Write a Letter to Grandparent

Paper

Pencil or pen

An envelope and stamp

Crayons for drawing

Gather materials. Explain: "We're writing a REAL letter that Grandma will actually receive!"

Start with the greeting: "Dear Grandma," Show the comma.

Write the body with three parts: recent news, something exciting, and a question.

Example: "I lost a tooth! I'm excited about soccer Saturday. What's your favorite color?"

End with: "Love," and their name.

Draw a picture to include.

Address the envelope together — show where everything goes.

Mail it together. Check for a response eagerly!

Writing to a real person who will really respond is the most motivating writing context in the world. Your child isn't writing for practice — they're writing to COMMUNICATE. That purpose changes everything.

The three-part body structure (news, excitement, question) provides just enough scaffolding to prevent the "I don't know what to write" problem while leaving room for personal expression.

The question at the end is important — it creates a reason for a response, which extends the letter-writing into a back-and-forth correspondence.

Ask grandparents (or whoever receives the letter) to ALWAYS write back. A physical letter in the mailbox addressed to your child is pure magic.

Keep copies or take photos of letters sent. You'll have a beautiful archive of your child's developing writing voice over the years.