How to Teach Your Child to Write a Letter

In our age of email, IMing and text messaging, children aren't taught the basic skills of writing a personal letter with pencil (or pen) and paper. Encourage your child to write a letter to a relative or friend with these simple tips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• paper
• pencil
• pen
• envelopes
• address book
• stamps

1. Show your child letters you've written and received. Make sure these are personal letters, not business correspondence. If the letters aren't too personal, let her read them.

2. Take him to the store to purchase the materials he'll need to write a letter. Let him choose the type of paper, pencil or pen and envelopes he would like to use.

3. Let your child decide who she will send the letter to.

4. Sit down together with him at the kitchen or dining room table with his letter-writing materials. Take your own materials with you so you can also write a letter along with him.

5. Show her how to start the letter. Use "Dear Grandma" or "To Grandpa" to help her get started.

6. Encourage him to use real words, not acronyms or online shorthand. The letter doesn't have to be long, but it should be readable.

7. Remind her to use her best handwriting, and to sign her name at the end of the letter.

8. Help him to fold the letter and insert it into the envelope. Direct him to add a stamp and seal the envelope.

9. Take her to the post office and let her mail the letter herself. She can either drop it into the mailbox or take it to the counter and give it to the postal clerk.

Tips & Warnings

• Dollar stores are great places to buy inexpensive stationery such as paper, pens, pencils and stickers.