Surprise! Surprise! Today is a very special holiday that I was only introduced to yesterday. Happy National Handwriting Day! It’s the perfect time to share the love of the hand written letter with kids today!
I can hear you now, “Handwritten letters with kids? You must be kidding!” as your laughter fills the air. Hear me out.
But My Child Doesn’t Like HATES Writing
I get it! My son hates writing too. Imagine how his mom…the WRITER…feels about it… Ever since JT started school, it’s been a battle to get him to maintain stamina when it comes to handwriting and handwritten letters. He’s been assessed for learning disabilities and sensory issues. As such, he has an IEP at school for ADHD and he is autistic. Accommodations have been offered to help him participate with the class. It’s been a very long road.
Neurodivergent kids who struggle with writing need additional help or motivation to do the unpreferred task of handwriting that seems so daunting. Some of the things that I’ve found helpful for getting JT to write include:
- Smooth, colorful paper in a light shade so that I can still read his writing in pen or pencil
- Colorful Mr. Sketch scented markers with a thin tip to use on white paper
- Whiteboard and dry erase markers since the smooth movement of the marker on the board causes less of a sensory issue for him
- Limiting repetition – if his teacher asks the class to write their 10 spelling words 5 times each, I ease JT’s anxieties by asking him to simply write the words once each and then he enjoys drawing an illustration of the word underneath
- Forgetfulness kicks in very quickly with JT and one of the ways I’ve found to combat this is to write out the phrase or word for him myself and then place it near his writing space so that he doesn’t have to look far to find what he’s expected to write
- As a last resort when JT has a long writing assignment, he has learned how to dictate what he wants to write so that he can submit a Word document, rather than a handwritten submission
Handwritten Letters Ideas
The delicate art of the hand written letter is slowly fading away as we turn toward a more digital age and mobile lifestyle. Gone are the days of paper correspondence written by hand. No longer do we look forward to seeing what the mailbox has in store for us.
Consider this – who doesn’t LOVE getting fun mail? One of my favorite ways to
put a smile on the face of a loved one is by mailing them a handwritten letter or card. It’s so much more personal and thoughtful than sending a text that might even say exactly the same thing.
Need some other handwritten notes ideas? Pick one:
- Thank You cards
- Letter to Grandparents
- Send a card to the President or Vice President
- Mail a postcard when on vacation
- Join a Pen Pal program
Mailing A Letter to The White House
What better time to incorporate hand written letters than sending a letter to the new President or Vice President? Many years ago when President Obama was in office, I mailed him one of my sister’s wedding invitations since I heard that The White House sends a response to all of the mail they receive. It was true. She received a personalized hand written letter back from the Obamas congratulating her on the big day.
Though it may not be our civic duty to send mail to elected officials, I still find it to be a fun activity that can be done with children. JT will be sending a handwritten letter to our new Vice President, Kamala Harris, congratulating her on her historic win. Mail for the President or Vice President of the United States can be sent to:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
The Best Hand Written To Do List
When it comes to jotting down notes or shopping lists or even a handwritten to do list, there are plenty of options. Sometimes I stock up on cute notepads on Amazon or Dollar Tree. But these aren’t very environmentally friendly. Instead, I love my Rocketbook when I want a to do list handwritten. I also love the colorful Pilot Frixion erasable pens to switch things up. These are the best reusable notebook and erasable pens ever!
How does the Rocketbook work?
Use the Pilot Frixion erasable pens to write notes in the Rocketbook. The surface of the paper is smooth and the pens glide along easily. There are a variety of pages to choose from too, from a blank calendar space to a weekly planner to fully lined pages for note taking and even a series of bullet journal pages. Snap a photo of the page using the Rocketbook app to digitally save your handwritten letters or notes. Then use a little water and the microfiber cloth to wipe the page clean and use it again.
Whether it’s a letter or just your hand written to do list, celebrate National Handwriting Day today by putting pen to paper.
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