Post Office Play Round-Up

Creating a post office was one of my favorite literacy activities that I did with students during my educational career.  Now that I’m a mom, I can’t wait to recreate a similar post office pretend play space for my boys.

Post office play is a great way for children (at almost any age) to practice writing, reading and communicating. I’ve collected some of the best ideas from educational bloggers and put them together for you in one handy spot.

Below, you will find book recommendations to inspire writing, tips on setting up a post office, ideas for creating your supplies, writing station set-ups and special event/theme/topics to enhance your play throughout the year.

Full Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.

Setting Up a Post-Office Play Area

Pretend Play Post Office from Nurture Store

Play Post Office Time from Here Come the Girls

Post Office Play from the Imagination Tree

Creating Your Supplies

Paper Bag Mail Bag from Growing Book by book that is super easy and inexpensive.

Easy, No-Sew Mail and Play Mailbox from Nothing if Not Intentional

Printable Kids Letter Writing Set from picklebums

Creating Postcards from Red Ted Art

Books To Inspire Your Post Office Play

Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James (top right picture)

 Good-bye Curtis by Kevin Henkes

A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats (top left picture)

Seven Little Postmen by Margaret Wise Brown

Dear Mrs. LaRue:  Letters From Obedience School by Mark Teague (bottom left picture)

The Jolly Postman by Allan Ahlberg

Mr. Griggs’ Work by Cynthia Rylant (bottom right picture)

The Post Office Book:  Mail and How it Moves by Gail Gibbons

With Love, Little Red Hen by Alma Flor Ada

The Lost Package by Richard Ho is the tale of a package that gets to its destination in an unconventional manner. It’s a look at how a package travels through the postal system and how sometimes packages can get lost.

Gift & Box by Ellen Mayer is the story of a gift inside a box and the adventure they take to get to their destination.  And, it’s about the time they spend together in route and also after delivery.

Writing Station Ideas

8 Ways to Recycle Materials for a Writing Station from me (Growing Book by Book)!

Make Kindness Postcards with all of the art work the kids have created.

How about sending a secret message?  Secret Messages idea comes from What Do We Do All Day?

Letter Writing Station from Mama Papa Bubba

Other Ideas for Post Office Play- Theme, Holiday  and Event Variations

Alphabet Mail Early Literacy Pretend Play from No Time for Flashcards

Good-bye Stationary for Friends from Green Owl Art

Valentine Mailboxes from Reading Confetti

Valentine Love Notes from Feels Like Home

Christmas Card Making Station from Childhood 101

And, if you are planning a theme study on mail carriers or other community workers, you’ll want to grab out Community Helpers Literacy Unit.