Etiquette for Addressing Greeting Cards for Kids

In the modern age of text messaging, emails and social networking, kids can easily lose -- or never even learn -- the art of sending greeting cards to friends and family. The click-and-send method is rapidly diminishing personal, hand-written correspondence, much to the chagrin of older loved ones. Taking the time to teach your child how to properly address a greeting card and add her own special touches can be a mini-lesson in handwriting, language and even future job skills. The card̵7;s recipient will certainly appreciate your youngster̵7;s effort and kind deed.

  1. Getting Ready

    • Part of sending a greeting card to a loved one is timing. Help your child mail the card as early as possible, especially if it is honoring a birthday, holiday or special occasion. Looking at the calendar together and talking about how long snail mail takes to arrive at its destination can give your child a better idea of the perfect day to visit the post office. Using stamps instead of a postage meter is a more traditional and preferable way to mail a greeting card.

    Handwriting

    • Encouraging your child to address the greeting card in her own handwriting will add a personal, sweet touch to the greeting card. Writing by hand also demonstrates that she is taking a few extra minutes of her time to make the correspondence special. If your child̵7;s handwriting is not yet up to par with the United States Postal Service standards -- in other words, her writing looks like chicken scratch -- parents can address the card in their own hand and have their youngster write a note or draw a picture inside the card.

    Addressing and Signing

    • Etiquette dictates that greeting cards should be addressed using the proper titles for the recipients. According to Emily Post, a man̵7;s name traditionally preceded a woman̵7;s when addressing envelopes, but in modern days, either order is acceptable. Help your child select the proper way to address the greeting card, using Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Dr., followed by the person̵7;s first and last names.

    Mailing a Greeting Card

    • When your child is preparing to mail the greeting card, you can demonstrate how to insert the card properly. Looking at the back of the envelope, slide the card in facing upward. When the recipient opens the envelope, the front of the card will be facing her. Have your child write her return address on the outside of the envelope so her loved one will immediately know who sent the card.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Stop Bed-Wetting in Boys
      As many as 7 million children in the United States wet the bed on a regular basis, according to the National Sleep Foundation, and the problem is more common in boys. The age at which children are fully potty trained varies, so bed-wetting can simply
    • Nursery Rhymes and Dress-Up Ideas
      Transform a child into a favorite nursery rhyme character through dress-up. While you can get as lavish as you like when constructing the outfit, nursery rhyme characters are quite simple to create. If you are new to costume making, do not fret; use
    • How Much Time Should a Child Spend on Computer Games?
      With television, music, the Internet and video games, media occupies a top spot in the lives of many children. Video games can appeal to children, with action, entertainment and sometimes education combined to create an engaging gaming experience. Fo