To help a child write his first business letter, first decide on it's purpose. Then decide who the recipient will be. Have the child write his own address and the date near the top of lined paper. Skip two lines. Have the child write the contact information of the recipient (name, business name and address.) Skip two more lines, and have the child write a greeting appropriate for a business letter. When writing to an individual, it is appropriate to use his name and title, like "Dear Professor Brown." Follow the greeting with a colon.
Help your child explain who he is and why he is writing this letter in the first paragraph. Remember that paragraphs in business letters do not require an indent. The second paragraph will state his opinion or make a request. Time For Kids says you should use facts, experiences and specific details to support the opinion or request, also within the second paragraph. The third paragraph will suggest what action your child wants the recipient to take. Thank the recipient for reading the letter in this last paragraph. Write a closing (such as "Sincerely") followed by a comma, and be sure to have your child sign his name.
Teach your child how to properly address an envelope, including both a return address and the recipient information. This is a good opportunity to discuss the importance of postage. Business letter writing lessons can open the door to other lesson topics such as geography, penmanship, typing, computer skills, spelling and editing. A trip to the post office can become a valuable logistics lesson, as kids learn about the meaning of ZIP codes, letter sorting and mail carrier duties.
According to Family Education, children must believe their writing work is meaningful in order for it to be fun. To motivate your child to write business letters, try starting a club, or join a letter writing campaign that focuses on a topic that has personal meaning for your child. Writing to organizations that your child is most familiar with is also a great idea. You can find meaningful business letter writing motivation in your daily life. For example, if your child is disappointed that a favorite cartoon has been cancelled or that a nearby restaurant no longer serves his favorite macaroni and cheese, encourage your child to use his business letter writing skills.