Start a Family Tradition with Thanksgiving Thank-You Letters
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A Simple Way to
Show Thanksgiving Gratitude with Your Family
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Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and reflecting on the things we are thankful for, and you can reinforce these ideals with your kids by encouraging them to write Thanksgiving thank-you letters. This simple idea lets the people in your family’s lives know just how much they are appreciated. Here are some simple steps to follow so you can create this meaningful family tradition.
Make a Gratitude List
Brainstorm with your kids to create a list of people who you are grateful to have in your lives. This can be anyone from a grandparent to the mailman/woman in your neighborhood. You can divide up the list so everyone takes a few names or you can choose to write the thank-you letters as a group. It’s a perfect time to reflect on how the little things people do impact your family throughout the year. For example, you might want to thank a neighbor who moves your trash bins from the curb as a courtesy. You could also thank your favorite server at a local restaurant or even the local librarian. Ideally, the thank-you letters will come as a warm and welcome surprise to the people who receive them.
Choose Your Thanksgiving Letter Layout
Next, you’ll want to decide the basic letter layout. You can choose from traditional letters, handmade cards, or simple thank-you cards, but don’t be afraid to get creative with other options too. Postcards can be a fun option for a quick, short note of thanks. If your children are old enough to write on their own, have them create handmade cards using construction paper. They can be decorated with hand turkeys or other Thanksgiving-themed drawings. Older kids can write out their letters on looseleaf paper to practice their writing skills. For thank-you notes sent from the whole family, consider pre-printed Thanksgiving cards everyone can sign. You can always customize them with a small handwritten message inside. Thanksgiving-themed stationery can also be perfect for this idea.
Choose How to Deliver Your Thanksgiving Thank-You Letters
Of course, there are many ways to deliver the Thanksgiving thank-you letters. Kids who want to thank their teachers can hand-deliver the cards or letters at school. Drop letters for postal carriers in your mailbox or tape cards for waste disposal workers to your trash bins. Mailing letters and cards is also a great option; getting mail that’s not a bill or an ad can be a welcome treat! If you’re planning on thanking family members, consider bringing the letters to Thanksgiving dinner. This is a fun option if you’re hosting the meal, as you can leave a thank-you note at the place setting for every family member.
Pick Thanksgiving Gifts to Go with Thank-You Letters
Thanksgiving gifts aren’t necessary, but there are some cases in which you might want to include a gift of cash or a gift card. If you’re thanking postal carriers, waste disposal staff, babysitters, house cleaners, or anyone else who provides a service for you, a small gift in the envelope is a wonderful gesture that makes the holiday season brighter. If you plan on giving gift cards, consider cards from local grocery store chains, restaurants, or big box retailers. They can be used to help pay for holiday celebrations, which is always a nice treat. If you do decide to give a gift of cash or cards, consider a thank-you card designed to hold them in place.
What Your Family Gets from Thanksgiving Thank-You Letters
Showing gratitude for the people in your life can help boost your spirits and bring extra meaning to the holiday season. It also helps kids learn to say thank-you for kindness and even how to show kindness to others. Sending thank-you letters and cards to people who are important to you is a wonderful tradition that your kids will hopefully carry on through their adult years, and maybe they will even continue it with their own children in the future.
Starting this tradition doesn’t cost a lot of money, but it does give your family a chance to bond together while sharing extra Thanksgiving cheer. Use these ideas to start your tradition or just use them as inspiration for finding unique ways to show your family’s gratitude and thankfulness. You can also check out some of our other ideas for celebrating the holidays for even more merry inspiration!
