A Christmas Gift for Grandkids in Another State, Like a Call From Santa
By the Santa Wishes team · Updated November 8, 2026 · Facts checked November 8, 2026 · How we check our guides
The Christmas gifts that travel best from another state are the ones that don't need a box: a phone call from Santa, a personalized Santa video, or a video call with you. A call from Santa is a lovely fit, because it happens at home, in your grandchild's own voice, and you can give it from another state with a gift code.
If you'd also like to send something they can hold, a letter or a package still works, as long as you mail it in time. Below are the main options, how to plan each one from a distance, and a few small touches that let the grandkids know it came from you.
Christmas gifts you can send from another state
| Gift idea | What the child gets | What to plan for | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A phone call from Santa | A two-way call that uses their first name | A time that suits the family, and a US phone number to ring | Young kids who love to talk |
| A personalized Santa video | A video made around their details | Someone to set it up, and a screen to watch it on | Kids who'd rather watch than talk |
| A letter or package by mail | Something to hold and keep | Ship-by dates, which change every year | Kids who love getting mail |
| A video call with you | Time with their grandparent | Matching up time zones | Any age, any year |
None of these have to be either-or. A Santa call in early December, a package in the mail and a video call with you on Christmas Day make a lovely set.
Why a call from Santa suits grandparents far away
When you can't be there on Christmas morning, most gifts come down to a box on a porch. A call is different. It's something your grandchild does, in their own voice, at home.
- Nothing to ship. No package to track, and nothing to arrive late.
- It feels personal. Santa calls your grandchild by name and knows the little things the family shared.
- You can share in it afterwards. There is a recording, so the family can play it for you.
- It can help you shop. Santa's notes may tell you it's not just "a bike" but a red bike with a bell.
Santa Wishes is one way to do this. It's a three to five minute two-way phone call from Santa to a US phone number. It can be given as a gift with a code, and it's $19 for one call.
How to give a Santa call from another state
Because Santa calls the family's phone, the parents or guardians need to be part of the plan. Here is a simple way to do it.
- Talk to the parents first. Ask if they'd like a call from Santa this year, and what kind. Some families love wish list talk. Others would rather skip presents altogether.
- Give the call as a gift. A Santa Wishes gift is a code for one call, $19.
- Set up the details. Whoever sets up the call tells Santa the child's first name and age, their wish list, a good thing they did this year, something to gently encourage, and extras like a pet's name. The parents are usually best placed to do this, since they know the details and the phone Santa will ring.
- Pick the kind of call. There are three: Wish list, Just the magic (no gift talk) and The meaning of Christmas.
- Choose a time. Calls can be scheduled between 8:00 am and 8:30 pm, up to 90 days ahead, or started with Call now.
- Ask for the recording. Afterwards, whoever set up the call gets Santa's notes, with every wish in the child's own words and the one they want most, plus the MP3 recording and transcript for 30 days. Then they are deleted, so ask the family to save the MP3 and send you a copy.
A tip for different states: agree on the time by the kids' clock, not yours. "Right after dinner on their end" is easier than time zone math.
What Santa will and won't say
This matters to most parents, so it's worth knowing before you suggest it.
- Santa never promises a specific gift. If your granddaughter asks for a puppy, Santa will say he'll talk to the elves. That keeps the parents out of a tough spot on Christmas morning.
- Santa never asks for personal details. He won't ask for an address, school, last name or anything personal.
- It's a conversation. The call is two-way, so your grandchild gets to talk, not just listen.
- A missed call isn't lost. If nobody answers, or the call drops in under 45 seconds, the call can be tried again, up to 4 tries.
A personalized Santa video instead
If your grandchild is very young or shy on the phone, a video can be the gentler gift. Portable North Pole, for example, has a free Santa app for iOS and Android where you can make personalized Santa videos, calls, chats and stories, then share them with family anywhere. Check its site for what is free and what costs extra this year.
If you're mailing something too
A letter or package still has its own magic, especially for kids who love the mailbox. Leave enough time. On its holiday page, USPS lists recommended ship-by dates for expected delivery before December 25 in the contiguous U.S.: December 17 for First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail, and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. These are recommendations, not guarantees, so earlier is safer. Check https://www.usps.com/holiday/ for the latest, especially if your grandkids live in Alaska or Hawaii.
Small touches that make it feel like it's from you
You may not be in the room, but you can still be part of the moment. Whatever you give, send the parents a few details to pass along:
- A good thing you noticed. "She read me a whole book over the phone in October." If it's shared with Santa, your grandchild may be amazed he knew.
- Something to gently encourage. Sharing toys, trying new foods, being brave at the dentist.
- The pet's name. Kids light up when Santa knows the dog is called Biscuit.
- A note from you. Tuck the gift code in a card: "Santa is going to call you. Love, Grandma and Grandpa."
More than one grandchild
If you want every grandchild to hear their own name and talk about their own wishes, plan a call for each child, so Santa's attention is all theirs. Each Santa Wishes call is $19. Grandkids in different households will each need a call to their own family's US phone number.
A few practical notes
- US phone numbers only. Santa Wishes calls US phone numbers, so it works for grandkids in the US, not abroad.
- No need to rush. Calls can be scheduled up to 90 days ahead, so you can set it up whenever you've talked with the parents.
- Save the recording within 30 days. After that, the recording and transcript are deleted.
A call from Santa won't fit in a stocking. But for a grandparent a few states away, hearing your grandchild tell Santa about the red bike they've been dreaming of might be the best gift you get, too.
Questions people ask
What's a good Christmas gift I can send my grandkids from another state?
Gifts that don't need shipping travel best: a call from Santa, a personalized Santa video or a video call with you. A letter or package also works if you mail it by the carrier's ship-by dates.
Can I give a call from Santa if I live in a different state?
Yes. A Santa Wishes call can be given as a gift with a code, $19 for one call. Santa calls a US phone number, so what matters is the family's phone, not which state you live in.
Do the parents need to be involved?
Yes. The call rings the family's phone, and whoever sets it up tells Santa the child's first name and age, wish list, a good thing they did this year and extras like a pet's name. Check with them before you give it.
Will Santa promise my grandchild a specific present?
No. Santa never promises a specific gift. If a child asks for something, he'll say he'll talk to the elves. Families who'd rather skip gift talk can choose Just the magic.
Can I hear the call too?
Whoever sets up the call gets Santa's notes, the MP3 recording and a transcript afterwards. They're kept for 30 days and then deleted, so ask the family to save the recording and send you a copy.
When should I mail a package so it arrives by Christmas?
USPS lists recommended ship-by dates for expected delivery before December 25 in the contiguous U.S.: December 17 for First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Check usps.com for the latest.
Sources
- Santa Wishes: a personalized phone call from Santa santawishes.app
- USPS Holiday Ship-by Dates for December 25 Delivery usps.com
- Santa App for Videos and Calls, Portable North Pole portablenorthpole.com