thank you

When you send a birth announcement, invite someone to your child's birthday party or a baby shower, most people will send or bring a gift for the occasion. Matching thank you notes are the classiest way to show your appreciation. For baby stationery, folded notes with the child's full name printed on the front of the card is a great idea. You can hand write your personal thank you on the inside of the card. If your child is old enough, encouraging and helping them send thank you notes are great ways to teach social manners to a child.

When to send:
Written thank you notes are appropriate for all kinds of gifts received. Favors such as hosting you overnight, throwing a party in your honor, birthday and holiday presents are all kind acts that should be personally acknowledged with a handwritten thank you note. If possible, write your note on the day you receive the gift or as soon as possible after receipt. However, it is never too late to send a thank you note. Obviously, if you wait a long time, you will have to make it a clever note.

Basic Guidelines:
To make a thank you note sincere, always start it by mentioning something about the gift. Generic statements like, "Thank you for your generosity," are considered too impersonal.

Dear Polly,
Thank you for the musical Elmo doll that you bought Christina. She plays with it all the time and it's become one of her favorite toys to play with before bed time. You certainly know how to pick out presents for kids!
See you at the next get together!
Sincerely,
Laura

Baby Gifts:
Mom and dad should definitely write personal thank you notes on behalf of babies and children who cannot yet write.

Holiday Gifts:
It is always appropriate to send a written thank you note for a holiday present. A couple of sentences acknowledging receipt is enough to let the sender know that you received it.

When should children write their own thank you notes?:
It is important to teach your child social manners and etiquette. When your child is old enough, mom and dad should encourage the child to acknowledge gifts by helping the child write a thank you note. Parents can craft the letter for the child or even guide his hand over the notepaper. When he can write on his own (7 or 8 years old), you can write the words down and ask your child copy it. From ages 9 through 12, you will be more of a taskmaster, making sure that your child sits down and writes the note. When your child is in high school, the child will know that every present will require a thank you note.

text by Tiny Prints - Birth announcements & Baby shower invitations