How to Find a Pen Pal for Teenagers

Exchanging letters with a pen pal makes for a unique friendship.

A pen pal can enrich the life of a teen by providing him with varied social interaction. An international pen pal can teach him about different cultures. Someday your teen may even visit his pen pal, giving him options for new experiences and travel. Find your teen a pen pal in a safe manner and monitor the communication initially to ensure that you approve of the individual with whom he has been paired, and you are sure he has an enriching experience.

Instructions

1. Contact schools in your area to learn if any exchange students that are near the age of your child are currently studying in your town. If so, introduce your teen to an international student so that they can strike up a friendship. Meeting a person from another country and establishing a rapport is a good way to begin a pen pal relationship that can continue after the exchange student returns to her home country.

2. Visit and sign up for an online pen pal source such as penpalworld.com. Sources like these allow your teen to communicate with a pen pal through a secure messaging system that protects his identity, specific location and e-mail address. Many pen pal sites are free and feature up to 400,000 members so that you teen can find a pen pal of a similar age and with similar interests in any nation that interests him.

3. Ask friends or family members who live in different cities if they know any teens who might get along with your child and who need a pen pal. Establishing a pen pal in a city where your family already has connections can make it easier for the friends to eventually meet up. Finding a pen pal through a person you trust will also ensure that your child has a safe and enjoyable pen pal experience.

4. Discuss pen pal options with your church if you are a member. Ask the director of the youth group if they have a sister church in another city and might be able to set your teen up with a member of that organization as a pen pal. In this way you can ensure that your child is paired with another individual who is likely to mirror your family values and is easily accessible through your church connection.

References

• Pen Pal World: Learn More
• Worldwide Classroom: Pen Pals
• Reach Out America: Find a Pen Pal

Resources

• "How to Start and Operate Your Own Pen Pal Club"; Premier Publishing Staff; 2006