When I was nine my name was in a sticker magazine and I got dozens of pen pals. There were a couple that I stayed in contact with for several years. I loved it!
I'm excited to let you know about an option for your kids - Pen Pal Kids Club. Kids log in to a secure site, create their avatar, get connected to others who belong and send post cards to their new pen pals. The links are listed at the end of this. We're kinda new to it and I can tell you a few things, but really, you should check it out for yourself. The first 30 days are free!
"the safe social network for kids around the world"™ is the tag line on the website and I really do feel that it's a safe place for my 11 year old son. That being said, it's always important to teach Internet safety, no matter how safe the site is supposed to be. Also, my son is eleven and he's on the verge of too old for this, but 6 or 7 to 10 would be perfect.
There is an option to turn "private messaging" (meaning that they can directly write their own message instead of using scripted options) on or off. Since my son is older, I turned it "on". For kids just learning to write, this is a great place to practice (that's the teacher in me coming out).
The website has great geography games too - the whole concept is a learning opportunity.
My son selected the ones he decided to ask to be pen pals based on who was a boy, who had been on a short amount of time and actually had several penpals. His reasoning was that if they were active on the site then they would more than likely respond to him. I just checked and he has two responses - I can't wait to finish this so I can tell him and he can check.
I have totally held my kids back from social networking sites (even my almost eight grader) and am comfortable with Pen Pal Kids Club and am happy that I can give my younger son an alternative.
Please, check it out! Tell me what you think.
Pen Pal Kids Club
Website: https://www.penpalkidsclub.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PenPalKidsClub
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/PenPalKidsClub
Sadly, it has been a while since my last visit. I read through my reader and just get so behind on commenting.
ReplyDeleteI had to giggle at your theater correction. I remember reading that and thought how cool to have a theater room :)
May you have a blessed week with your family!