Penpal Journals With My Kids

I saw this Mama and Me Journal idea on pinterest. My kids are in 2nd grade and I thought this was a fantastic idea to get them to write more. When I was younger I loved to penpal. At one point I had about 50 or so penpals. I really enjoyed receiving letters in the mail. To this day I still am in contact with 2 of my penpals from when I was a teenager but we now are facebook friends and send cards to each other during the holidays.

I started each book with the same thing:

Dear _____,

Would you like to be pen pals? I thought it would be fun to be pen pals, but instead of sending letters through the mail, we’ll keep them in this notebook. I will write to you, and leave the notebook on your bed. Then, when you want to write me back, you write on the next page and leave the notebook on my bed.

You can write anything you like. It can be funny or serious or anything you want to write. Sound like fun?

Love,

Mom

P.S. Write back soon! XOXOX!”

I bought composition notebooks and covered them with some fancy scrapbooking papers which I have been hoarding for years now. Here is what their books look like.

Naomi's book I went with a pink color and dance paper. She's going to love this.

Justin's book I just loved the colors of this paper. I wanted his book to look more in boy colors.

Victoria loves purple like I do. I found this gorgeous purple flowery paper in my stash. It looks beautiful in person. The camera doesn't do it much justice.

Here are all 3 books.

I can't wait till they see these books in person. I think I will wait till they go to school to plant them in their rooms. Tomorrow is Friday so it will be nice surprise.