How Do I Talk About My Holiday in Messages to the Child I Sponsor?

Whether you’ll be braving the airport or enjoying a staycation this year, you may be wondering whether it’s ok to share about your holiday or special trip with the child you sponsor.

The answer is yes – absolutely! Like all children, they will be curious to learn something new about the country or place you visited.

Back by popular demand, here are our updated top tips for sharing your holiday plans.

In Indonesia, children join their parents in visiting relatives during national holidays and festivals.

In many of the countries we work in, visiting family or relatives during holidays is common and something the child you sponsor will relate to.

In Indonesia, children join their parents in visiting relatives during national holidays and festivals. During this time the capital, Jakarta, is empty for a few days as people go to their hometowns to get together and share a meal with their family.

1) Send a digital postcard and some holiday snaps

Sending a postcard from your trip is a great way to share about a different part of the world with the child you sponsor. The children in our programme love receiving pictures that give them a glimpse into their sponsor’s life.

We can no longer send physical cards due to the rising costs of postage, but you can easily take a photo of your postcard and attach it to an online message via myCompassion and the Compassion UK app.

You could send your postcard with a couple of holiday photos showing your family, a beach, landscape or local town. This will be a wonderful way the show the child you sponsor another part of the world.

Please keep in mind the culture of the child you sponsor when sharing a photo. For example, a photo of people in swimming costumes might be seen as inappropriate. If you need advice about this, feel free to get in touch.

Victor and Hellen were delighted to receive postcards from their sponsors

Nine-year-old Victor and ten-year-old Hellen from El Salvador were both delighted to receive postcards from their sponsors. For Hellen, “My sponsor, she is really special, she told me she visited Paris. She sends me cute letters and stickers and I like them.”

2) Share about a new food you tried

Talking about a whole meal may feel insensitive, but you could talk about a new dish or ingredient you tried on holiday. In your message, why not describe the taste or ask if they have a similar dish in their country?

Dylan and Jesus, from Ecuador, love meal times

Friends Dylan and Jesus love meal times at their local church in Ecuador. For Dylan, “My favourite food is rice with chicken and blackberry juice. I like to come eat here because they give me food I like.”

3) Talk about a summer sport

Luis and his brothers love to play football

Are you a Wimbledon fan? Or is football or cricket more your cup of tea?

Whether you’ll be watching or playing, sport is a universal language (especially with the Football World Cup this year!) and a great topic of conversation, especially with older children.

4) Share a highlight

Rather than detailing everything about your holiday, simply share one special highlight. This could be a particular place you visited, a funny incident or the enjoyment of having all your friends or family together.

Michele, Elizabeth, Josephine, Monica, Caroline and Lisa love spending time together

Best friends Michele, Elizabeth, Josephine, Monica, Caroline and Lisa love spending time together at their Compassion project in Kenya. The girls have formed a close bond as well as a taste for mischief!

5) Talk about a favourite summer activity

Jimmy from the Philippines loves the beach

Over the summer, do you spend time in your garden or in the park on a bright summer evening? Perhaps you brave a dip in an outdoor pool, lake or the sea. The child you sponsor would love to know more about life in the UK and what activities you get up to when the sun comes out.

6) Talk about the school holidays

Another topic the child you sponsor would love to know about are what children in the UK get up to for fun. Why not share about the school holidays here? You could tell them what your own children, grandchildren or children at your church enjoy doing during the holidays.

Perhaps your church organises a holiday club over the summer. Why not describe some of the activities or ask whether the child you sponsor is participating in a summer camp as part of their project activities?

Children playing on climbing frame

8) Describe the different seasons

Depending on where the child you sponsor lives, they may not experience the same change in seasons as we do in the UK.

Take a moment to describe the change in season from spring to summer, or summer to autumn; share your favourite season – after all, it’s a British tradition to talk about the weather!

You could get your own child to draw a picture to show the seasons, or attach some photos to illustrate the changes we see in nature.

9) Share a fun fact

If you don’t want to write about a holiday, why not include a fun fact about where you live in your next letter? Children love learning about new places and everyday life in other countries.

You could share something simple like:

• An interesting animal, landmark or tradition from your area

• A surprising fact about your town or country

Describing things in words is a great way to help the child you sponsor imagine your life and feel more connected to you.

Thanks to fun sessions at his Compassion project, 10-year-old Cristofer from Honduras has been learning more about where his sponsor lives.

Thanks to fun sessions at his Compassion project, 10-year-old Cristofer from Honduras has been learning more about where his sponsor lives.

Is it summertime where the child you sponsor lives?

Depending on where the child you sponsor lives, they may also be on summer holiday. Why not ask some questions about summer in their country, for example:

• What is your favourite thing to do during the summer?

• Do you go to school during the summer months?

• Is there a sport you like to play during the summer?

• What is your favourite thing to eat when it’s hot outside?

Whether you decide to write about your summer holiday, the unpredictable British climate or share facts about a particular country, the child you sponsor will be delighted to receive a message from you. Receiving messages is a wonderful boost for a child’s self-esteem, so take a moment to write today?