Kids' Christmas List: One Wishlist to Share With the Family

Who wrote this. The wishdo.io team, so the examples use wishdo. It is free: it handles no payments and takes no commission. Every button and setting we name was checked against wishdo on 12 November 2026.

Why one list for the whole family

No duplicates. Two grandmothers, one remote-control car: a shared list where gifts can be reserved ends that.
One link instead of ten messages. Everyone asks "What does she want?" at once. An online wishlist answers all of them with one link, in their own language and with each shop's own currency.
The child's real wishes. The list starts from what the child asked for, not from what adults guess.
Something at every price. A cousin can pick a book, a godparent the big set.

How to make a kids' wishlist in 10 minutes

Start with the child's letter. Let them write or draw what they want. Ask about the details while they are excited: which colour, which size, which series.
Create a list in your account. The list lives with you, so the child does not need an account. In "More settings", choose "For someone else" under "Who the gifts are for" and type the child's name: everyone who opens the list sees whom the gifts are for.
Add each wish. Paste a link from any shop and the name, photo and price fill in, or write an idea without a link ("LEGO set with a fire station, any"). Put size, colour or age in "Description".
Mark the favourites. "Wish priority" has four steps from "Idea" to "Dream": set "Dream" on the one thing the child talks about every day.
Mix the prices. Five to ten wishes from a small surprise to the main gift, so every relative finds something.
One list per child and per occasion. Siblings get their own lists, and the birthday list stays separate from the Christmas one. Not sure what to suggest? See wish list ideas by age.

The list “Letter to Santa” as a relative opens it by link: “For: Leo”, the console marked “Dream” and shared by several givers, the LEGO box “Reserved”.

Create a wishlist

Add products from any shop or write an idea without a link.

Make a Christmas wishlist

Send one link. Tap "Share" and copy the link into the family chat. With "Who can see it" set to "By link", anyone with the link opens the list, and relatives with an account reserve without following you.
Grandparents without an account. Reserving needs an account by default. In the list's "More settings", set "Reservations without registration" to "Allowed", and they reserve with just a name, or without leaving any details. Such a reservation lasts two weeks, so ask them to reserve close to buying.
Family abroad. wishdo speaks 28 languages, and each wish keeps its shop's currency, so a grandfather in another country reads the list in his own language.
A big gift together. Turn on "Several people can reserve it" for a bike or a games console and choose "At most" with the number of givers: each reserves a share, and the money stays between you, not on the site.

The list’s “More settings”: “Who the gifts are for” set to “For someone else” with the child’s name, and “Reservations without registration” set to “Allowed”.

How reservations work in detail, and who sees what: wishlist gift reservations explained.

How to keep the surprise

Keep the link for adults. Anyone who opens the list sees "Reserved" on the gifts already taken, the child included.
Show the child the list from your account. Turn on "Surprise mode" (Settings → "Page access", or for one list in "More settings"): reservations are hidden from you, so the child looking over your shoulder sees no marks either.
Gifts "from Santa" or from you. Reserve them yourself, so relatives do not buy them too.
Who gave what. You see who reserved a gift once you mark it "Fulfilled", in time for the thank-you notes.

The same list in the parent’s account with “Surprise mode” on: every wish reads “Surprise mode”, and no gift shows as “Reserved”.

Several children and a big family

Make a list for each child and send each link to the people who give to that child. At Christmas, for the adults, a Secret Santa draw saves everyone from buying for twelve people: each draws one name and sees that person's wishlist. Our Secret Santa guide has the rules for families.

What to write in the family chat

"Lots of you asked what Emma wants for her birthday, so here's her list: [link]. Reserve what you'll give, then nobody doubles up."
"Leo wrote his letter to Santa! We put it online: [link]. The bike is a shared gift, reserve a share if you'd like to join in."
"No pressure at all, but if you're stuck for ideas, both kids' lists are here: [link] and [link]."

More ready texts for invitations and money gifts: how to hint at a gift.

Frequently asked questions

No. The list lives in your account, with the child's name under "Who the gifts are for", and relatives open it from your link.

Only if they open the link themselves: visitors see which gifts are reserved, though not by whom. Show the list from your account with "Surprise mode" on, and no marks appear.

Yes, if you allow reservations without registration for the list. They then reserve with a name or with nothing, and the reservation lasts two weeks.

The list belongs to one account. Share it with the other parent by link: they see the same list and its reservations, and either of you can reserve gifts for the child.

Both. Keep the letter for the magic and the memories, and turn its wishes into an online list for the family, so the gifts match what the child really asked for.