My kids love getting cards in the mail. Especially, my five-year-old who is learning to read. We were at Target the other day cruising through the dollar bins when I saw they had small metal mailboxes. Lightbulb!
We had some alphabet stickers at home, so I let the kids decorate their mailboxes with them. I also had some index cards, so I have been using those to write little notes to them every now and again. When I write notes to my daughter, I use words from her school vocabulary list. My son is two. His letter is just that — a letter (of the alphabet). You could do this for a child that is older, too. It’s not entirely about learning. It’s also a great way to say I love you.
Since I started this, each morning my kids race downstairs to look in their mailboxes. I only put notes in there occasionally. (I can’t always remember to do it, but that has been a good thing because it increases their anticipation).
Perhaps on Valentine’s Day, I will put some sweets in there (although I don’t really want to corrupt a great learning tool in disguise).
We’ve been having a lot of fun with something that only cost $2.00.
It’s the little things that turn out to be the big things for kids. Mine are older now, and still get a kick out of notes inside their lunch bags, and the surprise treats.
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