WASHINGTON — If your kid is writing a letter to Santa, the U.S. Postal Service has devised a way for Santa to respond.

The Letters From Santa program lets kids receive responses from Santa (with a little secret help from their parents) complete with a North Pole postmark. Here’s how to do it:

• When your child writes to Santa, have them put it in an envelope addressed to Santa Claus, North Pole.
• Later, when your kid’s not around, open the envelope and write Santa’s response. (Have someone else in the family do it if your child knows your handwriting.)
• Put the response in an envelope and address it to your child, and use “Santa, North Pole,” as the return address.
• Put a first-class stamp on it.
• Put the envelope, with the stamp on it, into a larger envelope, and mail it (with the proper postage) to:

North Pole Postmark
Postmaster
4141 Postmark Drive
Anchorage, AK 99530-9998

It’s got to get there by Dec. 15.

The Postal Service advises that you write the response on the back of your child’s original letter — not only does it save paper; it serves as a reminder of what he or she wrote. And make the response as personalized as you can: Santa sees you when you’re sleeping as well as when you’re awake, so your child will be impressed that Santa’s been paying attention.