Letter to the Three Kings: fill-in template and how to write it with children

The letter to the Three Kings (los Reyes Magos) is the message children in Spain write to Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar to tell them how they have behaved during the year and what they would like to receive on the night of 5 to 6 January. In Spain it is usually written in December and handed to a royal page, posted in a royal postbox or given in during the Three Kings Parade (Cabalgata) on 5 January. Here is a fill-in template, which you can copy or print from this page, and a guide to writing it with children according to their age.

Three Kings letter template

Copy this template onto paper or card, or print this page, and let the child fill in the gaps:

If the child cannot write yet, they can draw what they want in each gap, or stick on cut-outs from a catalogue. You write their words underneath.

A practical tip: if you copy it by hand, use card or paper of 120 g or more. It holds up better to felt-tip pens, stickers and glitter, and reaches the royal postbox in one piece. Copying it by hand has another advantage: the child is involved from the very first step.

When to write the letter and when to hand it in

The usual time to write it is early December, before the Constitution Day long weekend in Spain. There are two practical reasons:

• Royal pages and royal postboxes appear in town halls, schools and shopping centres from mid-December.
• Writing it early gives you time to organise the presents. If any of them is personalised, it needs a few days for production and delivery.

To hand it in you have three options: give it to a royal page, post it in a royal postbox or take it to the Three Kings Parade on 5 January, where the pages collect letters along the route. The last option is the most exciting for children, but also the tightest on time if you want to know what they are asking for.

How to write the letter by age

Ages 2 to 4: the drawn letter

At this age the letter is a game. The child draws or sticks cut-outs in the gaps of the template, and you write underneath what they tell you. Write down their words exactly as they say them, without correcting them. In ten years' time it will be what you most enjoy rereading.

Ages 5 to 7: short sentences and few wishes

They can already write their name and simple sentences. Let them write it themselves, even if it takes a while. Help them choose three or four wishes at most: a short list makes them think about what they really want and avoids disappointment on the 6th.

From age 8: the full letter

They can write the whole letter, without a template, and describe their year in detail. It is a good moment to add a new section: asking for something for someone else, such as a grandparent, a brother or sister, or a school friend.

Structure of the letter, step by step

1. Greeting. "Dear Three Kings" or addressed to their favourite king.
2. Introduction. Name, age and town, so the Kings know where to leave the presents.
3. How they have behaved. One or two things they have done well this year and one they want to improve.
4. The wishes. Three or four, from most to least important.
5. Something for someone else. A wish for someone in the family or a friend.
6. Sign-off and signature. With a drawing or a sticker if they like.

The four-gift rule

Many families use this rule to avoid going overboard: something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. It fits the four gaps in the template and helps children understand that the letter is not a catalogue.

How to turn the letter into a keepsake

Before handing it in, take a photo or a photocopy. Keep each year's letter in an envelope with the date. Over time, that collection of letters shows how their handwriting, their tastes and the way they write their own name change.

Their name is, in fact, one of the first words a child learns to write. That is why gifts with their name work so well for the Three Kings: they recognise their name before they can read anything else.

If the letter asks for something with their name

At Fluxenna we make each piece to order, with the name, colours and size you choose. Production takes between 24 and 48 hours, plus delivery. For it to arrive before 6 January, place the order by 1 January at the latest.

Some ideas for their bedroom:

• Personalised children's letters with their name or initial.
• Bedroom door name plaques, so they know which room is theirs.
• Personalised children's lamps for the bedside table.

There are more ideas in our guide to personalised Three Kings gifts for children.

Frequently asked questions

When should you write the letter to the Three Kings?

The best time to write it is early December. That way it can be handed to a royal page in mid-December and there is time to prepare the presents. If any present is personalised, it is worth knowing what the letter says before mid-December so you can order it without rushing.

Where do you hand in the letter to the Three Kings?

It can be handed to a royal page in town halls, schools or shopping centres, posted in a royal postbox or given to the pages during the Three Kings Parade on 5 January. Each Spanish town publishes in December where and when the royal pages will be.

How many presents can you ask for in the letter?

There is no fixed number, but the usual is three or four. The four-gift rule (something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read) helps the child prioritise and avoids disappointment on the morning of the 6th.

What do I put in the letter if my child cannot write yet?

Use the template as a guide: the child draws or sticks cut-outs in each gap and an adult writes their exact words underneath. Signing with their name, even in wobbly letters, makes them feel the letter is theirs.

How do I use the letter template?

The template is on this page. You can print it from your browser or copy it by hand onto paper or card. Copying it by hand has an advantage: the child is involved from the very first step and the letter feels more personal.