Kindergarten youth club: thanking family (Monday–Friday)
Children thank a family member for a specific kindness at home, then bring the words back to the group. This Monday–Friday plan is for kindergarten children in a youth club group.
about 5 and 6- 5 to 10 minutes missions
- Monday–Friday
Thanking family for kindergarten in a youth club group
Children thank a family member for a specific kindness at home, then bring the words back to the group. In this club meeting, kindergarten children (about 5 and 6) practice with “The umbrella at pickup.” Dad, the parent, he brought a dry umbrella and kept the backpack under it. The Monday–Friday calendar is the one that fits: This is the Monday–Friday format from the first half of the Operation Thank You Manual. You see the same children on five school days. Each day is one mission of 5 to 10 minutes. The note is the work of the later days, not of Monday.
The youth club leader leads. Attendance may change week to week. Begin with a one-sentence reminder of last week’s kindness so a new child is not lost, then do today’s mission. Children answer in a morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes. The spoken line is “Thank you for bringing the umbrella..” The note line is “Thank you for keeping my backpack dry..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.
Five kindergarten missions in the club meeting
Monday does not add a new helper. It stays with Dad. Look only. Put an umbrella where kindergarten children can see it. Name Dad, the parent, and say the kindness: he brought a dry umbrella and kept the backpack under it. It happened at the pickup line in the rain. Ask “What would have gotten wet?” Stop at 5 to 10 minutes. No note yet. Attendance may change week to week. Begin with a one-sentence reminder of last week’s kindness so a new child is not lost, then do today’s mission. If they freeze, Hold a jacket over a backpack. Ask which thing was protected, then who thought of it.
Keep Tuesday inside 5 to 10 minutes in this youth club group. Say the line. kindergarten children tell a partner, “Thank you for bringing the umbrella.” Choose one family kindness from the practice situation. Send the line home in the activity book so the adult at home knows what the child is trying to say. If the kindness disappears, point back to an umbrella. Attendance may change week to week. Begin with a one-sentence reminder of last week’s kindness so a new child is not lost, then do today’s mission. If they freeze, Hold a jacket over a backpack. Ask which thing was protected, then who thought of it.
Who is in the club meeting
Clubs and community youth programs can run the program without a full school week. The package is the same three parts: the Operation Thank You Manual, activity books, and the 30-card flashcard set. Alison coordinates shipping to the leader.
Age tips for kindergarten (about 5 and 6)
Kindergarten is the right moment to make thank you a habit, because morning meeting already asks children to look at one another. The language stays simple enough for early readers. Missions stay short so they fit circle time without replacing the rest of the day. For this youth club plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes.
The note for Dad
The adult writes the helper’s name if needed. The child copies “Thank you for” and then adds a few of their own words or a drawing of the kindness. For this kindness the sentence is “Thank you for keeping my backpack dry.” It has to mention the pickup line in the rain or an umbrella, not a general compliment to the parent.
Words to say about Dad
This is a script the youth club leader can say with kindergarten children during thanking family. It uses “The umbrella at pickup,” a practice situation for this plan. It is not a list of the 30 printed flashcards. Those cards stay in the set and match the activity book. Use this script when you need the words in the room.
Copy-ready lines for “The umbrella at pickup”
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for bringing the umbrella.” Reply children may hear: “Stay under it until we get to the car.” Note line to write: “Thank you for keeping my backpack dry.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por traer el paraguas.”
Spanish materials in this group
If any child in the club meeting speaks Spanish at home, order the Spanish activity book for that child and keep the same situation. The Spanish line for this plan is “Gracias por traer el paraguas.” The English line remains “Thank you for bringing the umbrella.”
Classroom and group notes for the club meeting
Clubs and community youth programs can run the program without a full school week. The package is the same three parts: the Operation Thank You Manual, activity books, and the 30-card flashcard set. Alison coordinates shipping to the leader. Attendance may change week to week. Begin with a one-sentence reminder of last week’s kindness so a new child is not lost, then do today’s mission.
If kindergarten children stall on Dad
Hold a jacket over a backpack. Ask which thing was protected, then who thought of it. A child who keeps thanking the youth club leader is avoiding Dad. Send them back to the parent and the moment at the pickup line in the rain. Whispering “Thank you for bringing the umbrella.” counts.
Books for this youth club kindergarten group
Spoken practice about Dad can start in the club meeting today. The activity-book template matters when kindergarten children are ready to write “Thank you for keeping my backpack dry..” If a sponsor is funding this youth club group, parents get a sample letter, and shipping is included on full and partial packages. The leader can ask at no cost.
What Dad's lesson needs
The Operation Thank You Manual is 98 pages. The first half is the Monday–Friday classroom sequence. The second half is the once-per-week sequence for clubs. Each child needs Why and How To Say “Thank You,” the classroom edition: a saddle-stitched activity book with situations for saying thank you, the How To Write A Thank You Note template, and extra pages to practice. The flashcard set has 30 cards, 8.5 by 11 inches, colorful, with rounded corners. The cards mirror the activity book so the group can look at one situation before writing. The manual, the activity book, and the flashcards are available in Spanish. The MISSION Reminders Supplement can be added when some children speak Spanish. Extra activity books are sold in packs of 10. For “The umbrella at pickup,” also set out an umbrella. Choose one family kindness from the practice situation. Send the line home in the activity book so the adult at home knows what the child is trying to say.
Home work after The umbrella at pickup
Say this one at pickup if it is raining. If the weather is dry, thank the adult for another thing they remembered. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Dad's kindness, not a blank “say thank you.” The adult writes the helper’s name if needed. The child copies “Thank you for” and then adds a few of their own words or a drawing of the kindness.
Questions leaders ask
Let's Grow a Culture of Thank You.
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Let's help the next generation learn to recognize kindness, appreciate others,
and say “Thank You” with meaning.