“You’ve Got Mail”

One of my favorite things to do is make and send hand-made or handwritten letters and cards. Ellie had developed a recent interest in mail and art, and I couldn’t be happier. We have had a blast the last few days making and sending cards to Ellie and Hanna’s friends.

Cultivate an interest:

We just happen to be reading books and watching shows about mail recently. I’ve received great advice from friends about learning at this early preschool age and that it should come naturally from play related activities. Because Ellie became interested in mail all on her own, this activity has been really fun for her.

Book we read: “I Miss You Every Day” by Simms Tabak

Show we watched: Elmo’s World “Mail”

Gather supplies:

Essential supplies are paper, crayons or markers, envelopes, and stamps. We had a lot of fun with stickers too.

Create a space:

Create a fun space that you can comfortably create your art. We tried a small table and also the dining room table.

Make your cards:

Let your kids be the artist. I only helped with writing names and the stickers.

Prepare the envelopes:

I briefly talked to Ellie about how to address the envelope. I said that her name goes on it because it is from her and then you write your friend’s name on it so the mail person knows where to send it.

The big thing Ellie was into (from Elmo and the book) was the stamps. I helped Ellie place the stamp on the envelop in the appropriate space.

Mail your letter:

We had a blast walking to the mailbox, but you can even go on a field trip to the post office to mail your letters. I prefer activities that don’t require a lot of in and out of the car.

Wait for a response:

The best part about sending mail is receiving mail. Maybe you will get some letters in return. This will surely excite your child!