Make this the Year for creating a Holiday letter

Create the Ultimate Holiday Newsletter November is the perfect month to start planning and building your annual holiday newsletter. A holiday newsletter can teach kids that the season is about more than just getting presents. It also teaches them communication skills they can use all year long. Kids will get the most fun out of the experience if you treat it like a real publication, making sure everyone contributes something. Getting Started Have a family meeting to brainstorm what to include, and then assign tasks. Older kids are helpful with more technical work, such as getting digital photos into the computer, helping with content creation, writing questions and interviewing family members. Younger kids can provide photos and artwork and help assemble the newsletter for mailing. Here are some tips to keep in mind:  Think of short highlights for small bulleted news items about the whole family. Feature big events, such as a new pet joining the family, a graduation, special achievement or team sports updates. Include drawings by children, perhaps one of the whole family! An inexpensive scanner will come in handy for including drawings, photos or handwritten poems. Local copy shops may offer scanning services, too. You can also download free scanning apps for your smartphone; try Google Drive or CamScanner. Include Q&A's. Interview each child from the same set of questions, covering a variety of topics. Print the most interesting answers. Ask open-ended questions that prompt people to give details, like, "What was your favorite activity this year and why?" or "What was the best thing that happened to you  at school?" Expensive portraits optional. A recent snapshot or two of the whole family on vacation or in the yard is more than enough. Pick a template. Search Google for "holiday newsletter templates" or something similar, then add your text, print and send. A double-sided newsletter on legal-size paper provides plenty of room, and fits standard printers and envelopes. Plus, it can mail with one stamp. Longer newsletters or heavier stock paper will increase postage costs. How much should parents do? Expect to play editor-in-chief. Manage the project by checking progress, reviewing writing, and obtaining favorite artwork and pictures. Source: MarthaStewart.com