Sending emails can help your child learn more about computers and how to type.Īlternatively, you can have your child write a letter, then scan and send it via email. On the other hand, email is faster and easier. They allow your child to work on their handwriting and there’s certainly something to be said for the excitement of receiving a letter with your name on it in the mail. Handwritten letters have a special personal touch. Ultimately, it’s up to you, your child, and your child’s new pen pal. Should Your Child Use Snail Mail or Email?įinally, you might be wondering whether your child should communicate with a pen pal via handwritten letters or emails. The musical instrument you’re learning and how often you practice.An amazing thing that happened to you recently.Fun or interesting information since your last letter.A recent gift you received and why you like it.Something kind you did for someone recently.Your goal and what you do to achieve it.Your previous pen pal (if you had one before).Three things you are grateful for right now.A sport you play and how often you practice.
Places you’ve visited or would like to visit.Sometimes, coming up with something to write about is the hardest part of being a pen pal. Your child may also send a quick note to be certain everything is okay. At the same time, try to be patient if the pen pal is taking l to respond. If there’s going to be a delay in sending letters, let the pen pal know so they aren’t left wondering. Creating a basic routine, like writing to your pen pal every Wednesday after school, helps it become a habit. Once you’ve agreed to some basic guidelines, keep it going. This ensures both pen pals are on the same page and won’t feel ignored, neglected, or impatient if one pen pal prefers to write just once a week or every other week. Keep It Going At the start of the pen pal relationship, decide together how often letters will be exchanged. Sometimes, an overly long letter can be overwhelming for the recipient.ģ. Another rule of thumb to encourage responses is to keep letters to two pages or less. For instance, if your child writes about a fun beach trip, they could ask, “What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?” or, “Where have you always wanted to travel?” Once the letters begin flowing, your child can ask for updates on information the pen pal has shared, like, “How did your baseball game go last week?”Īsking questions also makes it more likely your child’s pen pal will continue to respond. Some questions may be related to what your child just wrote.
Encourage your child to switch between talking about themselves and asking their pen pal a few questions. Just like in regular conversation, it’s important to show interest in learning about the other person. Of course, if you want to get in some vocabulary practice, throwing in a few vocabulary words is fine, too! There’s no need to impress your pen pal with embellished stories or big words. Your child’s natural personality, interests, and sense of humor should shine through. The best pen pal letters are conversational so you can almost “hear” the writer as you read. 3 Tips to Help Children to Be a Great Pen PalĮncourage your child to write the same way they would normally speak. If your child would like to have a pen pal, check out these tips, topic suggestions, and more to get started. * Big Life Journal is not responsible for the vetting process of your child’s pen pal. Search Facebook for dedicated pen pal groups for children/families Search for posts about Pen Pals inside the group. Raising Kids with a Growth Mindset Facebook Group (this group is managed by Big Life Journal).Please note, it is up to the parent/caregiver to research these suggested websites and groups.* If you’d like to find a pen pal in a different country, there are several places you can check out online.
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