The Power of a Postcard

On our recent trip to the beach, I grabbed a few postcards in the checkout line so we could send them to some family that didn’t make the trip.

Taking time to write postcards is a quick and easy way to ease your preschooler into writing and increase their “literary sense.”  I set aside some time the next morning so we could write on our postcards and get them in the mail before hitting the beach.

Writing postcards sounds like a simple concept, and it is.  When was the last time you sat down to actually write a letter by hand?  When was the last time your child saw you composing something to another person other than an email or text? The postcard is powerful for a number of reasons!

Idea #1: What is the purpose of a postcard?

The postcard experience is packed full of learning for preschoolers and well worth the time it takes.  Because my twins are only 4 years old, I needed to be the scribe for the cards.  I started by talking to them about how writing is an important way to communicate our thoughts, how we need to think in our heads about what we want to say and then take the time to write it on the card.  I also explained that post cards show people where we are and some of the things we are able to see.

Idea #2: What do you say in a postcard?

I gave a very simple verbal example of what people say on a postcard,

“Dear Grandma,

We are at the beach and having a great time.  My favorite thing so far is building sandcastles.  I wish you were here.

Love,

Alice”

I explained I would write what they wanted to say, but they needed to tell me what to write.  They quickly rattled off things they were enjoying about the beach and studied me as I wrote each word on the card. I used their words in the order they said them so the cards really did “sound” like something they would say, not what I would say.

Idea #3:  You sign your name on a postcard

I left a huge space at the bottom for each child to sign their name.  Signing their name was a perfect way to encourage real writing so I wanted to make sure this was how they “owned” their cards.

Idea #4: We have to address each card

The next lesson was about addressing the cards.  The kids wanted to know why we didn’t write on the right side of the card.  I explained this is where the name goes, the house number, the city, state and zip code so the mailman would be able to get it to the right person.  Again, they watched as I wrote each letter, each word and number until the cards were ready to go.  As an added bonus, I would say things like, “what letter do you think Grandma starts with?” so they could make a sound/symbol relationship connection.

Idea #5: Writing reinforces reading

We read each card aloud after they were all done.  This reinforces the idea that we read what people write and when WE write, people read it.  This is another way to increase the literary sense of a preschooler.

I let them put the stamps on and we rode our bikes to the beach post office to send the cards off.

This entire event took about an hour and was full of authentic lessons about reading, writing, and general communication.  You can use this lesson anytime you travel or with thank you notes, birthday invitations, birthday cards, or any other card you actually put in the mail.  So on your next vacation (or staycation), don’t underestimate the power of the postcard!