Guides: what to write and how to say it
Examples, checklists and quick quizzes for every card and message.
Each guide answers one question people ask, such as what to write in a birthday card or how to run a Secret Santa. Start with the answer, try the examples, then put your message in a link with the matching tool.
All guides (13)
Birthdays
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Kids' Birthday Message Ideas by Age What to write in a child's birthday card from age 1 to 12: short examples for each age, a quick quiz, who it is from, and what to leave out. What to write, goes with Birthday - What to Write in a Birthday Message for Anyone How to write a birthday message that feels personal, with a simple three-part formula and ideas for friends, family, partners, colleagues and children. What to write, goes with Birthday
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What to Write in a Milestone Birthday Message: 18th to 60th How to write a milestone birthday message that sounds like you: what to say for an 18th, 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th or 60th, and what to leave out. What to write, goes with Milestone Birthday
Christmas & Winter
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Christmas Countdown Ideas for Families How to count down to Christmas with kids: simple countdown ideas, a live days-left counter, a plan with 2026 dates, and a quiz to pick the right style. Ideas, goes with Christmas -
How to Write a Christmas Card from the Whole Family How to write a short, warm family Christmas card: who signs it, what to say, how to share news and what to leave out, with examples for relatives and friends. How to, goes with Christmas Card from the Family -
What to Write for Christmas Jumper Day: Messages and Ideas How to write a short, cheerful Christmas Jumper Day message for friends, family, children, colleagues and teachers, with ideas for jokes and thank-yous. What to write, goes with Christmas Jumper Day -
How to Run a Secret Santa: Rules, Budget and Etiquette A step-by-step plan for organizing a Secret Santa for a team, family or friends: setting the budget, drawing names fairly and keeping it kind. How to, goes with Secret Santa -
How to Write a Letter from Santa That Feels Real A parent's guide to writing a warm, personal letter from Santa: what to include, how long to make it and how to keep the magic believable. How to, goes with Letter from Santa -
How to Write a Letter to Santa: A Simple Guide for Kids and Parents How to help a child write a letter to Santa: what to include, how to keep it short, where to send it and how to share the wish list with family. How to, goes with Kid's Letter to Santa -
What to Write for a Summer Christmas: Messages and Ideas How to write a short, warm Christmas message for a hot day, with ideas for family, friends, colleagues and people on the other side of the world. What to write, goes with Summer Christmas - What to Write in a Christmas Card: A Simple Guide Short, specific ways to write a Christmas message that sounds like you, with ideas for family, friends, partners, colleagues and clients. What to write, goes with Christmas
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What to Write on Christmas Eve: Messages and Ideas How to write a short, warm Christmas Eve message for family, friends, partners and children, with ideas for traditions and for people who are far away. What to write, goes with Christmas Eve
Milestones & Work
No guides of this type yet.
Where to go next
Ready to send something? See the Birthdays and Holidays pages for every tool, or browse all occasions. Every guide ends with a link to the tool it goes with.
Questions about the guides
What are Say Wishes guides?
Guides are short, practical articles on what to write and how to say it for a birthday, a holiday or a work moment. Each one has examples you can copy, a checklist, and a link to the tool that puts your message in a shareable link.
Are the guides free to use?
Yes. Every guide, message example and tool on Say Wishes is free, with no sign-up. You can copy a message from a guide, change a few words and use it anywhere.
Do the guides include ready-made messages?
Most do. Many have a picker that shows messages for different people, or a builder that fills in your own details. There are also pages of ready-made birthday wishes and Christmas wishes.
How are the guides written and checked?
Guides are written for Say Wishes and checked against named sources before publishing, and dates are checked against official calendars. Read more on the editorial policy page.