Showing Gratitude Through Writing
By Dr. Mary Kleymann, Chief Operating Officer
Writing Symphony
Similar to learning a to play a musical instrument, writing is a skill that needs to be practiced on a regular basis. However, children often struggle to see how writing skills apply to their life outside of school and, therefore, do not see a long-term benefit to becoming a good writer. It is up to teachers and parents to find ways to apply writing skills outside of the classroom.
One way to have your child practice their writing skills is to have them write thank you notes. Writing thank you notes helps children not only develop their writing skills, but also provides them with an opportunity to develop an understanding of gratitude. Giving your child a chance to say “thank you” through writing reinforces the importance of being kind and grateful.
Thank you notes can be written when a child receives a gift, in recognition of a kindness done to them, or in appreciation for help they received. Have your child brainstorm the people who they could write a thank you note to and then work from that list, one note at a time.
When writing a thank you note, the following elements should be included:
However, consider the following two examples:
EXAMPLE 1:
Dear Aunt Susan,
Thank you for the toy. I have always wanted one. You were kind to send it.
Love, John
EXAMPLE 2:
Dear Aunt Susan,
Thank you for the amazing, green toy car. I am thrilled to have this car because I have always wanted one. You even kindly remembered that my favorite color is green! I am lucky to have such a thoughtful aunt.
Love, your favorite nephew, John
Each example has all components of a complete Thank You Note. However, the missing Accompanied Adjectives, Vigorous Verbs, and specific details from the first example caused the note to be boring and leaves the recipient of the thank you note feeling that the child did not really appreciate the item they were writing about in the note. Adding in these key details creates a personal communication that the recipient will cherish while providing your child the opportunity to practice their writing skills.
Encourage your child to write one thank you note a week during non-school times and once a month when they are in school. Consider all the people in their life they can thank including teachers, maintenance staff, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, and coaches. Challenge your child to use Accompanied Adjectives and Vigorous Verbs to truly personalize their thank you notes and make the recipients feel extra special. Remember that this activity is designed to keep children practicing their writing skills in a way that applies directly to real, non-academic life. As children are exposed to different types of writing and how it applies to their real life, they will become more confident and competent in their writing.
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