Even though the majority of today’s correspondence takes place electronically, handwritten thank-you notes are still a wonderful way to acknowledge a gift. Writing thank-you notes is a great activity to do with your child. Regardless of the reason for the note, you have the opportunity to spend some time together encouraging writing, and your child will learn an important etiquette skill that will serve him or her for a lifetime.
STEP 1
Spend a few minutes talking about the gift or the visit, and jot down some notes about what made it special. The book is about something you are really interested in. The sweater is the perfect color to go with your favorite pants. Anything that will make the note itself special, just like the gift or the visit.
STEP 2
Be sure you or your child has all the materials you need: notepaper, pen/pencil, envelope, the correct address and stamps. Variation: Have your child make plain thank-you notes more creative by adding his or her name or a fun drawing on the front and a personal message on the other side.
STEP 3
Optional: If you have a camera, take a picture of your child and the gift (Wearing the new sweater, playing ball with the mitt, or holding the book) and include it in the note. If the thank-you note is for a visit and you took pictures during the trip, give them to your child to send along with it. Be sure to write names and dates on the back of the photos.
STEP 4
For 4-6 year olds
Write a short note for your child based on Step 1—no more than two or three sentences. Read the note to your child. Then your child can decorate the note.
EXAMPLE: Dear Grandmother, Thank you for the sweater you sent me. Purple is my favorite color. I can’t wait to see you. Love, Jaime
For 6-7 year olds
Write the letters with them; they can dictate what they want you to write. Then have them sign the note with their own handwritten “thank you” and their name.
TIP: Have your child read the note out loud so they can hear their written words—a satisfying experience in itself!
For 8-10 year olds
At this age, your child can write his or her own thank-you notes. If it’s for a gift, you can participate by making suggestions of things to write. If the note is for a visit you made as a family, write your own thank-you note at the same time!
TIP: You might say, “You’ve mentioned several times to me that the sweater is the perfect color—you can tell Aunt Mary that also. It’s really hard to pick colors for someone else and she’ll be glad to hear it worked!”
STEP 5
Help with addressing the envelope, stamping it and making sure it gets into the mail.
TIP: Visit the Post Office with your child and let her/him pick some fun stamps.
Visit the “Fun for Kids” section for downloadable thank-you note cards .