Who this is for
Adults and older children who are in on the joke. A colleague who keeps stealing the good mugs, a brother who ate the chocolates, a flatmate who has still not put the recycling out. Printed on card and slipped into a Secret Santa gift, it lands well.
It is not for a young child who believes in the list. A four year old handed an official notice saying they are on the naughty list does not read it as a joke, and the result is tears rather than a laugh. The nice list certificate exists for that age group.
The second chance line
Every version ends with a line saying the decision is provisional and can be reversed by Christmas Eve, with space to write what would do it. Even when the whole thing is a joke, that line is what keeps it affectionate rather than mean.
For a slightly younger child who is in on it, fill in the second chance line with something achievable and specific and then honour it. The certificate becomes a game rather than a verdict.
Two versions
The certificate is the formal one, with a border and a signature. The warning notice is smaller and plainer, designed to be left somewhere to be found: a desk, a fridge, a games console. Four warning notices print to a page.
Questions
- Is a naughty list certificate suitable for a young child?
- No. A child who believes in the list reads an official notice as a verdict rather than a joke. Use the nice list certificate for younger children and keep this one for adults and older children who are in on it.
- What is the second chance line?
- A line saying the decision is provisional until Christmas Eve, with space to write what would reverse it. It keeps the joke affectionate, and with an older child it turns the certificate into a game.
- Can I use this for an office Secret Santa?
- Yes, that is one of the better uses. Printed on card and tucked into a gift it works well, as long as the recipient has the sort of humour that enjoys it.
- Is there a smaller version?
- Yes. The warning notice prints four to a page and is meant to be left somewhere to be discovered rather than handed over.