November is the month to give thanks, but with the gift-giving season coming up, it is important to teach kids giving thanks when they receive a present.
Expressing thanks is something that a child can do from an early age. If a child can talk, they can express “thank you.” Teaching children to send a thank you note is teaching them about appreciation. It is a good idea to explain to children that when they receive a gift, the person that gave them the gift took the time to select the gift just for them. A child should also be told that the gift-giver spent money on the gift, wrapped it, and delivered it (by mail or in person). Children should be taught that a thank you note expresses appreciation to the person who gave the present, and if it was mailed, a thank you note lets the gift-giver know that the gift arrived.
For very young children who cannot read or write, there are other ways to express thanks in a note. Toddlers can draw a picture of themselves with the gift or a picture drawn with the gift-giver in mind. An adult can add a note, such as “Adam created this drawing in appreciation for your gift of his puzzle. Thank you!”
As children are beginning to write, there are many fill-in-the-blank thank you card templates. It is a great start to get kids to think about how thank you notes should be written. Here are a few websites that offer free templates:
Kids who can read and write should be able to write thank you notes on their own. Encourage these children to include the specific gift and how they will use it. (Example: “Thank you for the puzzle. I will have fun putting it together.” or “Thank you for the money. I plan to buy a new Barbie Doll.”)
Thank you Note Tips
(From Tips for Writing Thank-You Notes)
General Tips
- Explain that receiving thank-you notes makes people feel good. And it lets them know that the gift arrived safely and is appreciated.
- The sooner the better! Get those notes written as soon as possible. But don’t be embarrassed by a note sent a bit late, even a month after the gift was received. It’s far better to send a late note than no note at all.
- Spend a few minutes talking about the gift and what made it special: It’s a book you loved reading. You’ve already made three projects with the art kit. The toy is so much fun to play with you haven’t wanted to do anything else. You had a great time shopping with your friends and found the perfect sweater with the gift card.
- Have fun, age appropriate materials on hand to get your child interested in the project: colorful notepaper, markers, fun pens, stickers and stamps.
- If you have a camera, take a picture of your child and the gift. Include the photo with the thank-you note.
- Again, remember to keep it fun! If you view this as drudgery, so will the kids.
3-5 year-olds
You will write the majority of these thank-you notes, especially for three-year-olds. Involve your child in the process by explaining what you’re doing and showing her the form and content of the card or note.
- Leave an area for her to scribble her own greeting — this will make the notes even more touching for the recipients.
- A three- to five-year-old might want to draw a picture (possibly of the gift) that can be included with the note.
- Many four- and five-year-olds are learning how to write their names. Ask them to sign the card. They’ll be proud to do it, and Aunt Pearl will get to see how well her nephew can write.
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