Playing by the book

Reviews of kids' books and the crazy, fun stuff they inspire us to do

2011 International Postcard Swap for Families

Posted on | April 19, 2011 | 41 Comments

PLEASE NOTE: The Swap is now closed to families from the US as we are oversubscribed. My apologies, and thanks for understanding



Last year I held an International Postcard Swap for Families. Families from all over the world signed up, sent and received 5 postcards and – perhaps my favourite part – they included details of their favourite children’s books.

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m running the swap again this year and the time has come to sign up if you wish to participate.

The idea is simple – you sign up, you agree to send 5 postcards overseas, including a children’s book recommendation, and in return you will be sent 5 postcards from overseas each containing a children’s book recommendation.

If you would like to take part in the International Postcard Swap for Families here are the nitty gritty details:

1. Sign up for the postcard swap.
The deadline for signing up is Tuesday 17th May.

Email me at zoe (dot) toft (at) kuvik (dot) net to let me know you wish to take part. I will then email you a link to a form where you can fill in the details needed for the swap.

The key details are:
*your name,
*your kids names, ages, sexes (I shall try to match up families with kids of similar ages as best I can)
*your postal address
*and (if you have one and wish to share it) your blog name and address, and your twitter ID

The form you will submit your details to is a Google Docs form. The data will held securely by Google until the signup period closes. I will then delete the form and associated data from Google (although I will retain a copy of the data on my own computer in case of queries). Your data will be held by me only for the duration of the swap and the information you provide will only be used for the purposes of the swap. Your details will not be shared with anyone, other than the 5 families who will be sending you postcards.

2. By late Tuesday 24 May I will email you with the names and addresses of 5 families you will be sending postcards to.
These will not be the same families you will receive post from.

3. Make / write your postcards and please make sure you post them out to your recipients by Tuesday 31 May.

4. Eagerly await the arrival of the postman!
As this is an international swap it may take a few weeks to receive your postcards. It is also a sad fact of life that some postcards may get lost in transit so be prepared for this.

Other questions?
1) Who is this swap open to?
All book loving families. The idea is for families to swap with other families so I anticipate most children taking part to be 0-15 years old. I am willing to try to pair up school classes but please email me separately if you wish to do this, and bear in mind that I cannot guaranteed postcards sent will arrive before any school holidays in June or July.

2) What is the deadline to send the postcards by?
Please have all 5 of your cards in the post by Tuesday 31 May. Please don’t sign up for this swap unless you are happy to write and send 5 cards internationally.

3) What should I write on the message side of my postcard?
It’s up to you but given that we’ll all have “met” via Playing by the book please include a kids’ book recommendation – perhaps something very popular where you live, or one of your kids’ favourites.

If your recipients have blogs you could read a few of their posts and comment on them on your postcard. If your kids are old enough they could write the cards themselves. Please consider including you own address – my experience from last year is that recipients are often keen to send a return postcard to those families who send them a postcard.

Past experience of hosting swaps has taught me that swap families are often very generous. Sometimes families include small gifts and letters as well as postcards. If you would like to do this, please feel free to do so but there is absolutely no obligation to do anything more than send 5 postcards.

Really, it’s up to you what you do, but the idea is to send a little bit of fun, joy and a great book recommendation or two around the world!

4) What size should my postcard be and what should it be made of?
I don’t know the rules and regulations which cover various countries’ postal system so just use your common sense. You do not need to make the postcards you send, but it may be something your children will enjoy doing. If you wish to put your postcard in an envelope that’s fine, but you may incur additional costs.

5) Will I be receiving postcards from the people on my list?
I will set up the swap so that you will not receive postcards from anyone on your list. I thought it would be a nice surprise not knowing from where in the world postcards will be coming to you. I will endeavour to match people up so that you receive postcards from at least 3 different countries (though this will depend on who signs up for the swap), and from families with children of a similar age.

**Special note for US participants** Because of the nature of the blogosphere I anticipate a large number of US participants. In order to keep the swap as international as possible US participants are not guaranteed a place on an international swap – I reserve the right to set up a separate US only swap. If this happens I will endeavour to ensure you swap with US families in different time zones to you.

6) Can I help spread the word?
Yes please! Obviously this swap will work better the more people from more countries sign up. If you sign up for the swap please find some way to spread the word about this swap! You can direct people to this page:

http://www.playingbythebook.net/2011-international-postcard-swap-for-families-faq/

and you can use this button on your blog:



To get the button you can right-click on it above and save it, or copy the HTML code below:

<a href="http://www.playingbythebook.net/2011-international-postcard-swap-for-families-faq/"><img src="http://www.playingbythebook.net/wp-content/uploads//postcard_swap2011_200px.png" /></a>

You could email your friends who might be interested, you could tweet about the swap (please use the hashtag #familypostcardswap), post it on your Facebook page, or just tell friends about it over a coffee! The more people know about the swap the better the swap will be for all involved.

6) Anything else?
If you receive any particularly beautiful or interesting postcards please let me know – in July I’d love to write a post about everyone who participated and the postcards and book recommendations which were sent.

Any other questions? Please get in touch either by leaving a comment or via email.

I’d like to shout out a big thank you to Hanna at Create and Live Happy, a great crafting blog, and Aimee at Adventures and Pursuits for their advice about setting up and running the original postcard swap last year. I’d also like to thank Nickie @ Typecast and Jen at The Mad House for their help.

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Category: Family postcard swap '11

Comments

41 Responses to “2011 International Postcard Swap for Families”

  1. huana
    April 19th, 2011 @ 11:48 am

    Oh,please,please,please,can I participate?
    I’m sending an e-mail :-)
    huana recently posted..Traka za kosu – Hairband

  2. Zoe
    April 19th, 2011 @ 11:52 am

    Yes, do send an email :-) Looking forward to having you take part.

  3. sandhya
    April 19th, 2011 @ 12:28 pm

    Count me in. Will mail you the details.

  4. Leslie
    April 19th, 2011 @ 12:48 pm

    I have a small day care and would LOVE to do this withthe children. Would it bebetter to have each family sign up individually or have my day cae with 7 children sign up?

  5. Zoe
    April 19th, 2011 @ 1:18 pm

    Will be fab to have you and A involved Sandhya!
    Zoe recently posted..2011 International Postcard Swap for Families

  6. Zoe
    April 19th, 2011 @ 1:21 pm

    Leslie, would be great to have you and the kids involved. If each family signs up individually I can be sure they can be involved. If you want sign up as a class you’ll have to wait a little – I’d like to facilitate this but it depends on what other classes (if any) want to get involved. If you need any more info, please email me.

  7. Alex Baugh
    April 19th, 2011 @ 1:46 pm

    Zoe,
    This looks like lots of fun. I did something like it once before, but alas, my daughter is now 22 so I am out of the participation range. Nevertheless, good luck with it and I hope it is fun for everyone.
    Alex Baugh recently posted..The Little Ships- the Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in World War II by Louise Borden- illustrated by Michael Foreman

  8. Zoe
    April 19th, 2011 @ 2:24 pm

    Thanks Alex!

  9. carly@learningparade
    April 19th, 2011 @ 9:58 pm

    Learning Parade is spreading the word Zoe, I’ve posted about your wonderful postcard swap and included a link. :)
    We can’t wait to join in, it’s been soooo long since we snail mailed! Caroline x

  10. Zoe
    April 20th, 2011 @ 6:37 am

    Can’t wait to have you on board Caroline – do send an email to confirm you want to take part.
    Zoe recently posted..2011 International Postcard Swap for Families

  11. sheonad
    April 20th, 2011 @ 1:56 pm

    oh, yes!
    we love little handwritten envelopes and postcards here and would love to participate… what a fabulous idea!

  12. Paul Vogelzang
    April 20th, 2011 @ 3:55 pm

    Hi, Zoe:
    Such a great idea!
    We, at MommyCast, would love to interview you and help promote participation.
    I sent email earlier. :)
    Thx!

  13. Zoe
    April 21st, 2011 @ 7:33 am

    Glad to have you involved Sheonad!

    Hi Paul – will email you asap to discuss :-)

  14. Michele Hill
    April 22nd, 2011 @ 1:29 am

    count us in again last year was a lot of fun and a great literacy/geography activity. sending an email now

  15. Zoe
    April 22nd, 2011 @ 7:46 am

    Great Michelle! Looking forward to having your participate.

  16. CokBilmis
    April 22nd, 2011 @ 8:07 am

    I am from Turkish Republic and have wrote an entry about your swap idea.
    It is going to be just great to participate.

  17. Zoe
    April 22nd, 2011 @ 8:28 am

    Great to have you taking part! You’re our first family from Turkey :-)

  18. Becky Saywell
    April 23rd, 2011 @ 11:26 pm

    please include me and my family, i homeschool and would love to add this to our week, what a lovely idea thank you x

  19. Zoe
    April 24th, 2011 @ 8:11 am

    Hi Becky,
    Please send me an email (zoe dot toft at kuvik dot net) to confirm you wish to take part. Thanks!

  20. Mary
    April 24th, 2011 @ 2:25 pm

    Just wanted to let you know that I posted about your wonderful swap on my blog. Looking forward to participating!
    Mary recently posted..First Grade Sillies Blog Award

  21. Fabulous Friday Fun #66 » se7en
    April 24th, 2011 @ 8:58 pm

    [...] [...]

  22. Pınar
    April 25th, 2011 @ 6:47 pm

    Hi Zoe,
    I would like to participate to this great event also…
    I’m second mom from Turkey Republic after Cokbilmis:)

    I’ve just sent an email to you

    looking for your email…

    best wishes

  23. Zoe
    April 25th, 2011 @ 7:34 pm

    That’s great news Pinar! So glad to have you join in :-)

  24. JRoberts
    April 26th, 2011 @ 3:40 pm

    ME! I will email you right away. :) We did the paperbook swap and LOVED it! Thanks so much for all the work you are going to have to do.
    JRoberts recently posted..Book Talk Tuesday – Guest Post – Anne of Green Gables

  25. Zoe
    April 26th, 2011 @ 4:23 pm

    Hi JRoberts – so glad you’ll be joining us with this swap too!
    Zoe recently posted..Welcome to the Brit Mums’ Carnival

  26. tijen cetin
    April 26th, 2011 @ 10:16 pm

    it`s perfect .i like it.how can i join?please can you send me form?
    thanks alot and big hug

  27. tijen cetin
    April 26th, 2011 @ 10:20 pm

    zoe,

    I am writting you from chile,but I am turkish .
    best wishes

  28. Rasco From RIF » Children’s Literacy and Reading News Roundup – April in Review
    April 26th, 2011 @ 11:08 pm

    [...] by to meet a “mum of two girls” residing in the UK.  Mum has just announced her second International Postcard Swap for Families which somehow I missed last year.  While I don’t have children in my home, I am going to [...]

  29. sandhya
    April 27th, 2011 @ 8:09 am

    Here’s my post where I have blogged about the swap, Zoe.

  30. sandhya
    April 27th, 2011 @ 8:10 am

    Sorry, forgot to post the link!
    http://arightowrite.blogspot.com/2011/04/ramayana-divine-loophole.html

  31. Zoe
    April 27th, 2011 @ 8:27 am

    Thanks Sandhya! That’s great.
    Zoe recently posted..Welcome to the Brit Mums’ Carnival

  32. Stéphanie
    April 27th, 2011 @ 6:51 pm

    Hi Zoe! We want to join again this year, and I also wrote about the swap on my French blog, so that you can have more French families this year: http://samuserensemble.canalblog.com/archives/2011/04/26/20962632.html
    Stéphanie recently posted..Multicolore – la technique de lessuie-tout

  33. susanna
    April 28th, 2011 @ 9:22 pm

    hello :-) My first time in this site. I have venice cards for swapping. I am Susanna from Italy

  34. Mayra
    April 30th, 2011 @ 2:59 am

    Just came across this. Love the idea. We will be participating.

  35. Zoe
    April 30th, 2011 @ 7:08 am

    Great to have you take part Mayra!

  36. Seema
    May 2nd, 2011 @ 8:44 am

    Would like my 7 year old to participate. We live in Delhi, India

  37. Jessica
    May 18th, 2011 @ 7:52 pm

    Sadly I just knew about this today. Too late for me. I hope next year I can participate.

    Jessica Fergusson from Medelín, Colombia-

  38. Simran
    May 26th, 2011 @ 7:22 pm

    Awwww! I just missed it. Wish I had known about it in time. Would have loved to participate with my 2 and a 1/2 year old. Will look forward to it next year :) Got to know about it from Sandhya’s blog.
    Simran recently posted..Summer holiday fun!

  39. Amy
    June 11th, 2011 @ 12:56 pm

    We got our first postcard today and my 3 year old son carried it around all day showing it to everyone we saw. He was so proud of his very own mail.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you.
    Amy

  40. Zoe
    June 12th, 2011 @ 8:56 am

    How very lovely to hear! This is what it’s all about :-)

  41. 31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Four} Exploring the world | Play-Activities.com
    January 4th, 2012 @ 10:01 am

    [...] International postcard swap  ::Random postcard ::Postcard exchange :: cultural exchange [...]

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