How to make letter writing fun for kids.
Bringing back the lost art of the Handwritten Letter.
Who doesn’t love getting a handwritten letter in the mail! Let’s face it, no matter how old you are, you love to get a letter!
The lost art of handwritten letters may be making a comeback! With kids staying home in an effort to stay healthy, kids have been writing handwritten letters to their friends near and far.
So I will just say it…
I bet your kids do not know how to address an envelope! I was SHOCKED when I handed my kids an envelope and they didn’t even know where the stamp went….WHAT?????? Yep, this is the truth, kids today do not know how to write their address, label an envelope correctly, and place a stamp!
Writing a formal friendly letter, addressing and envelope, using the US Postal Service and/or delivering the letter (folded in a cool way) by bicycle are all ways that can make letter writing fun!!!
How to Teach your kids how to write a letter
There is an amazing educational site called Brainpop Jr. that is offering free access to families learning at home. You just click on the link above, sign up for free and watch the video about sending a letter!
It dawned on me, that even though they teach letter writing in school, (in pretty much every grade by the way), kids still need a reminder of how to write a formal friendly letter. What a fun thing to teach your kids while doing school at home!
If you have old handwritten letters from a parent or grandparent show them. They will love to see the handwriting and the meaningful messages.
I’ve posted a free letter writing template on my freebies page. Feel free to grab it. You can also just use notebook paper or any fun paper you have at home! Kids love to use fun supplies for writing.
My kids love to use paper with handwriting lines and this colorful notebook paper. Fun pens always make letter writing more fun too!!! There are several types of pens that my kids go crazy over: smelly pens, gel pens, and erasable pens. These felt tip pens are my favorites! I have to hide them from my kids!
Put your kids to work handwriting letters and let them deliver it or send it in the mail. You will see how much your kids love doing this.
Using the US Postal Service
We recently moved to Michigan, and my kids have enjoyed going to the post office, picking out their own book of stamps, and mailing letters to their old friends to keep in touch. I mean, come on, who doesn’t love to get mail?!?
Did you know that if you ask at the post office or click here to see all their kid themed stamps. There are so many fun themes for kids. Each of my kids got to pick out their own book of stamps…they ranged from Sesame Street Characters to Hotwheels cars, to Woodstock…LOL…yep, my 7 year old like the fun colors of the woodstock days. It’s fitting really…lol! Anyway, they were so excited to use their very own stamps! There is also a certain nostalgia about sending a letter and waiting in anticipation for a response.
Delivering Handwritten Letters on Bicycle
You can write and deliver a letter to your friend right in your neighborhood. With kids at home and learning time being at home, you can use this time to write letters! It also gives your kids a reason to get out and be physical. I little bike ride is good for all of us!
My kids have also been delivering letters to friends in our neighborhoods by bike! They ride on over to their friends, stick the letter in the mailbox (keeping 6 feet away of course), then I text the parents to let them know a letter was delivered. They can’t wait to get a response back!
I know you all folded your letters like this… Your kids can too!!!
Enjoy the little moments while home with your kids! Sharing old letters is a great way to spend time with your kids! I dare you to share some of the old letters you wrote to your friends…
Comment below if you used to fold your letters like a paper football…Lol! Click here to learn how to fold a note! Enjoy!!!