Confession time – I used to place a high priority on thank you cards insisting that my children wrote thank you cards for every gift they received from Birthdays to Christmas but that was when there were only three of them. Once I added in two more children my faithfulness on insisting they write thank you cards seemed to find its way to the bottom of the to do list – only for time to pass by and the cards to never be written.
I have felt many moments of mommy guilt over the non-written thank yous resulting in the lack of teaching my children the art of writing thank you cards. Thus I have decided that I will end the mommy guilt by once again placing priority on insisting that my children write thank you cards for each gift they receive. I’m happy to report that I have already begun with my youngest Nate-no who officially already wrote and sent off his Birthday thank you cards. No more mommy thank you card guilt.
If you are in need of riding yourself of the thank you note mommy guilt or ready to teach your kids the importance of writing thank you cards then keep reading my 8 ways to inspire your children to write thank you cards.
1. Teach
Begin my explaining to your children why it is important to thank the gift giver. Remind them that the giver took the time to choose the perfect gift, wrap it and deliver it to them.
2. Inspire
Be an example to your kids by writing thank you cards. Also be part of the process – sit down with your children when it is time for them to write their cards and help them as needed.
3. Be prepared
Have a supply on hand of thank you cards and stamps ready for your children to sit down and write their notes.
4. Fun gift
Add in packs of fun stationary to their Easter baskets, Christmas stockings, college care packages etc.
5. Personalize
Order each of your children their own return address labels or stamp that they can use when sending mail.
6. Create samples
To begin teaching your children the art of writing thank you notes begin by creating a few samples for them with the wording that they can use. This is a great help to younger kids who are still learning to write and spell. Give your children an example of what should be included in a thank you card along with how to properly address an envelope.
7. Schedule it
Don’t just put it on your to do list, schedule a day and time to accomplish the writing of thank you cards.
8. Free Cards
Click here for a selection of FREE printable thank you cards.
Once you have succeeded the first time in getting your children to write their thank you cards you will feel the mommy guilt. disappear.
One Response
Good for you! Thank You cards seem to becoming a lost art. Too many parents don’t think to teach this to their kids. Heck! Too many parents don’t practice it themselves. But as you pointed out, giving thanks in this way can be fun and rewarding. Makes the giver and recipient both feel good and connected in a loving way.