By Gina Roberts-Grey
Published: June 1, 2006
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Communication methods have drastically changed in the past few decades. Living in the age of instant messaging, email and multiple mobile phones, many children find sitting down to hand write a letter an obsolete and inefficient option. They would rather pick up the phone or sit at the computer to communicate instead of writing a letter or card. The excitement and pace of being away at camp tends to promote a child’s dependence on technological advancements to communicate with family and friends.

This year, why not add a few time creative tips to spark an interest in writing while promoting strong communication as you pack your child’s camping bags? Incorporating writing letters and notes in his communication repertoire will enhance your child’s vocabulary, and confidence in his abilities.

Whether your child is at camp for just the day or away for a week of overnight adventures, creating appealing alternatives to stay connected are worthwhile to explore.

1. Start a sharing journal
   Whether he’s going to day or overnight camp, take your child shopping for journals or notebooks that you both can write your ideas, hopes, daily frustrations etc. in. While you’re apart you each can jot down your thoughts, or letters to each other to share with each other when he returns home. You’ll both gain insight into each other while promoting a penchant for writing.
   
   
2. Set an example
   Before camp begins, spend time together writing thank-you or birthday cards for events that will occur during camp. You child will realize your passion for writing letters to friends and loved ones and want to model your actions and priority while he’s away.
   
   
3. Make it memorable
   Explain to your child that his letters from camp are valuable keepsakes that you’ll treasure. Enlist his help to construct and embellish a special box, envelope or bag that he’ll know the letters he sends from camp will be kept in. Knowing that his work is cherished and appreciated will help encourage his enthusiasm to send letters home.
   
   
4. Find out why he doesn’t like to write
   A child’s creativity can be spurred once you know what is stifling it. Sometimes children rebuff writing letters because they are insecure about their penmanship, spelling errors, use of vocabulary or sentence structure. Talk to him to uncover any insecurities or writing blocks. Perhaps he feels there’s no time to write a letter or he sees it as more of a chore than as communication.
   
   
5. Make writing fun
   Introduce your child to a variety of ways to utilize the written word as a form of expressing himself and his abilities. Offer him the chance to work themed crossword puzzles, mad libs or word games you created at www.puzzlemaker.com to stimulate keeping in touch with you. Encourage him to make up sill rhymes, riddles and stories for you to decipher about his camp adventures.
   
   For children attending day camp, designate one weekend afternoon as ‘no-talk time’. Enlist the entire family to write notes to each other, follow previously written clues to find hidden surprises or treats around the house, or play word games. Your child can detail events experienced at camp or play word games with camp related words as a fun way to express his feelings. You’ll create a fun environment for him to learn to express himself in as well as spark his writing abilities.
   
   
6. Pick a word for the day
   Use tools such as calendars that feature a word of the day or a hand written list of words for him to select one word a day from to incorporate in correspondence to you. Your child will gain confidence in his writing from learning new vocabulary words to use in his writing as well as his speech while he has fun writing cryptic messages to you.
   
   
7. Keep supplies handy
   If a child has to hunt for writing supplies, he’s likely to lose interest in communicating. Pack an interesting assortment of writing tools to stimulate his writing energy. Send him to camp with personal stationary, an array of pens, pencils erasers, and colored paper and ask for his input when purchasing different types of writing implements to further promote his enthusiasm.
   
   
8. Don’t be an editor
   If your child writes you a letter, remember that the message and motive is often more important than the delivery. Although it may be tempting, resist the urge to edit his spelling or use of punctuation. Give him the freedom to express his personal thoughts without the fear his work will be criticized.
   
   
9. Ask family members to help
   Enlist his favorite aunt, cousin, or a sibling who is away at camp to be a pen pal. The responsibility to respond to Grandpa’s recent letter increases a child’s interest to author a return letter. He’ll keep in touch with family members while he realizes an alternative to instant communication.
   
   
10. Dear Diary…
    Encourage your child to keep a diary or private journal to write his feelings in while he’s away. Expressing his emotions offers the chance for him to highlight experiences he can share with you once he’s back home.

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