Getting a child to sit down and write a thank you note can sometimes be tortuous. The 
“why do I have to”, “it’s boring”, “I already said ‘thanks'” can be a lot to digest as a parent, but teaching them good manners will serve them well long into their future. Here are some helpful hints to get them started and on their way to putting a smile on the gift giver’s face.
Hint 1: Fun stationery and cool pens.
Put together a great stationery kit that’s just for them. Have them make or buy them some custom stationery. Make sure to have plenty of note cards, envelopes, stickers, stamps, and pens for them to really get creative.
Hint 2: Present List
Putting together a list of the gifts and who gave them can help your child organize his/her thoughts.
Hint 3: Thank you script.
Write out some common phrases for them to copy and put into their thank you card. Pre-printed cards can be great to get them started, but having them write it out can give your child “ownership” of the thank you.
Some examples:
- It was so special to receive….
- It was very thoughtful of you to give me…
- It made my day to get…
- I was so happy to celebrate with you! Thank you for the…
- Thank you for the… I love it because…
It’s a hard habit to start, but once they get it, it will become a life-long skill.
Writing thank you cards for other things besides gifts can be even more rewarding.
A great summer goal could be to write at least one thank you card a month to someone that has touched their lives - grandparent, relative, friend, teacher, etc.. Doing this will create a sense of gratitude for not just the physical things they receive but for what people give them to be better people.
