So perhaps you are now convinced that your handwritten letters are truly a cherished gift to your grandchildren. Maybe you even took the first baby step by mailing them a Valentine card with a couple of handwritten lines inside. But never having done this before, you wonder how to keep the momentum going.
Don’t fret! Having taken the first step, you are ready for the next. And to help in the process, here are some practical tips to help keep you moving forward on your letter writing journey.
Down-to-earth Tips for Writing Letters to Grandchildren
1. Use print, not cursive, when writing to young children.
In fact, it might not be a bad idea to use print across the board as many children have not had the opportunity to receive instruction in cursive handwriting in recent years.
2. Keep the letter short and simple.
This will suit the needs of young grandchildren and those with short attention spans. And even if your grandchildren can handle length, letters that are short and simple are more likely to leave your grandchildren wanting to hear more from you.
3. Be specific and descriptive.
Remember elementary writing class? Choose one topic and write about it in detail.
4. Talk about personal and individual topics, not the weather.
The weather is obvious. One merely needs to look out the window or pull it up on a smartphone. Engage your grandchild’s attention as they read your letter by talking about things that are meaningful to them or to you.
5. Write about things you enjoy or appreciate about your grandchildren.
Take the opportunity to affirm your grandchild. Tell them about a Christ-like characteristic you’ve seen demonstrated in their life.
6. Share your own interests and experiences.
Be sure to include both the successes and the struggles. The successes are easy to share. But the struggles? They are not so easy, especially when sharing them with our grandchildren. Keep in mind that it is here in the hard places where relationships deepen. In sharing our struggles, we demonstrate a raw vulnerability to our grandchildren, and they learn that struggles are a normal part of life. Here in this hard place, we model for them how to struggle.
7. Use humor.
Laughter is good for the soul and for relationships. If humor isn’t a natural part of your wiring, take advantage of some joke books or search the internet for riddles and jokes to share.
8. Ask your grandchild’s advice.
Show your grandchild how important their opinions are to you by asking for their advice in a given situation. This simple act helps build confidence in your grandchild.
9. Use a highlighter to draw attention to things you don’t want your grandchild to miss.
10. Include pictures you’ve drawn or cut out, photographs, or coloring pages.
11. Tuck small items in your letters from time to time.
This could be something such as a stick of gum, a sheet of stickers, or a magnet.
12. Attach stickers to your letter.
Use them to emphasize a point, as part of your signature, on the envelope, or just for fun.
13. Create your own personalized signature.
Every time you send something to your grandchild, be sure to use a dot of that same perfume, attach that identical fuzzy sticker, or draw your own special smiley face on the envelope or next to your name.
14. Plan for delays in delivery.
One very important thing to keep in mind when using the postal system is: Once the letter has left your hands, delivery of that letter is out of your control. This is a crucial thing to keep in mind If you have multiple grandchildren living under one roof. Be proactive by (1) placing all individually addressed letters in a single larger envelope so everything arrives at the same time, or (2) letting your family know that you plan to stagger the arrival of letters. This allows you to spread out your letter writing, makes letter arrival day “special” for the one receiving the letter, and builds anticipation for siblings who know their turn is coming.
15. Don’t overwhelm yourself.
Baby steps! That is how new habits are formed. Avoid the impulse to implement all of these tips at one time. Instead, take things slow and easy. Peruse the list and choose one or two to incorporate into your letter writing for the first letter or two. Then when you are ready, add or choose another. Remember, if you try to do too much at once, you are likely to give up in the early stages. Thus, your gift to your precious grandchild will remain forever ungiven. (And if you try to do too many things in a single letter, your grandchild is also likely to be overwhelmed by it all!)
Handwritten letters are personal and deeply satisfying in ways that electronic communication can never be, no matter how well-crafted the message. And the joy our grandchildren receive from our letters addressed just to them and discovered in the mailbox simply cannot be exaggerated.
