With Christmas just around the corner, there has never been a better time to get in touch with your sponsor child.

Writing a letter to your sponsor child gives you and your family an opportunity to create a cross-cultural relationship that can be very rewarding. Research has shown it has tangible effects for the child too. It seems sponsored children who receive letters from their sponsors have higher self-esteem and even perform better at school.

There is no doubt that building a relationship with the child is beneficial. However, it can be tricky to write to someone you don't know, who comes from a different culture, race, language and family background. It's very important to be sensitive to these issues and to consider, for example, how a child whose family struggles to get enough to eat might feel while reading about your recent skiing holiday to Japan.

That's why we have developed a few guidelines to help you when writing to your sponsor child. They make it easy to navigate the sensitive topics and make your letter-writing experience simple and enjoyable. To help get you started, we've created this template. Just print it, fill it in, and send it to the appropriate partner office.

What to include

Remember that to the child you are sponsoring, you are a stranger who has committed to supporting them in an incredible way. They are curious about you!

• Tell the child about your family and their daily activities
• Talk about your pets, hobbies, garden, job, school, etc. If you have children, encourage them to write or draw too.
• Ask about their hobbies and interests, as well as their school and family.
• Send them photos. Sponsored children treasure photos of their sponsor.

Sensitive topics

• Although most Asian Aid boarding schools will celebrate Christmas, remember that your child may be from a non-Christian background and may feel uncomfortable with too much emphasis placed on the occasion. Think of Christmas as a wonderful time to show them how much you care without needing to include the traditional Western 'Christmassy' parts.
• Don't criticise the child's religion, culture or political system.
• It is best to avoid obvious expressions of personal wealth.
• Avoid making promises that you may find difficult to keep. If you would like to help your child more, contact Asian Aid first.

Many sponsors like to give gifts to their sponsor child, especially around Christmas or their birthday. This is a lovely gesture, but Asian Aid encourages sponsors to keep it simple.

Children who are fortunate enough to have a generous sponsor have to go back to a classroom, home or dormitory with other children who might not be in the same position. If a child is given extravagant gifts, it can single them out for bullying and jealousy. Small, personal gifts are best - for example, a framed photograph of yourself or your family, or gifts that your child can share with other children, like a ball, hair bands, coloured pencils or a packet of balloons.

Another option is donating towards Asian Aid's gift fund. We use this money to provide every child in our program with a practical gift at Christmas time.

Child sponsorship is a unique and special way of connecting with children who are full of potential. Help them reach it by showing them you care this Christmas.

To find the right address for your child, click here or for more information about giving gifts, click here.