Christmas Messages for Granddaughter or Grandson: 48 Notes

A card from a grandparent is often the first piece of mail a child ever gets with their own name on it. Later it’s the card that arrives in a dorm room, or in a city on the other side of the world. Whatever their age, grandchildren like to hear two things: that they’re loved, and something about your world, the dog, the garden, the snow on your street. The messages below are sorted by who is opening the card, from toddlers to grandchildren with children of their own.

Christmas messages for granddaughter

For a granddaughter of any age. Add her name, and one thing she did this year that made you proud.

To our granddaughter: you lit up every room you walked into this year. Merry Christmas, sweetheart.
Dear Ella, the bird feeder you painted for us is full of chickadees every morning. We think of you each time we fill it.
Merry Christmas to the girl who beat her grandpa at chess three times in a row. He’s been practicing.
My darling granddaughter, I hope your stocking is heavy, your hot chocolate is sweet and your Christmas is as lovely as you are.
Watching you dance in the school concert was the best evening of our year. Merry Christmas, our little star.
To my granddaughter, now taller than me: Merry Christmas. You’ll always be small enough for a hug.
Dear Grace, I’ve kept the paper crown you wore last Christmas. It’s on my dresser, waiting for you to come and wear it again.

Christmas messages for grandson

For a grandson who builds things, kicks things, reads everything or talks nonstop. Tell him what you’ve noticed.

To our grandson, the best snowman builder in the family: Merry Christmas, and keep that carrot handy.
Dear Jack, Grandpa has found his old train set in the attic. It’s waiting under our tree for you.
Merry Christmas to the boy who knows the names of every dinosaur and most of the planets. We’re so proud of you.
To my grandson: you made me laugh so hard this summer that I spilled my tea. Merry Christmas, you rascal.
Dear Leo, I hope Christmas brings you mud, snow, books and anything with wheels. Love from Grandma.
Merry Christmas, Daniel. You helped me stack the firewood in October, and every log that burns this winter has your name on it.
To our grandson, who always remembers to say thank you: you make us proud every single day. Enjoy every minute of Christmas.

For little grandchildren

For children who are too young to read, so someone will read the card aloud. Short lines and pictures they can imagine work best.

Merry Christmas, little one! Grandma’s cat is wearing a red bow and she wants to play with you.
Look out of your window on Christmas Eve. The same moon is shining on our house, and we’re waving at it for you.
There’s a reindeer on our roof. Well, it might be a crow. Come and check when you visit.
We hung a stocking for you at our house too, so Santa knows you belong here as well.
Big hugs for the smallest person in our family. Merry Christmas, from Granny and Grandad.
Our tree has one ornament for every grandchild. Yours is the little silver bell right at the front.

For teenage grandchildren

Teenagers roll their eyes at sentiment, then quietly keep the card. Keep it light, and keep it real.

Merry Christmas! I won’t ask about your grades if you’ll show me how to send a picture on my phone.
I hear you’re driving now. Merry Christmas, and please come and visit, slowly.
To our grandson, who is too cool for Christmas cards: we wrote one anyway. Love you.
You have your own taste in music now, and somehow it’s the same music your dad listened to. Merry Christmas, sweetheart.
Whatever this year brought you, you handled it with more grace than most grown-ups. Merry Christmas.
There’s a twenty-dollar bill (or a tenner) in here. Spend it on something silly. Love, Grandma.

For grown-up grandchildren

For grandchildren at college, in their first apartment or with a partner and children of their own.

To our grandson at college: there’s a parcel on its way with socks, cookies and a note from the dog. Merry Christmas.
Dear Sophie, your first Christmas in your own apartment. Put up a tree, however small, and call us when it’s lit.
We’re so proud of the woman you’ve become, and still a little amazed that the baby we rocked to sleep is hosting Christmas dinner.
Thank you both for bringing the great-grandchildren to see us. It made our whole year.
You may be grown, but at our house you’re still the one who’s allowed to open a present on Christmas Eve.
When you were small, you asked if Christmas could last forever. In our house, a little of it always does. All our love.

For grandchildren far away

For grandparents who stayed while the family moved, to Boston, London, Sydney or Toronto, and for the cards that cross an ocean every December.

Dear Aoife, it’s snowing on the hills behind the farm and the sheep look like they’re wearing coats. We wish you were here to see it.
We can’t hug you this Christmas, so we’ve wrapped one up and sent it in this card. Open it carefully.
When you light the candle in your window on Christmas Eve, we’ll be lighting ours, and we’ll be thinking of you the whole time.
Your photos are all over our fridge. The neighbors know every one of your teeth.
We’ll be on the video call early on Christmas morning, before your breakfast and after our dinner. Show us your presents.
Merry Christmas from the old house. Your swing is still hanging in the apple tree, waiting for next summer.
There’s an ocean in the way this year, but nothing in the way of our love. We’ll see you in the spring.

Christmas messages for all the grandchildren

For one card to a whole family of grandchildren, or the group message to cousins scattered across several houses.

To all our grandchildren, from the oldest to the newest: you are the best thing that ever happened to this family.
Six grandchildren, six stockings and one very tired Santa’s helper. Merry Christmas, all of you.
We love you all the same, and each of you differently. Merry Christmas, darlings.
Our table is longer every year, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Merry Christmas to all the grandchildren.
To our grandchildren in three different towns: may you all look up at the same stars this Christmas Eve.

A first Christmas for a new grandchild

For a baby who won’t remember it, and parents who will.

Welcome to your very first Christmas, little one. You won’t remember it, but we will forever.
Merry first Christmas to our new grandson. The whole family has been waiting for you.
To our granddaughter, three months old and already the center of every photograph. Merry Christmas, sweet girl.
This card is for your memory box. One day you’ll read it and know how happy you made us, the very first Christmas you were here.

Make it personal

Write about something they did. “You fed the ducks every morning at the cottage” means more than “you’re special”. Children love being reminded of their own stories.

Tell them something about your world. The robin on your fence, the frost on the car, the neighbor’s dog. A small detail lets a faraway grandchild picture where you are.

Use the names you use. Grandma or Nan, Grandpa or Grandad, or the name your family has always used, in whatever language. Sign the card the way they say your name.

Leave something for later. A promise (“we’ll make the gingerbread house together in January”) gives them something to look forward to after the presents are gone.

For cards going the other way, from grandchildren to their grandparents, see our page of notes for Grandma, Grandpa and elderly relatives. For more lines in every tone, there’s our main collection of card messages.

Our Christmas Cottage card shows a thatched stone cottage at twilight, a candlelit tree in the garden and a robin on the fence, the kind of house every grandchild imagines Christmas at Grandma’s to look like.

Questions

How much should a grandparent write in a card to a child?

For young children, two or three lines that can be read aloud. For older grandchildren, a short paragraph is fine: what you’ve been doing, something you’re proud of, and when you’ll see them.

Can I send an ecard to a grandchild who doesn’t have email?

Yes. Send it to a parent by email or text, and they can play it for the child on a phone or tablet.

Is it all right to put money in a grandchild’s Christmas card?

Many families do, and children usually love it. With a digital card, mention the gift in the message (“look in your stocking for an envelope from us”) so it doesn’t get lost in the fun.