Date : June 11, 2018
In today’s technology-mad world, the quaint letter writing art form is all but forgotten. Gone are the days where you’d wait excitedly for the postman to arrive, hoping that he’d be carrying a letter from a close friend, a penpal from a far-flung corner of the world or even your beloved nana. Encouraging kids to re-discover the lost art of letter writing can be incredibly beneficial for their writing skills, their self-esteem and for offering another outlet for their creativity and self-expression.
Read on to discover our top tips for inspiring letter writing for kids!
Letter Writing Art – A Voyage of Self-Discovery
Take your child on a voyage of self-discovery with the art of letter writing!
Slow down, you move too fast
Technology has all but destroyed the letter writing art form – with the invention of typing and email, putting pen to paper and physically mailing out a letter is almost a thing of the past. But lately, nostalgia has the mighty letter making a comeback! Kids can find the art of letter writing a great help when learning to write. Physically writing a letter means having to slow down and take your time. Having to form the words with a pen means they need to put more thought into what they’re doing. Not only are they learning a valuable life skill, they’re taking a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life. You’ll notice their handwriting skills will greatly improve, too!
A personal touch
Letter writing also involves your child infusing the page with more of their personality. Not only are they carefully thinking about what they’re about to say, they’re using their hands to physically shape the letters and fill the page with their own unique handwriting. Let’s face it – all keys on the keyboard feel the same, but carving out the shapes of the letters with your hands is a very tactile experience. There’s also that close connection between the mind and the hands that allows written language to flow more freely.
Insights into the lives of others
Writing to a penpal can teach your child to think about how other people live. Writing to their grandparents about their childhoods or to a penpal who lives in another state or even anothercountry opens up whole new worlds to your child and teaches them about the different experiences other people have.
Stationary
What’s letter writing without beautiful stationary? You definitely don’t get this option when sending an email! With beautiful stationary, your child can create a true masterpiece. Colourful, quirky paper makes for an inspirational start to your child’s letter writing creations and can really brighten up someone’s day. What’s more, they’re even more fun to receive in the post! You can check out our beautiful stationary based on May Gibbs characters here!
Love the idea of inspiring letter writing for kids? Keep an eye on all the May Gibbs News for more great ways to encourage a love of the written word in your child.
This is a contribution From Librarian Bec – Right now, Librarian Bec’s hard at work at your local library, sharing a passion for reading with little people and big. Bec writes about inspiring little readers and embracing lovely literature.
