The Joys of Having a Pen Pal
Before the age of the Internet and email, letter writing was considered an art. People actually used to sit down and write long, newsy letters to each other. Then came the advent of the telephone and letter writing was on the way out. Once the internet made instant communication commonplace, writing letters became as good as dead.
If your kids are resistant to the delights of reading and writing, you might have their interest sparked if you introduce them to the joys of having a pen pal. Having a friend who lives far away in an exotic land can have your child waiting at the mailbox for the next communication from their new pal.
You might think it’s impossible to find a pen pal who’s willing to correspond via letters these days, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you can find many websites dedicated to matching up pen pals who won’t use email as a way of communication. They are looking for a good, old fashioned letter delivered to their mailbox.
This is a great way for kids to learn to write interesting subject manner in a way that will be communicated fluently to someone else in print. They will love hearing about the differences between themselves and their pen pals such as the foods they eat, the traditions they follow, and the holidays they celebrate holidays. You may even find that your child is eager to do research and read more about the country or state that his or her pen pal lives in.
When a child has a pen pal, it encourages him to read and to write more than you ever expected. Even the most resistant readers and writers will enjoy waiting for an envelope addressed to them to come in the mail and find out what their new pals are up to.
To learn how you can find a pen pal for your child, visit the Parenting website. Who knows, you may end up finding a pen pal for yourself while you’re at it.
Filed under: Learning Enrichment
