Many years ago when I teaching, I wanted my students to keep a journal. Just something where they could practice the art of letting their ideas flow.
We’d set aside time , make sure the room was quiet and our notebooks and pencil were ready to capture all our thoughts.
Some struggled with what to write while others couldn’t put down their pencils.
A few weeks into the year, in hopes of helping some of the reluctant writers, I added a special weekly writing activity. This time I asked them to write me a letter. It could be about anything. Only I would read it and there would be no grading of their work. I’d collect their journals once a week and respond to each letter. My initial intent was simple, to help each student find their voice but what I got back was so much more.
Some wrote about the movie they saw recently or where they are going on the weekend. Others about their family or friends. Some letters were only a few sentences long while others were multiple paragraphs. I always wrote back and the few times when I got behind — they made sure to let me know they were waiting for my letter back.
There is something special about writing a letter…. A special connection grows between the writer and receiver.
Fast forward several years and my own children entered the picture. As I looked for ways to ease their anxieties about writing, I pulled out a special notebook and we began writing letters to each other. Not everyday or even every week but off and on. I learned so much about what was on their minds and had fun being silly. Now that they are much older, those letters are a precious reminder of their childhood.
This summer, grab a journal, your favorite pen, and get ready to reconnect with your kids. Through the simple act of writing letters, you’ll discover new layers of their thoughts and feelings and create memories that will last a lifetime.
For some extra inspiration, check out our journals and fun journaling stickers.
Happy writing!