Expressing Thanks

Expressing thanks is one of the most important things we do as adult, independent human beings.  It’s a social convention that lets the other person know you see them and appreciate them.  If you doubt it’s importance, I’d bet that if I said to you in my best mom voice, “What do we say?” You’d know, without ever having met me, that I mean for you to say, “Thank you.”

So, how do we help our kids with this?

Some Ideas

If your child can speak, definitely prompt them to say their thank yous.

If your child can hand a card to a family member, write up an index card for each person and let your child hand them out after they open a present from that person. For example, “Aunt Fran, Thank you for my present! I love you! Love, Mikey”. You can write them in 5 minutes and it will allow your child to express their thanks in real time.

If your child has a communication device, please and thank you are probably already programmed.  Have them use their ‘Thank you’ button after each present.

If your child is in a wheelchair, but none of the options above will work for them, consider putting a sign on the front of their wheelchair tray, just as presents are being opened. It could just say, “Thanks for my presents. Merry Christmas!” If you write it nicely, it will be a cute addition to the holiday photos and express your child’s thanks at the same time.

Think outside the box!  The ‘how’ is negotiable…but expressing your thanks, in whatever way you’re able, is a must.