Free Letter Writing Templates for Kids
Published:
December 6, 2020
Contributor:
Annette Breedlove
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.
The first time I asked my kids to write a letter to someone, they looked at me like I requested they capture the moon! Using letter writing templates for my kids has been a simple way to introduce the art of letter writing to them.
Letter Template for Kids
There is something so special about getting your very own letter in the mail. Growing up, I loved getting mail. It was exciting and it made me feel loved and cared for.
I remember getting a basic letter from a pen pal over the summer. Or receiving personal letters throughout the year from friends I met at church camp.
I loved getting handwritten cards from family members on my birthday and Christmas. From the minute I saw the handwriting on the envelope, I knew exactly who wrote the letter and can even hear their voice as if they were reading it to me.
The Art of Writing Letters: A Thing of the Past?
When was the last time you sent or received a handwritten piece of mail?
With email and text messages becoming the “norm” for communication, kids and adults write letters less and less. The art of writing letters, or sending cards is becoming a thing of the past.
The best way to get our kids interested in writing letters is by setting them up with someone to write. The first letter doesn’t have to be a perfect letter, but once they start receiving mail they will want to write more and more and it will improve their writing style.
What are the different types of letters you can teach your kids to write?
If your kids have never written a letter, there’s a few things they may need to know before they get started. First, there are several different types of letters they can write:
- Formal – A formal letter is not written in a personal way. These are usually more of an official letter that is used for invitations, a recommendation letter, reference letter or a complaint letter.
- Informal – Informal letters are friendly letters. This is a simple letter that can be written to let someone know you are thinking of them, or to start writing to a pen pal or family member.
- Business – A business letter is a professional letter written from an individual to a company, or from one company to another. These are always written in a professional tone and are used to distribute or request information.
While most children will use informal or friendly letters most often right now, it doesn’t hurt to teach them the format of the formal and business letters as well.
What should you write in an informal or friendly letter?
Friendly letters should be written as if you are talking to the person. A friendly letter format would be to ask them how their day, week, month, or even year was.
Tell them something exciting you recently did with your family. Tell them about a favorite memory from the last few weeks.
Share your holiday traditions with them and ask about theirs. Have an informal and kind conversation with them and invite them to write back.
What makes a letter formal?
A formal letter follows a specific format field and is written in a formal manner. It is generally sent to address a concern or issue with a business, client, or other person. They remain formal in nature and refrain from personal details. When your student becomes an adult, it’s important they know how to write many different types of letters.
What is included in a business letter?
Children will likely not use letters for business correspondence until they enter the business world, but it is a good idea to practice and understand what it entails. Learning to write a business letter is an essential skill that your older students should learn to create an effective letter.
This type of letter is used between colleagues, complaints, claims, and any other business-related matters. Another example would be a professional cover letter. This would be attached with job applications or application letters when applying for a professional job. Other letter types include letters of recommendation, and employment verification letter, contract termination letters, resignation letters, and more.
Free Letter Template for KidsBe sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to get access to this free Letter Template for Kids activity pack. |
Free Letter Writing Templates
Want to teach your kids how to write letters? Check out these Letter Writing Templates to get your kids started on their own journey of handwritten letters and cards.
Friendly Letter Templates for Kids
Writing a Friendly Letter Worksheet – This worksheet lists all 5 parts of a friendly letter and includes a sample letter and a video.
Learn How to Write a Letter – Learn how to properly address an envelope by writing out their full name and practice writing a letter with these free templates.
Thank You Letters for Helpers – The best way to encourage our community helpers is by giving thank you letters to them. Your kids will enjoy this free guide to help them write thank you letters.
Letter Template for Kids
Letter Writing Templates – 24 free templates with printable letter writing paper in different styles.
PenPals: The First Letter – This is a great kids letter template to help your child get started with writing to a pen pal.
Friendly Letter Writing Templates – 3 different letter writing templates and a graphic organizer to help your children to begin writing a friendly letter.
Teaching Kids How to Write a Letter – This free printable pack will teach your children the different parts of a letter and the important information to write in the body of the letter.
Printable Letter Template for Kids
How to Write a Friendly Letter Printables – Printables to help your kids write a friendly letter. There is printable writing paper for kids, topic ideas and even instructions to create your own envelope.
Friendly Letter Freebie – Teaching slides and printables for grades 3-6 to practice letter writing.
Printable Pen Pal Letter – Printable template for your kids to write in, and draw a picture to send to a pen pal.
Free Printable Letter Template for Kids– This template will help your kids to keep in touch with their friends and family and they can write directly on the printed paper.
Letter Writing Templates for Teens
A Formal Letter – This template has the basic framework for your students to practice writing their own formal letter.
Formal Letter Writing – Lesson plan and supporting documents for middle school students to learn formal letter writing the right way.
How to Write a Business Letter – Teach your teens how and why they should learn how to write a business letter as a life skill. There is a writing assignment and sample of a business letter format to copy from.
Business Letter Template – This formal business letter template is a free pdf format that you can download and fill in the editable templates to create a business letter.
Cover and Thank You Letters for Teens – Sample letters for your teens to practice writing a nice thank you letter, and a cover letter for a job application.
Free Letter Template for Kids PDF Download
This Letter Template for Kids is all you need to start teaching your kids how to write letters. This resource includes a page that shows your child how to format a letter, several letter-writing templates, as well as postcards and envelopes to decorate and practice with. Use the templates to send actual letters to family members and friends! This resource is ideal for elementary school age.