How To Teach Children Letter Writing Skills

Going to sleep away camp is an exciting time in your children’s lives. They will learn new tools that will help them throughout their lives as well as make unforgettable memories. As you are preparing to send your children to camp, there are many aspects to think about!  Many people think about all the supplies their children will need like clothing, bedding, toiletries, etc., but there is one thing people tend to forget—how to properly write a letter! Although your children will be having fun with all their new friends and counselors, they may experience some homesickness and will want to write to you (and many camps require that they do!). It is important to teach them how to properly write a letter so that they are not confused when the time comes.

Teaching a child how to properly write a letter may seem a little difficult at first. There are many components that go into writing a letter correctly. These skills, though, are very important and will help your children learn to be better communicators. If you are struggling on where to start, here are some of our tips and tricks to help prepare your child for writing a great letter home! However, keep in mind that they are not writing a legal brief—so really the emphasis should be on teaching them to be able to communicate their feelings, not so much about form, grammar and style.

Have your children practice writing their alphabet letters. Practicing writing each letter of the alphabet will help them to feel more confident when writing a letter to you, their grandparents, and their friends while they are away at camp. Depending on their age, this may or may not be necessary!

Teach your children the difference between an informal and formal letter.
Although your children will only be writing informal letters to family and friends while away at camp, it will help them to not confuse the two in the future.

Teach your child all the different components that go into writing a letter. When writing a letter, it is important to make sure that your child understands everything that goes into writing a good letter. There are 4 basic parts:

• Date: the date should be printed at top left or top right
• Salutation: This is typically “Dear (name)” followed by a comma (e.g. Dear Grandma,)
• Letter Body: This is the part of the letter where children can share their thoughts and feelings, report on what they have done or what they are looking forward to doing.
• Closing: Closings can take many forms depending upon to whom you are writing. Popular ones include “Love,” “Your friend,” “Sincerely,” (although this one might be a bit too formal for camp letters) and “From.” Note that all of these closings EXCEPT “From” should be followed by a comma. (e.g. Love, Danny or From Danny)

Have your child practice writing letters. 
If your child is having trouble remembering all the steps that go into a letter, you could write down a list of all the steps and laminate it (tip: use clear packing tape as lamination) so it does not accidentally get ruined while your child is at camp. 

Once the actual letter is written, it is time to teach them how to address the letter to send. 
While your child is learning how to address an envelope, it is helpful to provide a template so that they remember where everything goes. You can draw three lines in the middle of the envelope (where they put the address of the receiver of the letter), three lines at the top left-hand corner (where they put their return address), and a small box on the right hand side where the stamp gets placed. Show them how the name goes on the first line, the street address on the second, and the city, state, and zip code on the last (great time to point out that a comma separates the city and state – but just a space between the state and zip code). Once again if they are struggling with remembering where everything goes, you can provide a laminated example for them to take to camp or wherever they go in life! 

Give them the stationery tools to help prepare them for writing letters. Making sure that your children have everything they need for writing their letters will help them to feel more confident and prepared. Below are a few examples you may want to get your child during their time at camp—but we recommend letting your children choose the designs they wish to have. It will give them the feeling of power which is helpful here in prepping for camp, and, after all, they are the ones that will be using it all summer. We are sure your children will be so excited to use their fun and colorful letters while they are away.

For especially younger campers, you may want to consider getting them a fill-in-the-blank option so that it is easy for them to report on the latest and greatest goings on at camp!

Finally, one last tip in preparation is to give them a neat case to keep all their stationery paraphernalia tidy. This has been a best-seller for years and kids love how they can completely customize the personalization. 

 

Going away to camp for a few weeks can be a very big deal for kids, but teaching them how to properly write letters can really help them if they begin to feel homesick. This will help your child feel like they are still connecting with you from afar. Your child will be so excited to receive a letter back as well once they send theirs. By learning how to write a letter, your child will feel more confident in their communication skills as they adventure off to camp! 
 

How to Prepare Your Child For Camp

There is so much that goes into preparing your children for camp. You don’t know until you’ve been through it!  During this preparation time, it is important to make sure that both you and your child are involved to make it the best overall experience. We understand that there are a lot of different components that go into getting your child ready for the weeks ahead.  
If you are having trouble trying to figure out where to even start preparing for your child’s upcoming adventure, we have provided some of our best tips and tricks to help you and your child get ready for an amazing summer at camp. 
 
Having your child practice a good hygiene routine without having you around.
 
While your child will certainly get assistance from his/her counselors at camp, it’s good for your child to start learning to do some of these hygiene tasks themselves while still at home. This will not only help them feel more confident, but they will also start to grow to be more independent. Before they go to camp, try and create a list of important daily tasks they should be doing like brushing teeth twice a day. Turn this list into a game to see who can complete the list first so they do not see it as a chore.
 
Involve your child in the preparation process for their time at camp. 
 
Not only will they start to become more excited for their time at camp, but they will also not worry about missing an important item to them such as a special stuffed animal, blanket, etc. This will also help them to start growing a sense of independence as they are not having everything done for them. 
 
Let your child borrow your confidence about camp. 
 
Children take their cues from parents. Avoid asking your child if they are worried about camp or if they will miss you. But do have conversations about what they are looking forward to and/or what they might be nervous about in terms of camp. If you personally used to go to overnight camp, you could share some of your favorite stories to help get them more excited to go. Remember, the more confidence you show in the camp and its leaders’ ability to take good care of your child, the more confident your child will feel about separating from you. 
 
Prepare items that will help your child feel less homesick. 
 
Sending your child away for summer camp is a big deal and could possibly make your child anxious. In order to help your child feel a little more comfortable when they are away, you could print pictures of the family, encourage writing letters, etc. This will help your child feel more connected to you while they are away. You could even get them some fun stationery items to help get them excited for writing to you while they are away like these: 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

 
See our full collection of stationery to write from home here! 
 
 
 
Go visit the campsite before your child leaves for the summer. 
 
If possible, visit the camp ahead of time! By going to visit the camp, it can help to better prepare your child for what to expect. This can alleviate any built help stress your child may have had for not knowing what they were going into. Also, by physically seeing where they are about to spend their summer, it will help get them excited for what’s to come. Can’t get there physically, check out the camp’s website. Most have videos, photos and even recordings of staff, campers and parents to help you get a feel for the camp’s atmosphere.
 
Sending your child away to camp for the summer may be stressful for both you and your child at first, but by following these tips it can help better prepare both of you for a great summer. Before you know it, your child will come home with so many amazing memories and stories that they will be eager to share with you!

Summer Entertaining

With summer approaching quickly, we are thinking about how to gather small groups of our friends and family and entertain them safely in style. Outdoor backyard dinner parties are our favorite, and we have learned a few tips and tricks to enjoy ourselves, spend quality time with our guests, and take things up a notch. With simple details and personalized touches, you can really wow your guests, too. 

 
Here are a few tips for entertaining this summer. 

1. Pair your favorite dishes with a few new summer-themed pieces of servingware. 
2. Create a bar cart for guests to have easy access to their favorite drinks. You can even create simple little glass cups in which to put straws, stir sticks, little umbrellas, and more! 
3. Add a festive summer tablecloth to make the dinner table stand out a little more and get guests excited to check out everything you have to offer.  
4. Instead of laying everything flat on the table, create various heights for the dishes being served. This could include a few platters, a cupcake holder, and a glass trifle filled with popular snacks. 
5. Make sure to have an eye-catching centerpiece to get people talking. One idea would be to put light-colored pebbles at the bottom of a glass vase and fill it with bright flowers and plants.

 
Check out a few of these items to get you started on the ultimate summer entertaining in style! 
 

1. This Tritan Outdoor Entertaining Set is the perfect summer essential to spice up your bar cart. This set includes four outdoor friendly highball glasses, an acrylic serving tray, a pitcher, and an insulated acrylic ice bucket. You can go even further by customizing the pieces by adding a monogram, initial, or name/phrase. 

Additional glasses can be purchased here (tip – these are amazing to use all year round – especially if you have kids. They look like glass but are a nice weight and unbreakable!)

Add an extra festive touch with these monogrammed and personalized paper coasters. Elevate your table and bar cart with these at More Than Paper! Everyone will be dying to know where you got these from. Each order comes with 100 coasters making it the perfect addition to multiple parties throughout the summer. 

1.     Every party needs napkins so why not make them stylish at the same time? These Anchor Linen-Like Beverage and Dinner Napkins are the perfect way to top off your unforgettable summer party. These luxurious custom napkins are linen-like making them the perfect party essential (and they last longer too reducing the number of napkins being used). 

1.     Stand out from the crowd as you’re grilling some burgers and hotdogs for your guests with this Custom Engraved Grilling BBQ Set. The tools are crafted with strong oak handles and heavy-duty steel making it a long-lasting essential for years to come. 

Truth be told: all the personalized products and touches do elevate the party but what matters most is spending quality time with your guests. Be sure to do just that.  As the hostess, you may be concerned with making sure your guests drinks are full and the food is on the table, but be sure to take a few moments to really listen to the conversation -- be in the moment and be present with the ones you love.  That’s what entertaining is really about! (And if you can make it cute -- more power to you!). 

 

What are your entertaining tips and tricks for summer? We’d love to hear them on our Facebook page or in the comments below. 

Father's Day Gift Ideas

As Father’s Day is soon approaching, it is time to start thinking ways to honor Dad. Since our fathers help build us into the people we are today, it is important to take the time to thank them for everything they have done!  You can do that in so many ways. Through small gifts but, most importantly, expressing heartfelt gratitude. 

Although fathers should be celebrated every day, make this Father’s Day one that they will cherish for many years to come. Show your dad how much you appreciate him for all that he does for you by making him feel extra special this Father’s Day. 

 

For fathers who frequently travel, this weekend navy travel bag is the perfect addition  his business trips. No matter where your dad goes, he will always have something that constantly reminds him of you. You can even customize it by monogramming.  

Give your dad the gift that will have all his friends talking at the next get together with this personalized glass sports mug. Every mug can be personalized with a name or initial. 

This custom engraved vegan leather photo frame is a great way to show your dad how much you care about him and admire all that he does. The frame is water resistant, durable, and easy to clean.  Add a great picture of you two for a sentimental gift that he will enjoy! 

If your dad loves to grill then look no further than this BBQ apron.  You can even choose the character head you think best suits your dad. 

Show your dad that he really is number one with this personalized ceramic mug. Bring a smile to your dad’s face every day as he enjoys his morning cup of coffee. The mug is even microwave and dishwasher safe making it easy for fathers constantly on the go. 

 

Whichever gift you decide is right for your dad, we also recommend writing him a letter on your own personalized stationery to actually put into words how much he truly means to you. Although this may seem like a small gesture, it will probably mean more than any gift ever will. 

 

Of course, the ultimate gift is quality time so hopefully you are able to spend time together. It can be as simple as going to get coffee, taking him to do his favorite activities, or even watching his favorite movie with him at home --- be sure to spend some time with Dad if you are lucky enough to do it. 

 

What are your favorite Father’s Day gifts?  Share them here or on our Facebook page. We love to hear from you! 

 

Graduation Gifts

It’s that time of year again! Whether your child is graduating high school or college, they still deserve to be celebrated. There is no better way to celebrate your child than with a graduation party! The final months of spring leading into summer are definitely one of the busiest times of the year. From Easter to Mother’s Day, there is hardly any time to plan a graduation party for your loved one. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the thought of planning an event, but good thing, More Than Paper has all of your graduation party needs covered. 
 
The first step in planning any event is creating a guest list. The most important thing to consider when making a guest list for any event is deciding how many people you are comfortable with hosting. Once you decide on this number, it’s time to start talking to your grad about who they want to be there on their special day. After making the guest list, it’s time to start mailing those invites! When mailing invitations to any event, you want to make sure you encapsulate the purpose of the event you’re hosting. What better way to showcase your child’s graduation celebration than with one of More Than Paper’s wide variety of trendy graduation invitations?
 
We suggest that picking one of our photo invitation options to showcase your child’s stunning senior pictures. We have a wide variety of options from which to choose when deciding which invitation works best for you! Each of these invitations allows you to customize the text to make sure all your loved ones get to the event at the right time and place. 
 
After sending out those invitations, the next step in planning a graduation party is decorating. More Than Paper has a variety of festive decorations and party favors to make your child’s graduation party one for the books! Here’s an insider look at our favorite graduation party decorations and gifts!
 
We suggest taking your party planning to the next level with our Graduation Hat banners! These banners are the perfect addition to your child’s graduation party get-up. The Graduation Hat banners come in two different fonts to choose from and allow you to showcase your child’s school colors! These banners come in three different size options ranging from Mini (12’ x 18”), Small (16” x 18”), and Large (30” x 55”). You can hang these banners inside or outside with either the included adhesive removable tape or the two upgradeable grommet options.

 
What’s a party without refreshments? No matter what you are serving, you have to keep those drinks cold. Try keeping your refreshments cold with our College Little Bin. These customizable tin bins are the perfect and practical decoration for your event. To customize these bins, just select the name and colors of your graduate’s school and their name. The rest is history!
 

Serve up hors d’ouevres and treats with these custom napkins. These napkins can be personalized with your graduates name and come in a wide variety of colors to choose from.

 
Once the decorating is done, it’s time for the party favors! One of the most attention-grabbing party favors is a reusable cup for your guests. Our Congrats Reusable Cups are the perfect take-home item for your guests. These cups can hold 16 oz. and are completely shatterproof, making them the perfect celebration item. These reusable cups are customizable and come in a wide assortment of colors to choose from! P.S. they’re dishwasher safe (which may be the best part). 

 
The last (and perhaps most important) step of throwing a graduation party is sending out thank you notes to your guests. What better way to say thank you than with our Gold Graduation Thank You Note Card Stationery? These thank you notes have a classic design and come in a set of 20 cards and envelopes. These cards allow you to send a personalized thank you message to all of your guests.

 
Graduation is one of the biggest milestones in your child’s life. We hope these suggestions help you make it even more special. You can click here for even more graduation items and gifts. More Than Paper wishes a huge congrats to all the 2021 grads!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Take a moment to think about everything that your mother has done for you over the years. A mother is someone who is always there for you providing unconditional love. She will always put her family’s needs before her own. Although mothers deserve to be celebrated every day, make this Mother’s Day one to remember. Show your mother how much you truly appreciate everything that she does for you with a beautiful Mother’s Day gift.

 

Honor her for all of her selfless actions and amazing qualities she portrays to the world. Your mother will be overwhelmed with happiness when she sees any of our 2021 Mother’s Day gift ideas you choose to get her. We guarantee your mom will be talking about this sweet Mother’s Day gift for years to come. Here are some ideas:

 

You will put a smile on her face every time she looks at this beautiful hand signed piece of artwork that she can hang in her home. If your mother is the sun(flower) in your life, then this is the perfect gift to show her. 

 

 

If your mother is always on the go, this notepad is just what she needs. Unique gifts for mom like these will keep her smiling and laughing every time she goes to write down her to-do list and notes. You can even personalize this notepad by adding her name to the bottom. 

 

 

People always say that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” What better gift for mom than a colorful picture frame with a picture of her children and a custom message. She won’t be able to contain her excitement when she sees this thoughtful gift specially made for her. 

 

 

Mothers are typically on the go trying to get everything their family needs done in time. For the busy moms out there, we recommend getting them a custom personalized coffee mug. She will be reminded about how special and appreciated she is every time she goes to sip her coffee.

 

Your mom will be the talk of the grocery store with this adorable custom canvas grocery tote bag. This environmentally friendly tote can fit about two large bags worth of groceries (sometimes even more)! You can choose the character head, hair color, and skin tone of the person on the bag to best match your mother. 

 

 

Moms are spending even more time at their desks these days. Why not get them this pretty AND practical sticky cube. Perfect for spring:

 

 

Remember that a gift for mom should be carefully thought out. Whichever one of our Mother’s Day gift ideas you decide to choose for your incredibly hardworking mother, we recommend also writing a note on your own personalized stationery to show Mom how much she truly means to you. This extra little step can make the biggest difference to your mother. After all, what would we do without our amazing mothers in our lives? 

Coaches Gifts

We can hardly believe it is April.  With spring break ahead of us, this month always seems to fly by.  Before we know it, it will be May and the end of the school year! We’re looking ahead to year-end gifts for coaches. Do you or your children acknowledge their sports coaches with a small token of your appreciation? 

Coaches can have a profound effect on a young person’s life. A good coach has the power to motivate, teach discipline, and shape how a child deals with losing and winning. We’ve seen some tremendous coaches in our children’s lives, and we’re grateful for those that volunteer their time and make an impact. 

 

Today we are sharing small gift ideas that you can buy for coaches.  The gesture doesn’t have to be grand.  Acknowledging your coaches can be done simply with a heartfelt, handwritten note.  (If you need some stationery, you know where to head to!) 

 

Beyond a note, here are some of our favorite gift ideas for coaches. 

Your child’s soccer coach will really see how much they are appreciated for all of their hard work with set of themed stationery. These notes are available in both green or blue and can be changed from our standard square corner to rounded corners if desired.

We are obsessed with all of the different sports options for our mugs including baseball, football, golf, and hockey. This unique gift for coaches is a great keepsake that they can use for many years to come. You can even personalize them by adding two lines of text with up to 15 characters per line. Fill with candy for added sweetness when gift giving!

Does your child play multiple sports? These Sports Cute Collection Notepads are the perfect gift idea for coaches. Personalize the notepads to best match your needs by adding names, location, etc. These cute collection notepads will be the perfect necessity for your coach’s next season to help plan out plays.  Available as both a multi-sport pack or for a single sport.

Cheers to the end of another successful cheerleading season! What greater way to celebrate your child’s amazing coach with personalized cheerleader thank you notes. Gift ideas like these pair best with a little gift as well to really show your appreciation. You can choose up to two ink colors and whether you want the thank you notes to have square or rounded corners. 

In whatever way you decide to celebrate your child’s coaches, we always recommend the children thanking them in person as well to truly show how much they mean to them. They can mention:

 

1)    Their favorite memory from the season with their coach

2)    One play that really made both the child and coach happy 

3)    How the coach has improved their skills over the past season 

4)    How their coach has made an impact in their life 

 

Grab your favorite thank you cards, year-end gifts, and have your child thank their coach in person for all the wonderful things they have done over the past season to help them grow.