Almost every aspect of our daily routines must at some point be learned: putting on shoes, politely answering the phone, pouring our glass of water.
And while writing a letter in this day and age might not be a daily activity, it is still a life skill and an engaging activity for children of all ages!
Writing a letter can be as fun as receiving one. Try this month to help your child write a letter to a grandparent, friend, or even their teacher at school.
- Start by preparing all the materials for your child. For their letter, they will need paper, an envelope, writing or coloring materials, the address of the recipient, and a stamp.
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Have your child write or draw a picture that they want to send. If the child is older and is able you can have them ‘sign’ their name, and even start the letter with “Dear… “
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Depending on the age of the child you can have them fold the letter to fit the envelope, either on their own or with your assistance.
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After sealing the envelope they can stick the stamp in the top corner! You can assist your child to address the letter.
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Take a walk to the mailbox and send the letter on its way! Hopefully, you’ll get a response.
Montessori Tips
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A practical life activity in the classroom would be neatly found all together on a tray, so when the child begins they do not need to interrupt the work to find missing materials. If you don’t have a tray collect the materials together on the child’s workspace.
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Encourage the child to do as much as they can on their own. If they don’t know how to fold the paper show them with a different piece and get them to fold their own. It doesn’t have to be a perfect fold to fit in the envelope!
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Talk to your child about where the letter will go and who will collect and deliver it. The mail delivery service is an integral part of their community!
