How to Get Your Children to Write Thank Yous
Teach Children Etiquette Through Handwritten Cards
Nov 20, 2008
The electronic age brought about one negative change: the loss of the written letter, including the written thank you note. Children love receiving gifts, but they hate being forced by their parents to write thank you notes to the gift-givers.
The Right Stationery
If your children have personalized note cards, this would be the ideal choice for writing thank yous. However, very few people do nowadays. There is a vast array of thank you cards you can buy online or in the grocery store by the greeting cards. You can find Christmas themed cards, birthday cards, or other holiday cards, but try to buy a pack of neutral themed cards, since they might not all get used for the given holiday. Pick cards that have little or no writing on the inside so there is plenty of space to write a personal message. The handwritten message is far more important than a pre-printed generic phrase.
Is Email Acceptable?
According to etiquette experts, a handwritten and mailed thank you card is really the only way to go. Even if the gift giver has a computer and an email address, an e-thank you is really no substitute. You should really strive to make your child hand write thank yous unless you're sure the gift giver would appreciate an e-card just as much. A phone call is nice, but also isn't a substitute for a card. But this is a decision to be made by your family. Handwritten cards also allow your child to practice handwriting and spelling.
The Right Message
Your child should start off by thanking the gift-giver for the gift, specifically naming the gift. Then your child should mention how he will use the gift. For example, if he was given a stuffed animal, he could say, "The stuffed puppy is so soft and cuddly so he will be nice to sleep with." This allows gift-givers to feel as though they've given a gift the child really enjoys and can use. Remember, this part does not always have to be entirely truthful. Not many children enjoy a gift of new socks, but the child can point out that a lot of her current socks have holes in them, so she can really use the new ones.
Your child should send the thank you note soon after receiving the gift, hopefully within one-two weeks. A good way to get your child to write the note on time is to not allow him to use the gift until the thank you is written and in the mail. This works well with toys that the child is excited to play with, but might not work with less exciting gifts such as clothing.
It's important to get your children to write thank you cards for gifts they receive. By using the tips above, you can help teach them to be polite members of society.
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