Letter Writing Project
Letter writing is a great way to connect with your community, introduce language skills, and raise self and social awareness within your child. This is perhaps my top favorite activity to do with my students, and can be done at school and/or at home with assistance from an adult. In fact, letter writing is a big part of the Little Naturalists program. Each month students will send a letter and get the opportunity to connect with their heroes.
What you will need:
Paper
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Pen or pencil
Instructions:
Ask your child who they would like to communicate with/write a letter to. Give them options and/or examples of some of the people or characters they could choose. Throughout the years, my students have written letters to characters such as Elmo, Ms.Frizzle (Lily Tomlin), Mr.McFeely (from Mr.Roger and Daniel Tiger), Dinosaur Train, and Doc McStuffins, as well as forest fire fighters, meteorologists, construction workers, and the Minnesota orchestra.
If your child is unable to write themselves, help your them compose and write the letter. Allow them to word it themselves. This empowers independent thinking and promotes language skills. Read what your written back to them as you write. If they are stuck help them with forming their sentences or give them prompts for continuing their story/questions.
Once the letter is written have your child draw a picture or decorate the letter how they want.
When finished, put the letter in an envelope and address it. Have your child be a part of this process as well. Explain what you are doing, what address goes where. How this works at the post office and the “why’s” behind address placement.
Have your child carefully place a stamp in the corner and put it in the mailbox themselves!
You may, in time, even receive a letter back from one of your recipients. Throughout the years, my students and I have received letters back from Dinosaur Train, Mr.McFeely, forest firefighters, a meteorologist, a construction worker, the Minnesota Orchestra, and more.
Have fun and be creative in your questions for people! Tag us on Instagram and share your story and experience in letter writing and connecting with the community!