cartwheel." Add that to the form. When Santa asks to see it, your child will feel like the call was made just for them.
If you would like to browse more ways to prepare, our prepare your child for a Santa call guide covers the rest of the day-of routine.
Ready to book?
Calls run from November 28 to December 24, 2026, with limited times, mostly evenings on Tuesdays and Thursdays and weekend mornings, Pacific time. You can see the details and book a live call with Santa for $39. If you would rather send a surprise, a personalized Santa video message is $19 and uses the same kind of details.
Frequently asked questions
How many fun facts should I include?
Three to five is plenty. A few strong, specific details work better than a long list.
Can I add fun facts for siblings?
Yes. Put their names, ages and a wish or two in the fun facts box so Santa can greet them as well. The call is still 10 minutes total.
Will Santa mention every fun fact?
Santa uses them as conversation starters and follows your child's lead, so he may not get to every one. Put the most important details first.
What if my child is shy?
Pick details your child loves talking about, like a pet or a favorite toy. These make easy first questions, and the shy kids guide has more ideas.