GUIDE
Our nephew's second-grade class mailed us his Flat Stanley from another state. What do we do with him, and how do we send him back?
By the seenow! teamLast updated:
Read the class letter for the return date, then plan a few outings that show what is different about where you live. Photograph Stanley at each one, write his journal in a kid's voice, and mail everything back flat, in one large envelope, early enough to reach the class before the deadline.
Note: This article reflects information available at the time of publication. Programs and services may change, so please check official sources for the latest details.
WHY
Why this happens
Flat Stanley is a classroom writing and geography activity. The Flat Stanley Project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a teacher in London, Ontario. In its first year it had 13 participants, 6 in Canada and 7 in the United States; the project site now says participation has extended into the millions. It comes from Jeff Brown's 1964 book, in which Stanley's parents fold him flat, put him in an envelope and mail him to a friend in California.
For the relatives who receive him, the job is bigger than it looks. The class will read what you send aloud, look at it on a bulletin board or a map, and compare it with what other families sent. Your nephew wants his Stanley to come home with something good, and you have a deadline you may not have noticed in the envelope.
Most hosts get stuck on two things. They are not sure what counts as an interesting outing when their town feels ordinary to them, and they are not sure how to pack photos, a journal and souvenirs so Stanley gets home flat and on time.
HOW TO
What you can do starting today
Find the return date and work back from itNo app needed
Look for the teacher's letter or journal page in the envelope. It usually says what the class wants (photos, journal entries, facts about your state) and when Stanley should be back. Your nephew's parent can confirm the date with the teacher. USPS lists 1 to 5 days for First-Class Mail, so pick a mailing day at least five days before the deadline, add a few days of cushion, and plan your outings before that day, not after.
Source: USPS: Mail & Shipping Services
Choose three or four places that show your corner of the countryNo app needed
Second graders are learning that places differ, so show what is different about yours. Your state capitol or courthouse, a farm stand or factory the area is known for, a lake, a desert view or snow, your kitchen with a local food, the place you work. Ordinary errands count too: Stanley at the post office, the library or a high school football game says a lot about a town.
Take photos the class can read from across the roomNo app needed
Put Stanley in the front of the shot with the place clearly behind him, in daylight, and take a wide one and a close one at each stop. Shots with family members holding Stanley make it personal, and your nephew will love seeing his relatives with his project. Print four to six of the best, about 4 by 6 inches, and write the place and date on the back.
Write Stanley's journal in his own voiceNo app needed
Write it as if Stanley were writing home: "Today I went to the apple orchard. I ate a cider doughnut and got sticky." Keep sentences short so second graders can follow along, add one fact per stop about your state, and end with a line for your nephew by name. A hand-drawn map with a dotted line from his town to yours helps the class see how far Stanley went.
Pack everything flat in one large envelopeNo app needed
Put Stanley, the photos, the journal and flat souvenirs such as a postcard, a state map or a brochure into one large envelope. USPS sets the limit for a large envelope at 15 by 12 inches and 3/4 inch thick, and it has to stay flexible and evenly thick. Postage starts at $1.69. A keychain, a rock or a stiff piece of cardboard makes it rigid or lumpy, and it then has to go at the package price. Ask the post office counter to weigh it, and keep a copy of the address you sent it to.
Source: USPS: Letters and large envelopes (Send Letters) / USPS Postal Explorer: Domestic Mail Manual 101, Physical Standards for Retail Letters, Flats, and Parcels
WITH SEENOW!
Doing it with seenow!
seenow! is a private family app where each person shares a 2-second clip a day. It doesn't make the class report, but it can let your nephew follow Stanley's trip while it happens.
- Make a small group with your nephew's family, separate from any larger family group, and post a 2-second clip of Stanley at each stop. Your nephew can watch his Stanley's trip day by day instead of waiting weeks for the envelope.
- Photos taken with the seenow! camera can be posted too, so a still of Stanley at the capitol can go in the same group.
What seenow! can’t do
- seenow! only posts what you take with its own camera. Photos you already took with your phone's camera can't be added, so use your regular camera for the prints you mail.
- It doesn't print photos or write the journal. The class still needs what comes back in the envelope.
Core features are free.
POINT
Things to watch for in this situation
Don't send back anything you need to keep
What goes into the envelope usually stays in the classroom or with your nephew. Make copies of the photos you want for yourself, and don't add original family photos or anything valuable.
Keep it fair for the rest of the class
It's tempting to send a big box of souvenirs, but the teacher may ask every Stanley to come back in the same kind of envelope. If you want to send your nephew a gift, mail it to his house separately.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long should we keep Flat Stanley?
Follow the date in the teacher's letter. If there isn't one, ask your nephew's parent. Count back from that date: USPS lists 1 to 5 days for First-Class Mail, so mail him back at least five days before it, with some extra room.
What can we send back with Flat Stanley?
Printed photos with captions, a short journal in Stanley's voice and flat souvenirs like a postcard, a map or a brochure. Keep it flat and flexible so it goes in one large envelope.