I like to make Thank You cards for the holidays. I make them with a coloring book image on the front that the kids can color in, then we color a few a day. This way I wind up with plenty to use after the holiday.
Princess and Buddy hard at work coloring.
Some of Princess’ artwork. I usually write “artwork by”
and the child’s name on the front of each one.
I use plain old copier paper-I figure that other than Grandma and Grandpa everyone else is going to say “oh, that’s nice” and toss them in the trash anyway. But if you wanted you could print them out on card stock or on matte photo paper (which has that thicker feel to it). I don’t use any sort of fancy card making program, I just put them in Microsoft Word. Once I have the spacing right, all I have to do is leave the words in place and replace the pictures with new ones. I have about 13 different designs saved now. I print out a page or two of each and have a variety of things for the kids to color.
If you want more grownup looking ones, you can simply print “Thank You” across the front in a nice font and skip the graphic. I’ve done that as well with great success.
These cards are practically free (I do go out and buy a big box of invitation sized envelopes about once a year-they fit a quarter fold card) and they involve the kiddos in saying “thank you”, even if they are too young to write (like Buddy). It’s never to early to start instilling manners, as well as the idea of being grateful for things (even-as I tell Princess-if it isn’t exactly what you wanted) Plus it can keep those kiddos occupied for a few minutes when you need a break.
If anyone is interested in exactly how I do it, I can post a tutorial. Just comment and let me know.
This is a great and fun way to get kids started early on the habit of thank you notes. I didn’t push the matter when mine were little…now it’s like pulling teeth to get them to even write an e-mail thank you. They do…it just takes them forever!