By Laurel A. Falvo

When is the last time you wrote a letter and mailed it to a friend or family member? When you send a birthday, get-well, or sympathy card, do you add a note of encouragement? Do your children know the art of reaching out to others in this way?

Last week a friend provided our family with some “hand-me-down” clothes for my four-year-old daughter. As she finished exclaiming over all the pretty items, and taking time to model several of them, she said, “We need to write a thank you card! Can I draw a picture?”

In this time of instant messaging, e-mails, voice mail, and other technological advances, we sometimes forget how wonderful it is to go to the mailbox to discover something other than credit card applications and bills; something with handwriting addressed to US personally!

I’d like to encourage you to sit down with your children yet this week (or by yourself, if you don’t have children living at home) to send a handwritten note (maybe even a handmade card) to someone. Who could you thank--a teacher, grandparent, pastor, or neighbor? Who could you encourage—a student, friend, or therapist? How about a handwritten love note tucked into your child’s lunch box or backpack? 

This is a meaningful activity that can put the “social” back into our everyday contacts, and will go a long way toward making others feel good about themselves. And I guarantee that it’ll make you feel good, too! While you’re at it, I’d love to have you send me a quick e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   to let me know if you tried this activity!

Thank you for the work you are doing to promote social understanding!

© 2006 Laurel A. Hoekman/Laurel A. Falvo