Please share!
Remember sending postcards as a kid? I used to love sending postcards when we went on vacations or even better, receiving them in the mail. Who doesn't love getting mail?!
Liliana and I were in Dallas this past weekend and we visited the zoo. As souvenirs, I put pictures up from the trip in her picture frames instead of getting tchotchkes. And as something fun to do, we always get postcards to send. Liliana has a lot to say (always) so she thought it was great when I told her postcards are a way of "telling stories" to other people who live far away.
Plus, writing postcards is a quick way to get literacy into your day and works for little kids all the way up to big kids!
Liliana and I were in Dallas this past weekend and we visited the zoo. As souvenirs, I put pictures up from the trip in her picture frames instead of getting tchotchkes. And as something fun to do, we always get postcards to send. Liliana has a lot to say (always) so she thought it was great when I told her postcards are a way of "telling stories" to other people who live far away.
Plus, writing postcards is a quick way to get literacy into your day and works for little kids all the way up to big kids!
Getting geared up for writing postcards requires 10 minutes and:
1. Get your writing space ready.
1. Get your writing space ready.
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Clear a counter. Write at the table. Write in bed, even.
Liliana lined her postcards on her art table. She decided on her art table instead of the kitchen table. Art and writing are not too different - it's all about telling a story and conveying ideas. "It is more comfy, mom." That's a good rule. Write where it's comfy. |
2. For toddlers, have multiple writing utensils available. Writing and art are synonymous. For bigger kids, one writing utensil is enough.
Liliana picked out a goofy blue pen to start her postcard writing but quickly switched to a colored pencil. She handed me one too. Little kids will want the writing to be collaborative. Big kids might need some prompting. Having more than one writing tool can be a way to stay distracted from actually writing, so one is enough. And when you remove the rules and make it fun -
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3. Don't worry about punctuation, spelling, grammar or even letters!
This is supposed to be fun and encourage writing. Plus, all writing is risk-taking. Let the risk be rewarded in a safe environment. Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar or anything else unless your child wants you to help with that. Let the postcards be fun! This way, they will want to send more and get better and better at writing them.
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You can see the squiggles she's writing
("my letters, mom" aka pre-writing) |
4. Do it together.
If you can, and if you have the inclination. Little kids need someone to be near. Older kids don't always. But remember, they are still kids and this may be a good 5-10 minute activity to do together or to hang around each other. You could write your own postcards to friends. Again, who doesn't like getting mail?!
Liliana picked out her pencil. Then she picked out mine. That's because to her, this was natural to do together. That's totally fine. Writing can be collaborative. She told me her stories about the zoo while she "wrote" them on her postcards to her friends and family. This quick literacy activity included just as much talking as writing.
I wrote the addresses. Liliana realized I was addressing the postcards and noted, "You write your letters. I write my letters. I don't know how to do your letters." Not yet, but she's excited to one day!
Bigger kids who do know their letters can address their own and pick out stamps to go with them.
Liliana picked out her pencil. Then she picked out mine. That's because to her, this was natural to do together. That's totally fine. Writing can be collaborative. She told me her stories about the zoo while she "wrote" them on her postcards to her friends and family. This quick literacy activity included just as much talking as writing.
I wrote the addresses. Liliana realized I was addressing the postcards and noted, "You write your letters. I write my letters. I don't know how to do your letters." Not yet, but she's excited to one day!
Bigger kids who do know their letters can address their own and pick out stamps to go with them.
5. Send them!
People will love getting them. Kids love sending them. It's the postcard version of "publishing" your writing.
Bonus!
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If you're looking for books to go with this activity, we read a couple right after our writing this afternoon. Big kids won't need the reading extension on this activity.
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We pick up postcards everywhere - art museums, zoos, in shops on the street. But, if postcards are hard to come by, here are some other favorites we've sent:
Still feeling uninspired? Make your own! You can make your own postcards with these blank watercolor postcards.
- Charley Harper Animal Kingdom postcards
- Fingerprint Art postcards
- Who doesn't love Where's Waldo?! Send these Where's Waldo postcards.
Still feeling uninspired? Make your own! You can make your own postcards with these blank watercolor postcards.
