Jan. 2, 2007
It's Time for Thank You's
I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year ~ it's now officially 2007!
Today is our first day of our new school year (I changed our calendar year this year) and we are beginning this morning with our "Thank You Notes" for the Christmas gifts received from family and friends. These are a must and should never be overlooked. No matter how young (and especially our high schoolers), our children must learn the example of expressing graciousness and thankfulness to those who've taken the time to think of them with a gift.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with providing pre-written examples for your children to use for ideas or even copy with their notes and letters. Just so the Thank You is written in their own handwriting. The note doesn't have to be an essay! - just something short, engaging and indicative of something the child would say in his/her own natural conversation.
If the child is young (under the age of ten) it is certainly permissible to allow them to write in pencil. However, depending upon the handwriting strengths of your child, you may allow them to use a pencil for note writing for a few years after that. But in nearly all cases, our high schoolers should always write their notes in ink.
If your family has a number of Thank You's to write, stretch out the task over a number of days allowing your child to write one or two notes each morning. Keep stationery and note cards on hand for these very occasions and use this as a learning tool as well.
Have a great week ~ Happy New Year!
