My little girl’s first best friend moved away this summer. They go way back. Five years. Her mother and I became friends while we were pregnant with our little ladies; they were destined to be friends in the womb! Years of playdates, birthdays and countless memories later and these two buddies found themselves having to say goodbye. It was so sad. We fit in as much time together as we could during those last weeks leading up to their departure. Their last evening in town we had a special dinner and the girls exchanged small gifts: a framed photograph and a package of pen pal materials. And just like that, my {almost} five year old received her first pen pal.
Somewhere in the world of texting and emails, we have lost the appreciation of a handwritten note. Somewhere in the busy school day of standardized testing and accountability, we have missed opportunities to practice penmanship. It amazes and saddens me how many children struggle with writing a friendly letter; how many do not know how to address an envelope. But there are easy and fun ways to engage your child (or young children in your life) in letter writing…and having someone special to write to is a great start. 🙂
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- Find a Pen Pal. This can be anyone with whom your child would be interested in talking to: a grandparent, a cousin, a friend, etc. The most important thing is commitment. Both parties must be excited, ready and willing to participate to make it a successful pen pal relationship.
- Create a Letter Template. Your child (especially younger children) may find this particularly useful when first getting started. Be sure to include the five basic parts of friendly letter: Date, Greeting, Body, Closing and Signature. Create your own version, or use this free printable letter writing set from Picklebums.
- Supply Fun Materials. Create a letter writing station in your home. This can be as simple as a clipboard and a box of pen pal supplies. Who doesn’t love stickers?! These emoji stickers are adorable! Throw in some colored pens like this Gelgliders gel pen set, fun stationary and a stamp pad like this Colorbox Pinwheel Inkpad for older kids or Melissa & Doug Jumbo Multicolor Stamp Pad for the younger ones and watch what they come up with! I had a bunch of random cards from over the years that my daughter started off by using. We have since been online shopping for new cards and stationary. This ALEX DIY Card Crafter (amazon) and Art of Pixar: 100 Collectable Postcards are top on our list to add to our box.
- Assist with the Mailing. You may also want to create a template to assist your child with addressing an envelope. Provide them with access to your address book to look up names and addresses needed or provide them with a kids’ address book (or materials to make their own!) to begin keeping their own record of friends and family members. A trip to the post office where they can purchase their own stamps (with money from their piggy banks) and drop in the drop box would make for a fun field trip!
These are just a few ways to inspire your little writer and help preserve the lost art of letter writing. It is a sad day when you go to the mailbox to find it filled with only bills and junk mail. And let’s face it, those days are very common. Encourage your child to brighten someone’s day with a special noteJ.
What role does writing play in your home? Do you think your child would be interested in having a pen pal? What types of materials would get them most excited?
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