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.
Ce qu’il vous faut
- paper
- pen
- envelope
- stamp
Comment faire
- 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.
Pourquoi c’est bon pour eux
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.
Adapter selon l’âge
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.
Sécurité
Only write to people the family knows.
Astuce rangement
Keep the replies together in a box.
Dans le même esprit
40 min
Toy Hospital
Bandages, a clipboard, and every soft toy in the house admitted for treatment.
25 min
Torchlight Story Circle
Lights off, one torch, and a story passed around the circle.
45 min
Run a Restaurant
A menu, an order pad, and one very slow waiter.
50 min
Make a Time Capsule
A sealed box, opened in exactly one year.
10 min
The Good Thing Jar
One small note a day about something good, folded into a jar.