Let’s face it. In today’s technological age, it’s easier than ever to stay in touch with our distant (or nearby) family and friends. If we don’t have the time to make a phone call we can easily text or email the person we want to talk to. We impart tidbits of information in seconds. Unfortunately, as wonderful as this technology is, it brings with it a huge drawback. It has made it easy for us to lose an incredible art… the art of letter writing.
I used to love to go to our mailbox when I was a child and find a letter from my grandma or my penpal waiting for me. I’d feel so special that they took the time to sit and write to me. I had special stationery that I would write back on. I still have many of those letters from long ago.
When my husband joined the military after we graduated high school and shipped off to boot camp and then to the Gulf War, I checked my mailbox eagerly each day for a letter telling me how he was doing. I spent many of my own hours pouring my heart out to him in long handwritten notes of love. We have all those letters we each wrote packed away. They bring back amazing memories when we get them out to read again. In this highly technological age, I find that I am saddened that my children will not have these same kinds of memories.
To change this for my own children we have started writing letters to family and friends. The kids are not only learning writing skills but they are making wonderful memories in the process. I hope they will always keep the handwritten letters they receive close to their hearts.
Encourage your children to hand write a letter. It’s easy to get started and the benefits are great!
How do you get started? First choose someone to write to who will write back to your children (grandparents are normally a great pick!) Contact them and make sure they are willing to hand write letters back to your children. Next, go over the parts of writing a letter with your children…
- Write the heading. This includes your address and the date you are writing.
- Decide on a greeting. In a friendly letter “Dear ____” is a great starter.
- Continue on with the body of the letter. Tell what’s happening in your lives. Is there something new going on? Maybe you are just saying hi.
- Close the letter with a polite or affectionate goodbye.
- Last, put your signature at the end.
Five very easy steps to reclaim an art that is slipping through our fingers!
It’s true that sitting down to hand write and mail a letter takes more time and energy than emailing or texting but the reward of receiving a letter back in the mail is wonderful. There’s nothing like holding a letter in your hands and knowing that someone took their precious time and energy to write it just for you.
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When Michelle isn’t sending handwritten notes of love to far off friends and family she can be found writing on her blog, Pass The Flu Bug Please.
photo by carf
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s funny that you should write about this today. I had just told my nephew that he needed to start his letter to our soldier. Our family adopted a soldier with soldiersangels.com, and one of the reasons we did it as a family this time is so he would HAVE to write a letter. Once a week. :-)
It’s sneaky, but I say “Whatever works”, and it helps our soldiers. :-)
Ny three-year-old regularly writes (draws) letters to her grandparents and her older sister in another state. She gets so excited when she gets one in return in the mail.