I follow my high school on Facebook, and I recently saw a post they had inviting previous students who were in high school during last Leap Day to come back to the school and pick up the letters they wrote to themselves.
I thought this was a fun and thoughtful activity. It’s got the charm and reflection of a time capsule project but on a timeline compressed enough that it doesn’t feel quite so daunting.
I’m going to be writing letters with my kids and sealing them up for us to open on our next Leap Day: February 29, 2028. We’ll have, respectively, moved from 38 to 42, 13 to 17, and 7 to 11.
Those feel like some pretty large thresholds for each of us. I’ll have gone from “nearing 40” to solidly in my 40s. My daughter will be a junior in high school and nearing legal adulthood. My son will have moved from elementary school as an emerging reader into a full-blown middle schooler.
What can we tell ourselves now about the lives we’re living and the hopes we have for the future?
If you want to write yourself a Leap Day letter, here’s a template you could follow to get some ideas!
Template for a Leap Day Letter
Dear future self,
[Paragraph 1: What’s going on now] Right now, I’m . . .
[Paragraph 2: My predictions] If I had to guess, you’re . . .
[Paragraph 3: My hopes for the future] I hope you . . .
Label Your Letter
Be sure to label your letter and put it somewhere safe that you can open it on the next Leap Day and see how it compares!
Adjust for Different Ages
I like that this activity can be meaningful and important for any age (us adults included!)
Depending on your learner’s age and abilities, you may need to scribe their letter for them and let them add some illustrations.
Remind your writers (of any age) that they’ll be opening this in four years, and ask them to spend some time imagining themselves at that age before writing. Really get them to picture their future selves as the audience.
Happy writing and Happy Leap Day!
Bonus: Leap Year Video
Want to add some history and science to this quick project? Check out this video on why Leap Year exists!