Kids these days might use all kinds of technology to stay in touch with each other, but it’s still a good idea for them to learn how to write a letter. Writing letters to people can be a lot of fun, and receiving something back is enjoyable too. Learning how to write a letter can also be helpful for other forms of communication, such as writing emails. Sometimes writing a letter is the best way to get in touch with people, such as sending something special or sending a complaint letter. Here’s how and why you should consider a letter writing project with your children.
Why Write Letters?
Writing letters might seem like an archaic practice. After all, you can send an email, an instant message, a text, or call someone with both voice and video options available. But both writing and receiving handwritten letters can be a lot of fun for children. It can also help them develop several valuable skills, from improving their handwriting to writing using different tones and vocabulary. Your children can write letters just for practice, or they can send them to someone and receive letters in return.
Choose People to Write To
If you’re thinking about sending some letters, think about who you can send them to. This could help motivate your children if you get them to suggest who they might like to write to or offer them some choices. They might like to write to a friend or family member, especially someone they don’t see in person very often. Or they could write letters to someone fictional as a fun way to practice writing. They could even write letters for their future self, which you could put away later or put into a time capsule.
Examine the Process of Sending a Letter
Writing and sending a letter can help your child to learn many skills. First, there’s writing the letter by hand formatting it in the right way. Then, letters need to be placed into envelopes, and they need to have the correct stamps attached. This could be a chance to do some work with money to figure out how much you need to pay to send the letter. Then the letter needs to be sent in the mail, whether it’s dropped into a mailbox or taken to the post office.
Encourage Different Types of Writing
Letter writing with your children can also give them a chance to explore different types of writing. They can write different types of letters for various people, whether it’s a casual letter to a friend or something more formal to send as an invitation, a thank you, or to send to a favorite celebrity. They could also try out writing things like stories or poems, which are fun to send to people.
Try to write some letters with your children, and they’re sure to enjoy the fun of sending and receiving various letters.
