Teach your child about empathy and compassion by inviting them to write and mail letters to family, friends, community helpers or even the local nursing homes. This act of kindness will surely put a smile on a loved one's face and is also a simple way to boost your child’s social and emotional development.  

What You will Need 

Process 

Engaging with Your Child  

As you begin this activity, talk about the person you are sending the letter to. If it’s family or a friend you can mention memories of the past. If it’s a community helper, you can mention the impact their job makes in your local community. If you're sending the letter to your local nursing home, you can talk about the seniors in your family so your child can make the connection. Some open-ended questions you may consider asking; “I wonder how they will feel when they receive our letter?”, “Why is it important to be kind?”. Have your child seal the letter and head over to your mailbox. This act of kindness demonstrates compassion and compassion acts like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets!