5 tips for getting kids excited about letter writing

5 tips for getting kids excited about letter writing

I’m always looking for ways to encourage and introduce letter writing to people, especially the younger set, so today I’m sharing 5 tips for getting kids excited about letter writing (secretly, I’m really trying to ensure that the art of letter writing gets passed along to the next generation, but don’t tell them).

Given that we are only two days away from National Letter Writing Month  (I trust you’ve marked your calenders) there is no better time then right now to invite the kids to the letter writing party. Here are 5 tips to get kids excited about letter writing:

1) Make it fun

• Go on an outing to your nearest postal outlet and ask your friendly Canada Post employee if they might show you  ‘behind-the-scenes’ on what goes on (this may or may not be feasible, but I’m all about asking).
• After your inspiring visit, consider making a postal outlet in your home (or school) and let the kids ‘play’ post office.

2) Pick out stamps

• While you are at the postal outlet, have your kid ask to see all the stamps available to purchase and pick out their favorite. As you can see, I own a hockey fan and when he saw these completely awesome over sized stamps (they look like hockey cards, but are mammoth sized stamps instead) he already knew exactly who he wanted to send them to.

3) Irresistible stationery supplies

• Let the kids use the stuff that you normally don’t let them use; the fancy paper, the beautiful cards, the special pen, the typewriter (should you have one). Or maybe you sit in the ‘office’ or special place in the house where they aren’t normally encouraged to make a mess in. Making their own envelopes really gets them involved and then they can continue to create their own ‘line of stationery.’ Make sure they sign the back, ‘designed by barb, ‘ so they can feel professional and proud of what they have made.

4) Anticipation of mail in the mailbox

• There is nothing  like a walk to the mailbox and finding a piece of mail with your name on it! I know that I can hardly contain my own delight, but imagine how this could be so special for a kid who may have never received something addressed to them before. Enlist the help of a good friend, a grandparent, (or even yourself) and have them write a letter to your kid. You only get mail if you send mail, so this just whets the appetite of what goodness can show up in the mailbox.

5) Pen pals

• Sometimes we may not know who to suggest that our kids write a letter to, especially after exhausting all family member options. There are some fantastic snail mail exchanges, but one in particular that is a favorite of mine for kids, is The Petit Cadeau .
• Another idea is to suggest a letter writing exchange to the teacher at school; perhaps from class to class or from one school to another.

What would you add to this list?

Next time we talk, it will be April and I can’t wait to hear how you are celebrating National Letter Writing Month!

Until then,

Barb