Struggling with letterbox

[Redgreen713]

We’re new to letterbox and really struggling where to start.
Birth family to adopters (sibling contact)

We have been asked to write first, so this is very difficult to know where to start, what to include and how this needs to be set out ect.
What do adopters like to know, what should be included?
All ideas/advice appreciated.

www.cumbria.gov.uk/eLibrary/Content/Internet/327/857/6802/42109163717.pdf

www.birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk/info/21/adoption_support/12/letterbox_contact/4

Hopefully these might help. We are adopters who write annually and receive a letter back.

For example, you could write about the city where you live, what you do for a living, describe yourself, the sibling and your extended family, the things you enjoy doing, why you chose their first name (if it hasn’t been changed), any pets that you might have, etc. It’s ok to say that you think about them often and that you want them to be happy.

As an adopter who's trying to get letterbox with birth siblings, I'd be thrilled to get a letter!! I'd like to know about the sibling, see a photo, favourite food (allergies?), Hobbies, music etc. What they were like at the same age?

The adopted child isn’t my birth child, they share the same biological father as my child. I have seen a few posts on here about similar situations with half siblings, however none about letterbox regarding how this works.

We have been asked to write first, which has put me in a tricky situation as the situation is all new to me.
I have wrote down a few things I’d like to include, but I have the understanding a lot of things can’t be said or asked.
I wouldn’t mind sending photos, I have thought this through, I wouldn’t expect this back or ask as this is their decision which they may not feel comfortable with this.

I'm an adopter who's trying to get letterbox contact arranged for my LO so don't have any experience of it really but maybe keep it simple to start with when talking about your child. Hobbies, interests, favourite television programmes - things that their half sibling maybe able to connect with either now or when they are older.

Is it worth contacting the letterbox coordinator who got in touch with you to ask you to write? They should be able to advise you on photos and what can or can't be discussed.

Write about your child, what the like and dislike, any hobbies, school. Anything that you know the children have in common. You could also ask some questions how is the adopted child settling, invite their parents to ask questions about the family etc.

Lots of good answers here. Just wanted to say thank you for doing this. It will be great for your child's half sibling and for the adoptive parents.

I think finding anything they have in common would be lovely. If they are not too dissimilar in ages they will share some interests, even if it is just a love of M and Ms!

My AS has a half sister, same birth father, just as you describe in your situation. Except that we have no further information other than that she exists, so there is no possibility of contact. I would love to be able to have letterbox contact with her mother so that we could share things, hopefully for the benefit of both children, and keep the communication open so that if they wanted to connect when they are older there is already some groundwork laid. I guess at this stage the things I'd like to know would be pretty typical penpal information - favourite things, hobbies, holidays, as those are the things my son would be interested to hear. If you felt comfortable sharing then also any info you could add about their birth father maybe?

As said by a pp, thank you for being willing to engage in this.