Now that the holiday celebrations have come to an end and all the gifts have been opened, take an hour or two to sit down with your child to create and send some heartfelt thank you notes. Make it a fun afternoon activity by pulling out the craft supplies (paper, crayons, glue, etc.) for creating unique cards and some snacks. That way the practice of writing thank you notes becomes an event that your kids will look forward to each year!
Here are a few additional tips to help you through the process:
Tailor your level of involvement to your child’s age and ability. Younger children who are not yet able to write may need to dictate a message to you, but can draw a picture. Older youth can write their own sentiments on the card.
Handwrite the notes! Sure, it may be easier to draft a quick email or even post a message on Facebook, but a handwritten note is a true sign of your (and your child’s!) appreciation of the gift.
Acknowledge what you love most about the gift. Talk to your child before she begins to write her note and help her to craft a message that lets the gift giver know what was so special. Examples include: “Dear Aunt Polly, Thank you for the new sweater. Green is my favorite color and I can’t wait to wear it!” or “Dear Grandpa, Thank you for the gift card. I have been saving up for a new video game and this will help me to buy it soon!”
“Nice” is key! Even if it’s a gift that your child was less than thrilled about, help him to develop authentic gratitude and sincerity and to write a note that reflects that.
Keep it simple. Thank you notes don’t need to be long - just a few lines to acknowledge the gift and express appreciation.
Send your thank-you notes in a timely manner! Help your child address the envelope, place a stamp on it and place it in the mailbox or take it to the post office for delivery.
