The Benefits of Having a Penpal for Your Child

If you’re looking for a way to teach your child more about the world and broaden their horizons, consider signing them up for a penpal program. You might be surprised at how many social and learning advantages it brings.

Having a penpal is a wonderful way to help our kids to learn more about the world around them. The ability to appreciate, understand and respect other cultures is an important quality. Children are more likely to be interested in what another child is telling them first hand, rather than by reading about a country in a book or watching a documentary. The world is such an amazing place. Different countries have fascinating histories, cultures and traditions. We may not get to visit all of these countries, but giving your child a penpal from another country is a great way to learn.

Corresponding with a child from another country is likely to trigger that special quality in kids – curiosity. How does their friend go to school? What sort of foods do they eat? Do they have any special festivals or celebrations? Having curiosity is an important factor in ALL learning. So the more we encourage our child’s curiosity, the better learners they will become.

Another benefit is empathy, and the ability to see things from another person’s perspective. Being friends with a similarly aged child in another country helps kids realize that they have many things in common and enjoy playing with the same things. Despite living in very different environments, there are so many things that make kids the same everywhere. The ability to see commonalities amongst the differences is a beautiful gift.

On an academic level, there are also many benefits. Kids get to practice their writing skills and organize their thoughts onto paper. They are likely to be more motivated too, unlike doing ordinary homework. As a parent you get the chance to help your child with their writing, expression and grammar in an informal and relaxed environment.

It will also help to teach your child about social studies, geography and climate. It is so much more meaningful when they can directly relate it to a friend. What’s more, they will also learn about patience. It takes time to write, send and then receive a letter from a penpal. In today’s world of instant messaging and instant responses, being able to wait patiently for a response is a great virtue!

If you are interested in finding a penpal for your child, here are some sites you can take a look at: