Children and prisoners like it; so do military women and men, and your maiden aunt: snail mail. In this e-mail age of instant messaging and quick, random communication, people forget how much a letter can mean, especially to the lonely.

A family pen pal allows your kids to make a new friend and discover ways to uplift through the cherished but oft overlooked medium of correspondence. Look at your own circle of acquaintances and select a person who would enjoy hearing the latest buzz from your crew. Consider nominating someone who lives alone or far from home.

Another option is writing to a child in a third-world country via a relief organization. Many organizations want donors to send personal correspondence to sponsored children. Your kids will love getting pictures from the other side of the world and hearing about the life of a person whose reality is very different from their own.

Letter writing can be a slow, thoughtful process. That’s as it should be. Take your time to carefully choose your phrases, feel for the right words. To succeed as a correspondent, you and your children must open your hearts. Your family pen pal teaches your children that letters can bring hope to both writer and recipient.

Truth resonates in a two-way discussion. The lag in the back-and-forth response time allows anticipation to build. Your kids will become accustomed to waiting for the daily delivery.

As you create your family letter, remind your young writers about a remarkable letter of love penned just for them: the Bible. They can read it anytime, no stamps or waiting required.