My family loves to tease me because when I was young I used to have my thank you letters ready for guests before they left my house. I think expressing gratitude is such a powerful character trait. It rewards the giver and receiver! Teaching kids to write thank you letters is one concrete way to teach gratitude. And, it’s a great writing activity!
Many children will write letters to Santa requesting things that they want. But, how many kids will write a thank you letter to Santa after receiving their gifts?
I’m sharing easy and simple printables to use with children to write thank you letters to Santa!
First, I have a colorful Thank You Letter to Santa Printable template for you to print. There is even a spot for drawing a picture of what they are thankful for from Santa.
I’ve also included a Thank You Letter Word Bank full of words that little ones might want to know how to spell. I always encourage kids to sound out words they are trying to spell and to put down the sounds they hear. However, when working on special holiday writing or themed writing, it’s nice to have a word bank they can refer to when spelling. It’s just one more tool in their spelling toolbox.
The thank you letter template and thank you letter word bank could also be used for writing thank you notes to anyone who gave a gift to your child. In fact, why not have a writing thank you letters party! Gather your letter writing materials, hot chocolate, cookies and settle in at the kitchen table for some thank you letter writing.
Not only will you be teaching your kids an important lesson about gratitude; you will also be brightening the day of the recipient with a handwritten thank you letter from a child!
Check out our writing activities page for more ideas.
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*This post first appeared on Growing Book by Book on 12/16/13.
hailey says
thank you for those prasints some of those I relly needed.
Crystal @ Crystal's Tiny Treasures says
Great idea, who better to say thanks to than Santa, and these will make a nice keepsake to look back on later. Thank you for sharing with Mom’s Library, I’ll be featuring you this week at Crystal’s Tiny Treasures. Happy Holidays!
Deb @ Living Montessori Now says
I love your emphasis on gratitude, Jodie! What a great idea to have a thank you word bank (as well as the thank you letter to Santa). Thanks for generously sharing your printables! I was happy to feature your post as a Free Printable of the Day at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page and on Pinterest. Have a very Merry Christmas! 🙂
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thank you so much Deb for sharing! Have a great Christmas too!
Katherine Collmer says
Jodie, This is a wonderful idea. I’m going to use it for handwriting practice! Thanks!
Jodie Rodriguez says
Great Katherine! I’m glad you find it useful!
Eva @ The Multitasking Mummy says
Oh what a fantastic idea, I love this. I just wrote a post on how I will not raise a spoiled child and this just fits so perfectly. I wrote about how many children want everything on their ‘santa list’ and it’s rare that children actually thank Santa for their gifts. I will certainly be teaching my 2 year old this.
Jodie Rodriguez says
Eva, thanks so much for sharing. What an important post to write!
Annette says
What a great idea! I am so glad you shared this on my page. Christmas is so “give me give me” and I love that you take the time to say thank you.
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thank you Annette. I love this simple idea too to teach about gratitude.
Meredith @ Homegrown Friends says
This is such an awesome idea! I love that this activity brings together gratitude and literacy. Fantastic! Sharing on the Homegrown Friends FB Page and Pinning!
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thank you so much Meredith!
PramgaticMom says
This is an awesome writing activity!! Sharing it!
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thank you! I always appreciate your support!
marg says
great idea!