Holiday Gratitude – Teaching Your Child the Art of Writing a Thank You Card

Writing a thank you note.

It’s one of those practices passed on for generations that seems to be drifting away. However, it’s such a simple way to show gratitude that is always appreciated. In this digital age, it’s so simple to send a quick text of gratitude, but it still doesn’t have quite the sentiment and thoughtfulness as a hand-written note.

Below are some tips and tricks to teach your child how to write a thoughtful thank you card. This can become a life-long habit and a reminder to focus on the person who gave the gift, rather than the gift itself. It is a simple activity, but it teaches a big lesson!

Keep a list. – Keep a running list of people to thank and remind your child when someone needs to be added to the list.

Have a box of supplies ready. – Before you start, grab some blank notecards (or even personalized stationery!), makers, stickers, pens, and any other supplies your child enjoys crafting with.

Write cards together. – Model the behavior! Sit down with your child and write your own thank you cards to those that you want to show gratitude to. A child is much more likely to enjoy the task with you by their side!

Take a picture. – Grab your phone and capture a photo of your child with the gift and include it in the thank you note.

Make it fun! – Show your child how fun it can be to create their own notes and cards to give to others.

Try a prompted note. – Use a formula, like the one below, to show your child how to craft the perfect thank you note.

During this time of the year, it is so easy to get caught up in the buzz of gifts and events and forget what the holidays truly are about. We can’t let the busyness of life prevent us from expressing gratitude. Writing thank you notes is a wonderful way to do just that.