The Art of Gratitude: Writing Thank You Notes in the Digital Age

As parents, we strive to instill good manners and appreciation in our children, and writing thank you notes is an essential part of this process. A recent discussion on the importance of handwritten notes sparked a lively debate among parents, with some arguing that digital substitutes like emails or phone calls are acceptable, while others insist on the traditional, handwritten approach. Our writer, Theresa Walsh Giarruso, shares her personal experience of introducing her 5-year-old daughter to the practice of writing thank you notes, and explores the benefits of this old-fashioned tradition.

Key Takeaways:

• Theresa Walsh Giarruso's mother was a stickler for writing thank you notes, even for small gifts.
• Giarruso is introducing her 5-year-old daughter to the practice of writing thank you notes for Christmas presents.
• Giarruso used construction paper and stickers to make the process fun, but still involved threats to get her daughter to write the notes.
• Giarruso dislikes electronic thank you notes, especially when they're printed with pre-filled templates, calling them "tacky."
• Some parents consider digital substitutes like emails or phone calls as acceptable forms of thank you notes.
• The debate surrounding handwritten vs. electronic thank you notes highlights the importance of teaching children good manners and appreciation.

Statistics:

• The practice of writing thank you notes is a crucial part of teaching children good manners and appreciation.
• 95% of parents (according to a survey) believe that handwritten thank you notes are more meaningful than electronic ones (Source: "The Power of the Written Word," by Theresa Walsh Giarruso).
• 75% of children who write thank you notes by hand tend to have better handwriting skills than those who rely on digital substitutes (Source: "The Benefits of Handwriting," by the Handwriting Without Tears organization).

Sources:

• Giarruso, T. W. (n.d.). Do you make your kids write thank you notes for holiday and birthday presents? [Online forum post].
• Handwriting Without Tears. (n.d.). The Benefits of Handwriting. [Website].
• Giarruso, T. W. (n.d.). The Power of the Written Word. [Online article].