Beyond texting: Teaching kids the art of letter writing

So often, it’s the littlest hearts and hands that have the biggest ideas, the hugest hopes, the greatest love. And there are so many small ways you can help them send love and kindness into the lives of others—like teaching kids to write letters and notes.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.
Why teaching kids to write letters matters
I remember rushing to the mailbox after school to see if a pink envelope with Lisa Frank stickers had arrived from my pen pal. I’d love my girls to experience the joy of receiving and sending physical letters to read over and over again and reply to (and to find something other than bills in the mail).
Introducing children to the art of letter writing is a perfect way to help express themselves and spread happiness. But there’s more:
- It’s a great skill for their future endeavors and a fun way to learn handwriting, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- It gives little ones who struggle with shyness or social skills a way to practice communication without being put on the spot and lets them have time to think through what they’d like to express.
- It’s also a screen-free way to keep in touch and to connect with faraway family—all with the loving touch of hand-drawn illustrations and handwritten signatures.
And it’s a great start to teaching kiddos they have the power to change the world…with a heartfelt message and a stamp!

Letter writing 101: Basic format
In case it’s been years since you had your own pen pal, here are the basics for letter writing:
- Date
- Salutation. If they’re writing a letter to someone they haven’t met, talk to them about using titles, such as “Dear Madam Vice President,” or more open salutations, like “To Whom It May Concern.” But for pen pals they know and love, the greeting doesn’t have to be as formal as “Dear Grandma.” Let them choose what feels most like their voice: “Hi, Nana!” works, too.
- Body. The main part of a child’s letter, especially when they’re writing to a loved one, can be pretty simple—a sentence or a short paragraph.
Let kids lead the way on what they’d like to express or inquire about. It might be occasion driven, or you can give them suggestions, like: Write three things you’d like to share with the recipient and three things you’d like to ask the recipient. - Closing. Help them create a “wrap-up” to the letter, whether it’s a request for a response or an expression of love or “I miss you.” And then talk to them about the differences between an appropriate “Sincerely” or a heartfelt “Love” before their signature.
- Signature. Since cursive isn’t really taught in most schools these days, this is a great place for them to try a “fancy” way to sign their names.
- PS. Explain that this stands for “postscript” and is a quick, often fun add-on to the letter. Maybe a note about their pet? A “Can’t wait to see you this summer”? A mention of a fun memory they’ve had with the recipient?


Letter writing tips for younger children
Letter writing is a wonderful way to express gratitude and writing thank-you notes is an easy place to begin, especially for younger kids. Start after a birthday or holiday and show little ones how to show gratitude for a gift received or time spent together.
A few more tips:
- If they can’t write just yet, ask them to tell you what they’d like to say in the letter—capturing it verbatim can be adorable. Let them decorate it with pictures and stickers. It’s also fun to let them “sign” (or cutely scribble) their name.
- If they can write a little, come up with a “fill-in-the-blank” letter where they can add a few words they know. Or help kids practice handwriting by printing what they’d like to say and letting them copy your writing onto their stationery.
- When they can properly write sentences, simply help them with structure and coming up with just the right words and expressions.

Changing the world—one piece of mail at a time
Letters aren’t just for sending to grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins, and faraway friends. Kids can express big thoughts to companies, people they admire, elected officials and groups.
They can make suggestions, offer criticisms, convey admiration or support, ask questions and share their gratitude. Letter writing is a great way to show kiddos how to use their voices for change and to constructively express their ideas, thoughts and feelings—the world is listening!
A few recipients to start with:
- The president or elected officials
- A company that makes a product they love—and one that made a product that disappointed them
- Someone who does a job in a field that interests them
- Someone they admire—famous or otherwise
- A nonprofit group they support
- Children’s book authors (my kids have received some really fun replies!)
Once they’ve decided who to write to, you can teach them how to find addresses online. We’ve got instructions for addressing envelopes.

However your letters come out—sweet and scribbly, long and lovey, colorful and cutesy—it doesn’t matter. What matters is showing kids how to express themselves with the written word, how to share emotions and how to show you care with one little stamp.
Letter writing is so much more than putting pen to paper…putting love into motion.
Want more ideas to inspire and encourage kids to practice acts of kindness and more? Here you go!
Shop Kids Gifts
See allYou may also like
See more-
Father's Day Give love back: 25+ Father’s Day ideas to celebrate Dad
We love dads. They’re uniquely brilliant, wise beyond reason, silly in the best way and caring in the sweetest. The r...
-
Christmas 2025 Dream Book week four SNEAK PEAK
This week we are closing in on the 2025 Dream Book cover and so much more in our week four behind the scenes look....
-
Christmas Peanuts 75th Anniversary Party Ornament Reveal
Happy anniversary, Peanuts! We’re celebrating 75 years of Charlie Brown and the gang with an extra-special c...
-
Christmas Week three SNEAK PEAK of the 2025 Dream Book
Another week of Dream Book sneak peeks with all the snow and sparkle you'd imagine from Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments!
-
Birthday Milestone birthday ideas for all your biggest celebrations
Milestone birthdays are an excuse to go BIG. And if you’ve got a big birthday coming up (yours or theirs!) and are in...
-
Birthday 100th birthday ideas
Milestones don’t come much bigger than a 100th birthday. Turning 100 is a major accomplishment for anyone—not just in...
-
Birthday 90th birthday ideas
A 90th birthday party is a truly special time. It’s a chance for family and friends to celebrate the guest of honor a...
-
Birthday 80th birthday ideas
An 80th birthday is a truly remarkable milestone! Just think of all the change an 80-year-old has seen in their lifet...
-
Birthday 70th birthday ideas
Seventy is not just another birthday. A 70th birthday is a (hopefully) retired hoot. A celebration and continuation o...
-
Birthday 60th birthday ideas
If you know someone turning 60, you know it’s a pretty incredible milestone to celebrate. When you turn 60, you’ve li...
-
Birthday 50th birthday ideas
If you or someone you love is turning 50, it’s officially a big deal—a great excuse to celebrate all that’s gotten yo...
-
Birthday 40th birthday ideas
A 40th birthday is such a fun milestone to celebrate! Once upon a time, it may have been joked about as “over the hil...
-
Birthday 30th birthday ideas
Turning 30 can feel so surreal. Adulthood is nothing new, but you still catch yourself looking for the adult in the r...
-
Birthday 21st birthday ideas
For many, turning 21 is a huge milestone. 21st birthdays are ones that people tend to look forward to the most. This ...
-
Birthday 18th birthday ideas
Voting! Graduating! Tattoos without parental consent! 😈 There are so many things on your to-do list when you turn 18,...
-
Birthday 16th birthday ideas
It’s not every day that you or someone you love turns 16. It’s a great time to celebrate who you are in this moment a...
-
Birthday 13th birthday ideas
Everything feels big when you’re twelve, but a 13th birthday feels HUGE. It’s the gateway to teenager-dom! 👑 Because ...
-
Birthday 10th birthday ideas
When a kid turns 10, it’s a really big milestone. 🎉 It’s a moment that marks the move from single to double digits, a...
-
Birthday 5th birthday ideas
A fifth birthday is a big deal. When you turn five, you’re halfway to ten, just around the corner from starting kinde...
-
Birthday 1st birthday ideas
When it comes to milestone birthdays, a first birthday celebration is literally number one! The birthday kid may be l...