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Why is it that, in person, parents will prompt kids to say Thank You for the smallest gift, like a tootsie roll, but when you send something through the mail, no thanks are forthcoming, or the parent thanks you. I feel like asking the parent, how old does the kid have to be before they start taking care of their own Thank Yous. We're talking 10-11 year olds. And no, I don't need a TY note, put the kid on that phone thingie you have growing out of your body and let them say thanks themselves. Or have them send <edit> social media message. Or something.
I would like to hear from parents about this. Is it just easier to thank the gift giver yourself? How long are you going to keep doing it for your kids? What do you think the kids are learning?
Last edited by Miss Blue; 12-14-2017 at 08:48 PM..
Our kids are 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 and if they get gifts in the mail will say thanks over the phone or through FaceTime. I’d imagine that’s what everyone does.
There have been quite a few threads on kids and thank you notes/calls. It seems that MANY parents today just aren't teaching this. It actually isn't that surprising since so many don't even send thank you notes or calls for wedding gifts any more. Anyway, to your question, kids are old enough to learn this as soon as they can talk on the phone or write "thank you" on paper, or text. But few are being taught.
I've never, ever, sent someone a gift and expected them to send me a thank you card in return. What a waste of time. I cling to many traditions, but that one can GTFO. My daughter won't be sending anyone a TY card unless she feels like doing it on her own (or someone does something so outside the realm of normal/expected that one might be warranted i.e. a kidney transplant).
My kids don't mail anything. They'll call to say thank you, because I make them do it before spending any of the money from the grandparents. But I haven't mailed anything in ages, either. I think I've mailed two things in the seven years I've lived in my house. I don't even keep stamps on hand.
What do you really want? Acknowledgement regardless of format or a paper card that MIGHT or MIGHT NOT arrive in a month and that you throw away in a week? I have a relative who always writes out cards. She says the writing is a pleasure in itself. Personally I enjoy a phone call...its spontaneous, unrehearsed, and you can chat about other things as well.
I've never, ever, sent someone a gift and expected them to send me a thank you card in return. What a waste of time. I cling to many traditions, but that one can GTFO. My daughter won't be sending anyone a TY card unless she feels like doing it on her own (or someone does something so outside the realm of normal/expected that one might be warranted i.e. a kidney transplant).
Do you expect your daughter to say TY in any form? And when you send a gift, do you expect to hear ANYTHING from the recipient? Do you think it would be nice to hear something from them?
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