Bringing back a love of writing letters & finding penpals

After sharing my post about sharing my daughter’s grief and loss on Facebook, I shared something else. I asked my friends on Facebook if their kids would like a penpal.  Annabelle developed a letter-writing bug and she was in search of people to write too. The response was amazing! So much so, I had to cap it! There were just too many people for Annabelle to write to any time soon – especially remembering that she is only six! 

In the end, she came out with about six kids to write too and her excitement was all over her face. We’ve started making a nice collection of writing paper, stamps, stickers etc to make the experience fun & creative. The first letter Annabelle received was from her Granny Lesley – my ex-husband’s Mother. She asked to be Annabelle’s Granny as she felt bad about Annabelle not having one of her own – that was living anyway! 

Her gesture was the sweetest thing and it made Annabelle’s heart sing. Not to mention receiving that first letter, Annabelle could have flown she was so happy. Thus her letter-writing bug was born. I’ve never known anyone to write back to someone so fast! But she did, she loved it and asked for more people to write too. Hence my facebook blast for penpals! 

Handwritten letters feel like such an old-fashioned thing to do. In reality, it isn’t at all, but it does feel that way. Writing out letters has been phased out by the ease of emails and instant texts on mobile phones and so on. But we are absolutely loving these times of bringing it back a little bit. Annabelle writes around 2-3 letters per week and she is loving it. 

The whole process from picking out which paper she is going to use, will she use her scented pens or use a pencil. Then there is the whole design project once the letters are written i.e. what stickers will be used? Stamps included and finally the trip to the post office. Her most exciting part.

I give her the money she needs and she goes up to the clerk all by herself and asks for her 1st class stamp. Then finally, she pops them in the post box {tippy-toes and all}. 

It’s such a lovely thing, to receive a handwritten letter through the post. I think, even more so when your six – it means she’s making new friends, improving her handwriting skills and so much more. I love that she now has a little book of penpals to write to and get to know. 

Do your kids have any penpals? If so, I’d love to know whereabouts in the world they are! Annabelle’s are in all over in England. So far! 

If you enjoyed this post, then you might enjoy my Learning to write printable for kids post on the blog.