Preschool daycare: writing a thank-you note (once a week)

Each child finishes a note that names a person and one specific kindness, using the template in the activity book. This once a week plan is for preschool children in a daycare group.

  • about 4 and 5
  • 5 to 7 minutes missions
  • once a week
Preschool daycare: writing a thank-you note (once a week) — children learning gratitude with books and activities

Writing a thank-you note for preschool in a daycare group

Each child finishes a note that names a person and one specific kindness, using the template in the activity book. In this daycare room, preschool children (about 4 and 5) practice with “The paint cups set out.” Ms. Nguyen, the art teacher, she set out paint cups and left a brush at each place. 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 setting up the paint..” The note line is “Thank you for putting a brush at my place..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.

Words to say about Ms. Nguyen

This is a script the daycare lead can say with preschool children during writing a thank-you note. It uses “The paint cups set out,” 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 Ms. Nguyen. Ms. Nguyen is the art teacher. Here is the kindness: she set out paint cups and left a brush at each place. It happened at the art table. Look at a cup of paint and a brush.”

The note for Ms. Nguyen

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 putting a brush at my place.” It has to mention the art table or a cup of paint and a brush, not a general compliment to the art teacher.

Age tips for preschool (about 4 and 5)

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.

One once a week meeting in the daycare room

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.

Copy-ready lines for “The paint cups set out”

Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for setting up the paint.” Reply children may hear: “The brushes are ready. Use them with care.” Note line to write: “Thank you for putting a brush at my place.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por preparar la pintura.”

If preschool children stall on Ms. Nguyen

Place one brush and one empty spot. Ask which seat shows the kindness. A child who keeps thanking the daycare lead is avoiding Ms. Nguyen. Send them back to the art teacher and the moment at the art table. Whispering “Thank you for setting up the paint.” counts.

Classroom and group notes for the daycare room

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.

Who is in the daycare room

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.

Home work after The paint cups set out

Thank the person who sets out supplies for a job at home, such as ingredients or clean clothes. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Ms. Nguyen'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.

What Ms. Nguyen's lesson needs

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. 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 paint cups set out,” also set out a cup of paint and a brush. Open the template before anyone writes. Read the parts: greeting, the kindness, closing. Then write only about today’s helper.

Spanish materials in this group

If any child in the daycare room 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 preparar la pintura.” The English line remains “Thank you for setting up the paint.”

Books for this daycare preschool group

Spoken practice about Ms. Nguyen can start in the daycare room today. The activity-book template matters when preschool children are ready to write “Thank you for putting a brush at my place..” 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.

Questions leaders ask

Plan on 5 to 7 minutes. 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. Mixed ages share the room. The youngest children answer out loud. Older children write. Nobody waits while the other group finishes a long craft.

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.