Pen pals for kids: safe and family friendly

Global Penfriends is a safe place for kids to find pen pals around the world. Children are kept completely apart from adults, every profile is checked before it goes live, and joining is free — so kids can make friends, practise their writing and learn about other countries.

1 million+ members · 195+ countries · 30+ years connecting penpals

Join free For teachers and classes

How we keep children safe

Kept apart from adultsChildren can only connect with other children close to their own age. Adults can’t search for or contact them.
Every profile is checkedBefore it goes live. Our team reviews anything unusual and removes non-genuine profiles.
Messages are checkedEmail addresses, phone numbers, social media accounts and links are caught automatically in new conversations.
No selfies under 13Children under 13 can’t post photos of themselves — a picture of a pet or an animal is used instead.
Letters, not live chatNo real-time chat, and children can’t send photos or videos — just thoughtful, written conversations.
No ads for childrenChildren never see ads. Children are protected under COPPA regulations.
Hidden from visitorsPeople who aren’t signed in can only search adult profiles, never children’s.
Block and reportAny conversation can be blocked or reported from its three-dot menu. How it works
How we keep every member safe →

What parents need to know

Children under 13 must follow these rules:

  1. 1Use the site together. Children under 13 must use Global Penfriends with the supervision of a parent or guardian.
  2. 2No electronic contact details, ever. Email addresses, phone numbers, social media, gaming or messaging accounts and links can never be shared — not even with a parent’s approval. This is blocked automatically.
  3. 3Postal addresses only with your consent. A child under 13 may share a postal address only with a parent’s or guardian’s consent, and only with the Address button — never typed into a message.
  4. 4Keep an eye on conversations. Please look at your child’s conversations regularly to make sure everything is age appropriate. A parent may use their child’s account to help or to check on their correspondence.

Teenagers aged 13 to 17: parent or guardian supervision isn’t required, but we highly recommend it — know that your teen is a member, talk with them about their penpals and check in on their conversations from time to time.

Read the rules for children and teenagers →

How to find a penpal for your child

  1. 1Create a profile together. Each child needs their own profile and email address. Choose a nickname rather than their full real name.
  2. 2Choose how they’d like to write. Online, by post, or both. Many kids love getting real letters and parcels in the post.
  3. 3Search in their age group. Once the profile is checked, your child can search for penpals close to their own age and say hello.
Create a free profile →

Why penpals are great for kids

Better writingLonger, thoughtful letters build writing and language skills far more than quick chat.
Friends around the worldLifelong friendships outside their usual circle, in a positive place where members are kind to each other.
Learn a languagePractise with a native speaker who can answer questions and help with their letters.
Discover the worldCountry facts and members’ cultural keepsakes appear alongside profiles.
Country quizzesTest what they know about a penpal’s country — a pass earns a gold seal in their Stamp Album.
A stamp albumEvery penpal from a new country adds a stamp to their virtual Stamp Album.

Do I have to pay for my child?

No. Global Penfriends is free for children and can be used as a free educational resource — we want every child to have a safe place to find penpals from all over the world.

If you’d like to, you can upgrade your child’s profile to Premium so they can meet more penpals faster and use extra features.

Pen pals for students and classrooms

School classes and students are very welcome. Penpalling is a personal activity, so we recommend that each student creates their own profile, with their own email address, and searches for a penpal who suits them.

Teachers can use Global Penfriends to bring writing, geography and languages to life — every letter is a small lesson about another country. The same safety rules apply to every student, and children under 13 need a parent’s or guardian’s supervision.

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