Writing longhand encourages better use of grammar skills spelling and punctuation. Obviously, it’s much more fun to practice writing while writing to a peer than writing an essay for the teacher. Most international pen pals are writing in their second language, putting a child in the role of English “teacher” or role model. This role may naturally encourage your child to put their best English skills on display.

As teens move further from childhood, teens gradually develop their ability to delay gratification, or wait for a worthwhile reward. Delayed gratification is related to many positive outcomes, including school success. In today’s world text messaging and IMs work against the ability to delay gratification, there is barely any wait for a response. In contrast, letters or packages from an international pen pal can be spaced out by weeks or even months.

Writing a letter gives children the space to think and find the appropriate words to express themselves. It is an opportunity to grow in their thinking, browsing their imaginations and improve their communication. They will learn to ask questions and communicate in an effective manner.

As adolescence approaches, children become increasingly egocentric. Hearing first-hand stories from an international pen pal can encourage teens to take someone else’s perspective and to think outside of themselves. This may be particularly true when the pen pal lives in a politically unstable or economically challenged nation. Learning about such a pen pal’s daily plight can provide some perspective on the “issues” the average American teen faces.

Many skills are actively developed during the teen years. Having a pen pal promotes many key skills, including reciprocation (a letter filled with all “me” and no questions does not make for a good pen pal relationship), empathy and mutual concern. Pen pal fosters the ability to search for and find common bonds, a key element of true friendship, and creates a feeling of belonging. As friendship deepens it opens their eyes to other people’s concept, cultures and values.

Having a pen pal may also encourage a teen to take a greater interest in social studies. Part of adolescence teen seem to be egocentric. They tend to care most about topics that have a personal relevance to them. Having a pen pal in a far-flung nation provides that personal connection, making the study of geography, world politics and world history feel less foreign, more meaningful and worthier of attention. Therefore, engaging in pen pal program will help them expand their knowledge of the world geography, different worldview and different cultures. They get a chance to discover new languages, ideas, cultures, customs, and ways of living. This experience may create passion to travel to other countries thus broadening their horizons.

Having a pen pal naturally promotes friendships. It’s a great opportunity to help children grow in what could be a lifelong friendship. Friendship comprises of many human values such as sympathy, mutual understanding and compassion. Friendship is undoubtedly a central part of our lives, due to the concerns we have for our friends and also because our friends can shape who we are as a person. Most of the times we need friends for companionship, conversations and laughter, but the real virtue of friendship lies in the support that we get from our friends, and the concern that they show