Parents everywhere have suddenly found themselves instant home-school teachers during this COVID-19 crisis. We are all struggling to find the balance between education time, family time, work time, home maintenance time, self care time... we are running out of time in the day! Some of us have been given packets of lesson plan ideas from awesome teachers. Some of us don't have much direction because awesome teachers are also figuring this all out. All of us want to do what's best for our kids. All of us are doing the best we can to navigate this unprecedented situation.
One idea that solves a couple issues, both social connection & writing practice, is to bring back the pen pals. Not necessarily an unknown child in another country (though that works too) but your kiddo's friend across town! Our kids are missing their classmates. Sure they can FacetTime them, text them, chat while playing video games online, etc. but they can also write a letter, draw a picture, and put it in the mail. The actual snail mail - not an e-mail. Have them use their best handwriting, format the letter correctly, and use appropriate punctuation.
Teach them where the stamp goes on the envelope, how to address it, and where the return address should be placed. These are life skills not everyone shows up to their first job knowing - trust me! Over the years I have supervised two separate people who did not know how to address an envelope. Their future boss will thank you for this & your child will be so excited to receive mail of their very own!
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