Thank you notes - DD aged 4

LilacPixie

My Daughter just turned 4, she had a birthday party in a local play centre for 12 friends. She was a very very lucky girl and received lots of gifts plus some money and vouchers too . I had the party because she wanted a party, previously we have just had family to our home and I have made sure to thank everyone myself on the day or over the following days for attending, I usually then follow it up with a thank you note which my husband finds incredibly amusing.

Now I think DD is 4 she should be taking an active part in doing it but OH thinks its pointless, outdated and not needed.

I think it is polite, totally needed and the party was so busy with kids and THB parents I don't really know that it is all the more reason that people should be thanked personally

What do you think?

hngrymummy

Absolutely yes.

It's always good to get children into the habit of thanking people for things. I was made to write my Christmas thank you letters on boxing day, and always go up to the parent who's house the birthday had been at and say "Thank you for having me". Everyone who I thanked was always very pleased to be thanked and went off with a smile.

As adults DH and I now really appreciate getting letters or calls from nephews and nieces saying "thank you for my present". The younger ones dip their hand in the paint and make a print on the card, or make a scribble for their name, whreas the older ones write the note themselves. It makes us more inclined to remember their birthdays next year too!

It's certainly not outdated to thank people for doing something nice, like giving a gift.

thorsoak

I think that it is very nice that you wish to instil manners into your little girl! Whether your OH considers them outdated or not - it will do no harm to get her to sign her name/draw a little picture on thank-you notes.

Counting_Pennies_2

Absolutely, it is absolutely essential, anyone who doesn't send one to me I think very poorly of.

It only needs to be a one or two liner, which I would suggest you write, and then little one writes her name, assisted by you if it is too difficult. Depending on ability, I would then write the name of the person she is writing to on a separate sheet of paper, so she can copy it on the top of the letter, or alternatively draw dots for the name so she can draw round it.

I find the post cards from Phoenix Cards are a really good size for the task.

hth

jackomdj

We always do thankyou cards for parties, Christmas and Easter. We always get them from DD's little friends too.

When DD1 had just turned 4 we would write them & she would sign her name & draw a picture.

I do think it is very important as it teaches them how important it is to say thankyou. One time DD moaned about doing it & I told her she did not have to, but she would have to give the presents back....did not take the long to do her thankyou's!

katiepatie

I agree with thorsoak.

The best thank you! letter we've received actually mentioned the gift we'd given and how much the little boy had enjoyed playing with it. I still haven't forgotten it after 12 years and it really made my son happy too.
KP

Penelope_Penguin

LilacPixie wrote: »

Now I think DD is 4 she should be taking an active part in doing it but OH thinks its pointless, outdated and not needed.

I think it is polite, totally needed and the party was so busy with kids and THB parents I don't really know that it is all the more reason that people should be thanked personally

I love to receive a Thank you note When mine were that age, they made a card, I did the writing inside and they signed it.

I currently have a card from a 2yo on my mantel - his hand prints cut out on the front and his "mark" inside - love it :T

alys_fowler

i think it is lovely and very polite to give a thankyou note for a gift recieved

lilmisskitkat

Definitley the right thing to do, i've always been brought up to send thank you notes and my kids are the same.

DD almost 9 now writes her own, just little note saying to say thank you for her present and for coming to her birthday party. We also send them at xmas, when she was little i used to write out the card and she would make her little squiggle or we'd do handprints like others have said. From the age of 3 she could write her name so she did so (she used to do the e and the h backwards, so cute!), then from about 6 she was writing the whole thing. I then add a note from DS and he makes a scribble for them.

I think its simple manners really and it can really mean a lot to the recipient

Kate xxx

LilacPixie

yay people agree with me

Sometimes as much as I love my husband I really do have questions about his upbringing. He has never had to do thnk you notes, I always did from what seemed like year dot. I also ha to save half birthday/christmas/pocket money but could spend the other half on treats but OH had no such limits.

Really drives me up the wall.

ERICS_MUM

Absolutely right. It's a great way of helping children to learn at an early age how important it is to respect and appreciate other people.