Shop Now

Just between you and me…Writing Letters to the President

by Kelin George

February 17th 2023, 1:52 pm

Children writing notes and letters to the President has been a tradition for many years. Children are sometimes asked to write letters to the President as a class activity.

If the idea of your child penning a letter to the highest office in the United States seems overwhelming, consider this. The President is a person who, despite office and authority, is still reachable to every citizen in the country. If your child has a question, a concern, or wants to say something to the President, they can just write to him.

The exercise is not a mere joke. It is taken quite seriously. In fact, did you know the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) preserves letters from children in presidential libraries?

Consider the story of Phyllis Bamberger, a young girl in Ohio. In 1947, she wrote a letter to President Harry S. Truman. "Dear President Truman," Phyllis wrote, "When I read about your Cocker Spaniel named Feller, I wanted to tell you about our Cocker Spaniel. He was 14 years old when he died, and his name was Feller. Now we have another Cocker Spaniel named Feller, 5 months old, and we have had him for 4 months. I hope your dog and ours both live to be very very old."¹

Letters like these show that the messages' content doesn't have to be serious or political. The intent is to see the Oval Office as personable and approachable and to make the President seem more human. It also serves as a way to get your child interested in matters of the state and teach them their civic responsibilities.

Also read: Presidents’ Day worksheets | Free Printables K–Grade 3

We understand that children from PreK to Grade 3 are still developing their writing and reading skills. So, in that case, you can help your child pen their letter. You can even make an activity out of it, like asking them to spell a word or having them practice writing letters multiple times till they get it right.

Your child can also opt to draw something instead of writing a letter and convey what they want to tell the President on Presidents' day. So here's a free printable template for your child. They can opt to write or draw something on the letter. If your child wishes, they can also write a letter to our Vice President.