Children may not always feel comfortable talking to adults face to face. Yet, they need to have a way to express their thoughts and feelings. While letter writing is becoming a dying art because of computers and other forms of technology, young children still love to receive mail with their name on it. Making “in-house mailboxes” will create a place for kids to receive notes from their dad, mom, and other family members. It can help pre-school and elementary aged children learn to spell their name and memorize their address. It will also encourage everyone in the family to practice better penmanship. February is an especially good time for this activity because of the Valentine’s Day cards that may be given and received.
Materials Needed
9 X 12 mailing envelope (or a letter/note receptacle of some kind)
crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint
glitter
ribbon
stickers
thumb tacks / tape (or something that can be used to hang up the decorated “mailbox”)
Activity
Have the child write his or her full name on the envelope so that it is easily visible. (Do this on the side of the envelope where the flap would fold down towards the child.)
Help the child write their address underneath their name on the envelope the way that it would appear on a letter that was sent to them in the mail.
Allow them to decorate the remainder of the envelope however they would like, keeping the name and address clearly visible.
Hang or place the envelope outside of the child’s bedroom door.
Use the envelope as a personal “mailbox” to leave the child messages, notes, cards, etc.
Remind the child to check for mail on a regular basis.
Be sure to leave mail for the child on a regular basis and encourage them to write back.
Variations on the Activity
Have the child create “mailboxes” for other members of the family. Use the envelopes as a form of in-house communication.
Have the child create special “mailboxes” for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, holiday cards, etc.
Simply Necessary Inc. 
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