WFMW: Guaranteed gratitude
Want to be certain you remember to write thank you notes? Or that your kids do?
This tip works flawlessly around here. If I receive a gift, I do not — under any circumstances — use it or put it away until I write a thank you note to the giver! This works wonders with baby gifts, kids birthday presents, Christmas gifts, etc.
I do not make my kids write thank yous if they open a present from a close relative in front of them and thank them then. But, if they were sent a gift in the mail or whatever, they send a thank you. Though my children don’t really write well yet, they can draw a picture and sign their name. I add the appropriate sentences for them and then mail it off.
If I have the time, I like to design my own thank you cards, too. I just think it’s more personal (and more fun!) This one is one I designed to use after my daughter Evan’s baby shower:
I sort of think thank yous are becoming a lost art. But what better way to teach your kids some gratitude? Don’t let them put their stuff in their room until those thank yous are written! That works for me.
For more great ideas from bloggers everywhere, see the Rocks in My Dryer list of Works for Me Wednesday tips!
January 1st, 2008 at 10:22 pm
this is a great tip. it’s so hard to make sure we do it and it’s hard to get the *kids* involved - sometimes i just think it would be easier for me to do it myself but i know that won’t teach anything!!!!!
January 1st, 2008 at 10:40 pm
That is a GREAT idea. I am BAD about thank you notes.
January 1st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I cannot believe there is someone out there just like me! I debated about whether or not I should post my thank you note WFMW or not…and I didn’t (good thing!) That is EXACTLY what we do! And yes, it’s a great tip and I wish more people would do the same.
And it does work! The day after we opened a bunch of presents, early in the morning my kids were ASKING if they could please write some thank you notes!!!
Kids are 5 & 8 - 8 yr old can do it on her own - I just provide her with a list of the gifts and who gave them to her…then she goes to it herself. And she does a great job! I help my son with his of course.
If we open the gifts at someone else’s house or it’s a birthday party situation - the kids can play with the kids before the thank you note - but when we get home the gifts are kept together until the notes get written.
January 1st, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Great idea. Many times I forget to remind my kids — this would help us all.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 am
Very important lesson for kids to learn. I also think thank-yous are becoming a lost art. Kudos to you for continuing them with your children!
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:03 am
I have done this very same thing for years! It is an excellent way to remember your thank you’s, and it gets more important to have a way to remember things the older I get!
TM
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Your thank you note is adorable! What a sweet baby!
I’m pretty tough with my kids now that they’re 8&11; I won’t let them play with their new stuff until they write a thank you note.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Thank you for reminding me. I still need to write my thank you notes.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
What a great idea! I tend to forget to send off thank yous.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I’m so glad you stopped by my WFMW and let me know you posted on the same topic of sending thank you notes. You designed a great photo card and I love your Christmas card post as well.
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 am
That works for me too.
They never leave the house fo a friend after playing without thank-you.
So many children leave here without…
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Laane on the World
Have a happy New Year!!!