P.S. I Love You

P.S. I Love You

Something important happens when children receive and write love notes and letters. They realize that the printed word has a purpose.

What you need
Paper
Pencil, crayons, markers

What to do

1. Send your child little notes (by putting them in a pocket or lunch box, for example). You can include pictures and symbols, such as a heart or smiley-face.

2. When your child shows you the note, read it out loud with expression.

3. When your child expresses a feeling or thought that's related to a person, have your child write a letter, dictating the words to you. For example:

Dear Grandma,
I like it when you make ice cream. It's better than the kind we buy at the store.
Your grandson,
Darryl
P.S. I love you.

4. Ask the people who receive these notes to respond. An oral response is fine -- a written response is even better.

5. Explain the writing process to your child: "We think of ideas and put them into words; we put the words on paper; people read the words; and people respond."

Language is speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Each element supports and enriches the other. Sending letters will help children become writers, and writing will make them better readers.

Source: Helping Your Child Learn to Read, National Parent Information Network