Our young readers and writers frequently ask us to help them find pen pals. We don’t have the resources to manage a pen-pal program ourselves, but we have compiled our own recommended list of five excellent pen-pal Web sites. All of these Web sites have strict privacy policies, and they follow the government’s regulations that require parental permission for participants ages 13 and under. Check out our links, and good luck making new friends from around the world!
World Pen Pals has been encouraging international friendship and cultural understanding since their founding in 1950 at the University of Minnesota. For young people and teachers.
For over 60 years, The Student Letter Exchange has matched English-speaking pen pals with students ages 9–18 across the US and around the world.
Make friends with other girls around the world. This Web site lets you exchange e-mails without giving out your own e-mail address. For girls only, ages 7–17.
The world’s largest classroom community, connecting 1.9 million students and teachers from 29,000 classrooms around the world. For teachers only.
Amazing Kids! is a children’s educational nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids realize their amazing potential. Their PenPals program is a traditional letter-writing program that connects kids and youth with pan pals around the world.
