Children practice the same kindness in English and Spanish, with materials that match the language they speak. This once a week plan is for preschool children in a daycare group.

Children practice the same kindness in English and Spanish, with materials that match the language they speak. In this daycare room, preschool children (about 4 and 5) practice with “The turn at the slide.” Sam, the classmate, Sam moved aside and said the next turn belonged to someone who had been waiting. The once a week calendar is the one that fits: This is the once-per-week format from the second half of the manual, written for groups and clubs that do not meet daily. One meeting carries the mission. A single home task goes in the activity book. Do not try to compress five school days into one hour.
The daycare lead leads. Mixed ages share the room. The youngest children answer out loud. Older children write. Nobody waits while the other group finishes a long craft. Children answer in one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle. The spoken line is “Thank you for letting me go..” The note line is “Thank you for giving me a turn on the slide..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.
The note can be a dictated sentence. The child supplies the person’s name and the kindness. The adult prints it on the activity-book template so the child can see that spoken thanks and written thanks are the same idea. For this kindness the sentence is “Thank you for giving me a turn on the slide.” It has to mention the slide or the ladder of the slide, not a general compliment to the classmate.
A preschool note that says only “thanks for being nice” goes back. Ask what Sam did. The extra practice pages are for the messy draft. Spanish-speaking children write the same kindness in the Spanish activity book, using “Gracias por dejarme el turno.”
This is a script the daycare lead can say with preschool children during thank you in English and Spanish. It uses “The turn at the slide,” 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.
daycare lead: “We are going to thank Sam. Sam is the classmate. Here is the kindness: Sam moved aside and said the next turn belonged to someone who had been waiting. It happened at the slide. Look at the ladder of the slide.”
Preschool children can learn why thank you matters before they write much. They need a picture, a person, and one clear kindness. A long talk loses them. The leader shows the moment, the children say a short line, and the group stops while the words still feel friendly. For this daycare plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 7 minutes. one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle.
This is the once-per-week format from the second half of the manual, written for groups and clubs that do not meet daily. One meeting carries the mission. A single home task goes in the activity book. Do not try to compress five school days into one hour. In the daycare room, the daycare lead has one sitting with preschool children, about 4 and 5. Do not replay a school week. Mixed ages share the room. The youngest children answer out loud. Older children write. Nobody waits while the other group finishes a long craft.
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for letting me go.” Reply children may hear: “You were waiting. Go ahead.” Note line to write: “Thank you for giving me a turn on the slide.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por dejarme el turno.”
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. 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 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. For “The turn at the slide,” also set out the ladder of the slide. Teach one kindness, then say the thank-you line in both languages. Children use the book that matches the language they are writing in.
Daycare days are full. The program is built for that: short missions, a manual with a once-per-week option, and materials that work for mixed ages 4 to 9. There is no cost to the provider when a sponsor funds the package. Register on Find a Sponsor and Alison matches the room with a business or an individual. Mixed ages share the room. The youngest children answer out loud. Older children write. Nobody waits while the other group finishes a long craft.
Thank a sibling for a turn with a toy, and name the toy. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Sam's kindness, not a blank “say thank you.” The note can be a dictated sentence. The child supplies the person’s name and the kindness. The adult prints it on the activity-book template so the child can see that spoken thanks and written thanks are the same idea.
Have two children stand at a pretend ladder. Practice the step-aside and the thanks before anyone climbs. A child who keeps thanking the daycare lead is avoiding Sam. Send them back to the classmate and the moment at the slide. Whispering “Thank you for letting me go.” counts.
Daycare days are full. The program is built for that: short missions, a manual with a once-per-week option, and materials that work for mixed ages 4 to 9. There is no cost to the provider when a sponsor funds the package. Register on Find a Sponsor and Alison matches the room with a business or an individual.
Spoken practice about Sam can start in the daycare room today. The activity-book template matters when preschool children are ready to write “Thank you for giving me a turn on the slide..” If a sponsor is funding this daycare group, parents get a sample letter, and shipping is included on full and partial packages. The leader can ask at no cost.
Say the English line “Thank you for letting me go.” and the Spanish line “Gracias por dejarme el turno.” on the same kindness. Do not save Spanish for a different week. Children should see that Sam did one thing: Sam moved aside and said the next turn belonged to someone who had been waiting.
Whether you're a parent, teacher, organization, business, or individual looking to make a difference, there's a place for you in the Culture of Thank You.
Let's help the next generation learn to recognize kindness, appreciate others,
and say “Thank You” with meaning.