Thank You and Appreciation Ideas

Helping kids say thanks

Sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get kids to write a thank-you note. But if you present it in a way that lets them be creative, and break the process down into bite-sized pieces, it can take the pain away. Remind them how nice it feels to get a card or letter from someone. Everyone likes to know their gift is appreciated—a personal note shows it.

If your kid has lots of thank-you notes to write, spread the process out over a week or two. Have them write just a few a day until they're done. The task won't seem quite so monumental, and they'll have a finish line in sight.

Now, to get them started...
Shopping Therapy
Kids picking out their favorite thank-you notes from the store is a great way to get them excited. Find colorful stickers to use for seals, non-traditional stamps for the envelopes (like The Simpsons®), or a fancy new pen to get them in the writing mood.

Picture It
For children too young to write, have them put their handprint in the card. (Use paint for the handprint, or simply draw around their hand with a marker.) Of if your kids just hate to write and prefer to draw, let them loose with a marker or crayon to draw their gift (good), or themselves using the gift (better). No one expects fine art, just a little effort is enough. Then let them tell you about the gift and how much they like it. You can write it for them using their words.

The Write Answers
If they do like to write, but don't know what to say, ask them questions about the gift to get them started. What did you think it was before you opened it? How did you feel when you opened it? Did it mean something special because it came from ___? How will you use/display it? What do you like best about it (color, size, goes perfectly in my room)? If it's a gift card or cash, how will they spend their money? Only a sentence or two needs to be about the gift. The rest of the note can be about something else—like their cool birthday party or their crazy week.

Be Creative
They can make a rebus-style card using stickers, so they can show their thanks using pictures and words. Or try the "mad libs" approach. Write a simple paragraph with fill-in-the blanks to add adjectives and nouns. For example: "Dear ____, Thanks so much for the _____. I really was _____. I can't wait to _____ it."

The Finish Line
Don't forget to praise, praise, praise your kid for going the extra mile to say thank you. Let them know how it pays off in the end—they feel good and they've made someone else's day!