Maybe we need to pay more attention to what kids are saying. Especially around the holidays, when adults can get wrapped up in ribbons and bows and sometimes forget it is the thought, not the gift that really matters.
Youth and innocence make for honest, direct answers. Funny ones, too.
No politically calculated holiday greetings from these children. Sure, they’re kids, so they want toys and games and anything electronic. But in their heartfelt letters to Santa, Wrangell elementary school students told us what’s important to them and what should be important to us: Family, school, health, helping others, and keeping the world clean.
“I would really like to give my mom free time,” wrote Jax Campbell, of Arlene Wilson’s kindergarten/first grade class.
“A wish for my mom is for her not to work so hard,” wrote Natalie Beale, student in Jennifer Davies’ third grade class.
“One wish is for my dad. He really needs a day off. He has been working all day and comes home at dark and his back always hurts. So, I want to give him a present that will help his back,” wrote Annika Gillen, of Davies’ class. “My second wish is for the world. For all the homeless people, I really want them to have a present and have a home for Christmas, please Santa.”
Houston Natt, of Laurie Hagelman’s fifth grade class, wrote Santa: “If I could do one kind thing for any person in the world, I would give my mom all my money.”
Peyton Young, a student in Hagelman’s class, thought of sending his parents out of town: “If I could do one kind thing for any person in the world, I would make it so my mom and dad get a free trip to Paris.”
Brogan Booker of the fifth grade class also thought of mom, but wanted to make it a surprise: “I would secretly give mom a note that has positive compliments about her on it.”
Cameron Young, a student in Mikki Angerman’s kindergarten/first grade class, thought of her teacher: “I would really like to give Mrs. Angerman stuff to make school easier and to have a vacation for a couple days because most of the time she’s here.”
The kids are aware of illnesses and how they affect everyone.
“I want my mom’s sister to not have brain cancer. I don't want my mom to be sad or my dad to be sad, they are really nice,” wrote Griffey Angerman, a student in Davies’ third grade class.
They are especially aware of the pandemic.
“I wish for the world for COVID-19 to stop,” wrote Connor Blake, in the third grade.
“I wish that COVID-19 would go away,” wrote Chandler Roane, also in Davies’ class.
Going a step further than stopping the disease, Everett Edens, of Hagleman’s class, wrote Santa: “If I could do one kind thing for any person in the world, I would eradicate COVID-19.”
Keeping the world clean showed up in several Santa letters.
“I wish for the world to recycle so the fish won’t die from trash,” wrote Maria Holder, a student in Davies’ class.
“I wish for the world that people will stop littering,” wrote Piper Buness, also in third grade.
Third-grader Malachi Harrison was blunt: “I have one wish for the world: It is that people would stop polluting!”
Hagelman’s fifth graders focused a lot on telling Santa that they want to help people in need.
“If I could do one kind thing for any person in the world, I would not do it for one person, I would go fishing and catch some fish, then I would have some help cooking it. Finally, I would give cooked fish to people that can’t afford food,” wrote McKenzie Smalley.
Angus Booker admitted he was getting ahead of himself a bit: “I would pay somebody’s electricity bill when they need it (and I know I don’t have an electricity bill yet).”
Delilah Clark made her request local: “If I could do one kind thing for any person in the world, I would go to a random person at the Stik and pay for their meal.”
Carter Freeman added a P.S.: “One more thing Santa, I want everyone to be treated the same way.”
Zander Bartlett summed it up for all the students with his message: “If I could do one kind thing for anyone in the world, I would give a kid who doesn’t get Christmas presents one of my toys.”
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