40 min
Interview a Grandparent
Ten questions, one phone call, and a story nobody in the family had written down.
✉️
Write a Real Letter
A letter, an envelope, a stamp, and a reply that arrives days later.
Writing to a real person who will actually write back is worth more than any amount of handwriting practice.
What you need
- paper
- pen
- envelope
- stamp
How to do it
- Pick a real person who will reliably reply. A grandparent is usually safest.
- Talk about what to say before writing anything down.
- Let them write it themselves, spelling mistakes and all.
- Address the envelope together and let them stick the stamp on.
- Walk to the postbox and post it themselves.
Why this is good for them
Writing for a real audience changes how much care a child takes, far more than writing for a teacher does. The delay before a reply arrives is also an unusually concrete lesson in patience.
Adapting by age
5 to 6 yearsThey draw the picture, you write the words they dictate.
11 to 12 yearsSet up an ongoing exchange with a specific question each time.
Keep it safe
Only write to people the family knows.
Cleanup tip
Keep the replies together in a box.
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