Letter writing is a fun activity that gives children a way to practice handwriting and teaches them how to compose written text. Moreover, handwritten letters are heart-warming, so that is all the more reason to encourage children to write letters. Continue reading so you can explore ways on how to encourage children to write letters.
Initiating Discussion About Letter Writing
Letter writing may be considered old-school amongst children today, so they must realize the significance of handwritten letters to become genuinely interested in writing one. Begin by asking children if they have ever received a handwritten letter, and motivate them to talk about how it made them feel.
Ask them questions, such as how many times did they read it? Did it make them feel special? What did they think while reading the letter? Would they want to get letters again? Would they want to write letters to friends and family?
Teachers can also make letter writing the topic of group discussion by asking questions, such as what do students think is the difference between a handwritten letter and an email? Is a handwritten letter more special than online communication?
Invoking sentiment can help them realize the importance of a handwritten letter and warm them up to the prospect of writing one.
Ways Teachers Can Encourage Letter Writing
Teachers can prompt students to write letters by giving them specific tasks, such as writing the following:
- Letters to museums or farms asking for permission to visit
- ‘Thank you’ letters to guest speakers
- Letters of congratulations to friends on their achievements
- Letters that say sorry to their parents for committing a mistake
- Letters to newspapers and magazines
Prompting students to write letters by giving them such tasks helps them with language development and assists them in learning about other subjects. For instance, exchanging letters overseas can encourage an understanding of geography and pique children’s interest in other places. Writing letters to historical figures may help develop students’ curiosity about learning history.
Ways Parents Can Encourage Letter Writing
Parents can encourage children to write by having them write the following:
- Handwritten invitation letters to family and friends
- Letters to overseas relatives asking them to visit
- ‘Thank you’ letters to relatives
- Letters exchanging news with friends or cousins
- Handwritten letters responding to someone who is grieving— showing how much you care by trying to share their sadness and asking if you could help in any way
- Letters of appreciation to teachers to tell them how much you appreciate their efforts
Concluding Thoughts
Writing formal letters in classroom settings helps students develop language and writing skills. Exchanging informal letters with friends and family develops a deeper connection and gives children an excellent memory to cherish. Therefore, teachers and parents should strongly encourage children to get into the habit of writing handwritten letters.
