Here are some ways to encourage your kids to write during the summer.

• Send post cards. Everyone loves to receive mail, and post cards are an inexpensive way to stay in touch. Encourage your kids to write post cards to friends and relatives.

• Keep a diary. Every day, have your kids write down something they did that day. The next fall, the diary will make their “What I Did Last Summer” essay easier and more interesting.

• Have your kids write about special summer activities. Ask them to describe eating ice cream on a hot day. Describe what it feels like to jump into a pool or a lake.

• Start a newsletter for your family or neighborhood. Gather news and photos by phone or email. Write up stories, assemble the newsletter, and make copies.

• Encourage your kids to make their own books. "Publish" the books by creating covers and stapling them together. These are wonderful gifts for grandparents.

• Keep a travel journal. Even if you never leave your hometown, you can plan interesting things to do during the summer. As you visit nearby parks or museums, have your children keep a journal of where you go and what you see.

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