Tips for Connecting with Kids by

Tips for Connecting with Kids by Mail

by Virginia Folsom

Building relationships with your children is vital to teaching effectiveness. Your influence grows with your relationship. Weak relationships mean little influence.

Boys and girls love to receive mail. They rarely get mail addressed to them personally. Sending cards and notes is a great way to connect with kids in your class. If your kids have E-mail, send E-notes and cards too. Here are six tips to help you build the relationship started in class through the mail.

1. Be brief. It’s amazing what a few lines on a card will do for children. Let them know you are thinking of them with a short note.

2. Remember special days. Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, first day of school, last day of school, Thanksgiving, the birth of a new sibling, welcome back from vacation all provide ways to say, "You are important to me!"

3. Send a note saying you are praying for them. If a prayer request is sensitive, avoid specifics in your note.

4. Send special event reminders. No one likes to be left out. Let them know about special times at church.

5. Send thank-you notes for good behavior. Compliment them on something they have done.

6. Let them know they are missed when absent.