Children love receiving letters from their sponsor, but in the same way that we struggle, it can be hard to write back to someone they’ve never met. Discover what you can expect from your child’s letters by age.
Toddlers and young children If the child you sponsor is very young, your letters are primarily to his or her caregiver. While the child you sponsor may be too young to read and write, your letters are a wonderful way to encourage their the whole family. As the child you sponsor grows, they may start expressing themselves through drawings, handprints or colouring.
Primary aged children At this age, children are just beginning to learn to read and write, so you can expect their letters to be simple. As writing is a new skill, please be patient. Over the next few years the child you sponsor will write to you using a range of letter templates, which cover different questions and writing prompts. The child you sponsor may be too young to write, and, if this is the case, a staff member from the church will sit with them and help write down their answers.
Teenagers and young adults By the time the child you sponsor reaches their teenage years you may notice that their letters becoming more conversational. They may even start writing to you in English if that isn’t their first language. Remember, all children and young people are different, and not all of them will enjoy letter writing. If this is the case, please don’t be discouraged. Your letters are a powerful way to build self-esteem, and will be treasured even if they can’t express themselves in the same way.