Have you been nice?  If so, here are 10 useful tips to get Santa to read your letter.

1. Get in the Christmas mood. Put on some Christmas music or your favorite holiday shirt so you'll be ready to think about Santa.

2. Ask your parents for some paper and a pen. You can use any kind of paper, but if you'd like something special, ask your parents to help you download a colorful Santa letter image to your device here or a pdf.

3. Start your letter with a greeting, also known as a salutation. Good ways to start your letter include "Dear Santa" or "Dear Santa Claus."

4. Let Santa know who's writing the letter. Of course he knows who you are! But you need to let him know that it's you that is writing the letter because he gets so many letters every day.

5. Ask Santa how he's been. Santa only hears from you once a year, so before you start asking about toys, it's polite to ask how he's doing or how the reindeer and elves and Mrs. Claus have been.

6. Tell him how good you've been this year. Before you ask for toys, you'll also want to remind Santa Claus of some of the good things you've done this year. Have you been nice to your sister or brother? Have you helped your parents by putting all your toys away? Santa already knows these things because he sees you when you're sleeping and knows when you're awake, but he likes to be reminded of the reasons you should be on Santa's nice list.

7. Politely let him know what toys you'd like. Ok, you've asked about his life and told him how good you've been, so NOW you can let him know what toys you'd like. Try to keep your list to the two or three things that you want the very, very most. That way he'll know which gifts to bring.

8. Thank Santa for being so kind and close your letter with your signature. After asking Santa for a few toys, be sure to thank him for his kindness by saying something such as, "Thank you, Santa, for bringing so much joy to kids like me" or "Thanks, Santa, for bringing me toys every year." Santa loves little kids who are polite. Then end your letter with a closing such as "Sincerely" or "Love" or "Best wishes" and sign your name.

9. Put your letter in an envelope and seal it. Make sure the envelope is sealed tightly.

10. Give the letter to your parents to send. They'll put it in Santa's mailbox at his workshop in Felt's Park.

Then wait patiently for your reply! He's a very busy man, but he always answers all his mail with a Christmas letter from Santa.