Who should my daughter send fan letters to?
July 6, 2015 9:49 AM Subscribe
Help me think of people/companies my daughter can send postal mail to that are likely to respond.
My daughter is a bright, sweet, mildly autistic kid who loves the act of sending and receiving postal mail. She regularly sends letters to relatives and gets the occasional reply, but she doesn't seem interested in the back-and-forth conversation that we normally associate with letter writing. I've suggested she write fan-mail to her favorite actors/actresses and maybe send fan mail to some companies that make products she likes (candy, video games, Pixar, etc). Can you suggest any other entities she could send mail to? Her primary interests are movies, reading, cartoons, video games, comics, and painting.
My daughter is a bright, sweet, mildly autistic kid who loves the act of sending and receiving postal mail. She regularly sends letters to relatives and gets the occasional reply, but she doesn't seem interested in the back-and-forth conversation that we normally associate with letter writing. I've suggested she write fan-mail to her favorite actors/actresses and maybe send fan mail to some companies that make products she likes (candy, video games, Pixar, etc). Can you suggest any other entities she could send mail to? Her primary interests are movies, reading, cartoons, video games, comics, and painting.
Postcrossing (send a postcard to someone, get a postcard from someone else) is a fun way to receive international mail.
posted by Bardolph at 10:03 AM on July 6, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by Bardolph at 10:03 AM on July 6, 2015 [8 favorites]
If you're American, typically the president and the vice president's office will have a form letter reply to fan mail (it may take a while to receive though).
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 10:05 AM on July 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 10:05 AM on July 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
She can write to Santa around the holiday season and get a reply back. She could also try Queen Elizabeth or various heads of state around the world and probably get some interesting (form) letters back.
posted by pocams at 10:26 AM on July 6, 2015
posted by pocams at 10:26 AM on July 6, 2015
It's not a letter to read, only a signed picture, but if you write to a Disney character, Disney will send a generic hello card back signed by that character-type's main friend, (i.e. signed by Mickey or Cinderella, not Donald or Arielle.) (discussion)
posted by aimedwander at 10:40 AM on July 6, 2015
posted by aimedwander at 10:40 AM on July 6, 2015
I'm not sure who she could write to but could you slip a SASE in the envelope? Maybe with a post-it note attached - "my daughter loves postal mail, would you please send a short note back?" Making it easy for people to write letters back (something not everyone does anymore) might help encourage responses. (Disregard if your daughter would pick up on this and feel like you are being deceptive - don't know a thing about children!)
posted by Beti at 10:43 AM on July 6, 2015
posted by Beti at 10:43 AM on July 6, 2015
Authors, especially children's and teen authors, can be extremely generous about responding to kids' letters. Just spread out your efforts because at any given moment you may fall through the cracks or that particular author may make a practice of not responding.
posted by BibiRose at 10:54 AM on July 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by BibiRose at 10:54 AM on July 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
All of your political representatives: your state senator, congressperson, senator, governor, city councilperson, etc.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:57 AM on July 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:57 AM on July 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
Postcrossing is amazing fun -- you can get cards from all over the world, and ask for specific things (pics of local landmarks, silly advertising cards, cats, etc.).
Part of the setup is that she will be sending cards to random people, too, so she can tell them about her part of the world or just share a fun fact. I know you can end up being pen pals with people this way.
posted by vickyverky at 12:05 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Part of the setup is that she will be sending cards to random people, too, so she can tell them about her part of the world or just share a fun fact. I know you can end up being pen pals with people this way.
posted by vickyverky at 12:05 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
If it is more about receiving mail than writing letters, try googling "free kids sase" to get a bunch of ideas for things such as stickers that you can get for free if you send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (sase). Obviously, you want to select specific opportunities to make sure that the offers don't sign her up for something or otherwise take advantage of her.
posted by metahawk at 12:07 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by metahawk at 12:07 PM on July 6, 2015
Does she have a favorite professional sports team? They will send photos, decals, a game calendar etc but it is doubtful you'd get an answer from a particular player.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:44 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:44 PM on July 6, 2015
Definitely the White House. Geeky minibowtiesarecool wrote a letter to President Clinton in the early '90s, and not only did I get a very nice form letter back, I got an AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO OF SOCKS THE CAT. And more recently, a nice card with the Obamas' regards on it for my wedding. The White House social office people are the best. I have no idea if Bo answers his fan mail, but I wouldn't be shocked.
Who writes the cartoons and movies she likes? I wouldn't just focus on the actors; a lot of the behind-the-scenes people are wonderful to their fans.
posted by bowtiesarecool at 1:15 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Who writes the cartoons and movies she likes? I wouldn't just focus on the actors; a lot of the behind-the-scenes people are wonderful to their fans.
posted by bowtiesarecool at 1:15 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
A few years ago, a sort-of friend did a post on facebook saying that the first 5 people who responded would get a treat in the mail. I responded. She makes these tiny clay creatures that are cute. She sent me a small package of about 5 of them. It was a neat way for her to share her hobby with people. Your daughter could do something like that with her painting. Added bonus, she could experience first hand how her art has the possibility to touch people.
You might also want to contact your local vet's home and/or old age home. There are people there who would love to get mail.
posted by myselfasme at 1:18 PM on July 6, 2015
You might also want to contact your local vet's home and/or old age home. There are people there who would love to get mail.
posted by myselfasme at 1:18 PM on July 6, 2015
Visitor information centers! She could write travel offices in the states and abroad, asking for info on the area, and listing her specific interests. (I spent a summer doing something similar as a kid, but by calling toll-free numbers. The mail I got was wonderful.)
posted by quarterinmyshoe at 3:49 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by quarterinmyshoe at 3:49 PM on July 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Letters to her favorite authors.
posted by freezer cake at 4:06 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by freezer cake at 4:06 PM on July 6, 2015
This site has a list of freebies kids can receive in the mail.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:25 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by SisterHavana at 8:25 PM on July 6, 2015
Does she have a favorite professional sports team? They will send photos, decals, a game calendar etc but it is doubtful you'd get an answer from a particular player.
Good idea! Many pro teams (major and minor league) and college teams also have fan clubs for kids - some have a fee, but many are free.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:39 PM on July 6, 2015
Good idea! Many pro teams (major and minor league) and college teams also have fan clubs for kids - some have a fee, but many are free.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:39 PM on July 6, 2015
Catalogs?
Samples?
If she has artists she likes, from cards or books maybe, she could write to them.
I once asked an acrylic paint company (Golden) for advice and they sent me a really nice sample kit of their paints, I still pick them over other acrylics.
She should definitely write and ask for a Dick Blick catalog if she likes art.
It might be fun to write a fan letter to a zoo animal she likes and see if they write back.
Write to a restaurant she likes.
posted by BoscosMom at 9:45 PM on July 6, 2015
Samples?
If she has artists she likes, from cards or books maybe, she could write to them.
I once asked an acrylic paint company (Golden) for advice and they sent me a really nice sample kit of their paints, I still pick them over other acrylics.
She should definitely write and ask for a Dick Blick catalog if she likes art.
It might be fun to write a fan letter to a zoo animal she likes and see if they write back.
Write to a restaurant she likes.
posted by BoscosMom at 9:45 PM on July 6, 2015
When I was a kid, me and my brothers wrote letters to the secretaries of state of various states in the US asking about the state.
We got back various information packets about the state. We loved comparing what each state sent. Some were really interesting and thoughtful, others not so much.
posted by plinth at 8:13 AM on July 7, 2015
We got back various information packets about the state. We loved comparing what each state sent. Some were really interesting and thoughtful, others not so much.
posted by plinth at 8:13 AM on July 7, 2015
Try writing to other countries too! The Australian government is decent with writing back, and for some reason all my letters to different Danish agencies (for a project) kept going to the same person so that poor person had to reply the same thing to me a zillion times. You could contact embassies for ideas.
posted by divabat at 8:14 AM on November 8, 2015
posted by divabat at 8:14 AM on November 8, 2015
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posted by schroedingersgirl at 10:01 AM on July 6, 2015