May 5, 20203 min read

Helping Children Write a Letter to a Friend

When I was a little girl I was convinced that stamps and stickers would both work to mail a letter. When did you last receive a letter from a friend or a family member? It means a lot to have this type of note arrive in the mail. Being able to write a friendly letter is a skill that many children may not be learning these days, but it is a good skill to have. This may not be a traditional school assignment but it is a wonderful writing activity. It has a clear purpose.

If you’d like to have a quick review of the basic parts of a letter before having your children send notes to loved ones, please keep reading.

How to Write a Letter to a Friend

A Greeting:

Letters begin with a greeting just like conversations do. Typically a letter to a friend will begin with the word “Dear.” Remember to write the person's name and then a comma afterward. Then go to the next line before beginning the introduction.

An Introduction:

This is where you could explain why you are writing. Sometimes people write a friendly question here.

The Body of the Letter:

Here is where you can write the main part of your letter. Perhaps you share something about your life that your reader would like to know or had asked about. You might explain why you are grateful to have this person as a friend or reminisce about fun things you remember doing together.

The Conclusion:

This is where you can share something like a positive note. “I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day!”

The Closing and Signature:

The closing is placed in the center of the letter. Many people will close with the word “From,” you could also choose a variety of other greetings. Whatever you choose, be sure to capitalize the first letter of the first word and place a comma after the last word. Your signature goes beneath this.

Here are some ideas:

From,

Your friend,

Sincerely,

With love,

Extra things to add:

· The P.S. (Post Script) section can be added to the end of the letter, below your signature. It might have something you forgot to mention earlier or something your friend will find interesting that didn’t fit in the rest of your note.

· My favorite thing to add in a letter to a friend is drawings. A few flowers or stars on the side of the letter (or even on the envelope). This can add a personal touch to the note.

· The date can be added to the top of the page.

The Envelope

The postage stamp goes in the top right corner of the envelope. The name and address of the person you are mailing the letter to goes in the center of the envelope. Your address typically goes on the top left, but it can also go on the back of the envelope, centered at the top.

These are the basics of a friendly letter. Children have in learning what was delivered to the mailbox. Right now mail is most likely being cleaned off before we take it into the house, but finding a way to communicate with friends is essential.