Sunday, January 13, 2013

Tips for teaching kids to write thank you notes

green laurels thank you card
image credit

My students blessed me with many thoughtful gifts this holiday season. And then they blessed me all over again with their smiles of pure joy and happiness when I handed them a thank you card. Seriously, my students were so happy to receive a thank you card. But that's what gift giving is all about, right? Feeling good about brightening another person's day.

With the holidays now behind us, what better time to instill a sense of gratitude into children? And it's great for getting in a little handwriting practice, too!


Here are four basic guidelines to follow:

  1. Start with a greeting
  2. Say "thank you"
  3. Share how it made you feel or why you really like the gift
  4. End with a closing

A few more tips:

  • Get your child involved. Fold a blank piece of paper in half and have your child decorate the front or write 'Thank You' on the front.
  • If your child is not yet able to write, write the letter yourself, and then have your child sign his or her name (even if it's just scribbles).
  • Make a card on the computer. Allow your child to type the thank you letter. This takes the pressure off of the physical act of handwriting.

It doesn't have to be complicated. A thank you note from a child can look something like this:

Dear_______________,

Thank you for the ____________________.
I really like _________________________.

Love, (or Sincerely,)

_________________


See how simple it can be?

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