Recently we were lucky to have the Freeport Fire Department stop by for a morning visit. We not only learned important fire safety skills (Stop-Drop-Roll! Stay low in smoke!) but also got to see the fireman in all of his gear, which is important when the air masks they wear can sometimes seem scary. We also got to go outside and explore the firetruck and the tools they use to fight the fire!
This week we took some time to reflect on the visit and write thank you notes to the fire department.
Writing takes many forms in Pre-K: we write in our journals, write with hands-on materials, make birthday cards, write thank you notes, sign our names, learn to write letters, and write words within our art. After a visit from the fire department, this was the perfect opportunity to practice (the lost art of) handwritten thank you notes.
When we write our thank you notes, we are learning so many things:
Creative Arts: Because we often use a variety of materials to make our thank you notes: paper, stickers, markers, crayons, ribbon, collage materials, and paint, writing thank you notes is a great way to let our creativity flow! We write words, draw pictures, and love to reflect our gratitude on paper!
Early Language and Literacy: Before starting our thank you notes, we work together to sound out the beginning sounds in the words we want to use in our notes. We decided we would write “Thank you”, “Fire”, and “Love” and built on our awareness of the sounds and rhythms of the words that make up our language. By writing our thanks to others, we also build an understanding that writing is a way of communicating and a wonderful way to express thankfulness.
Social Studies: Taking the time to say thank you is not only a chance to practice important social graces but also an opportunity to affirm our sense of place in the community. We are part of the same community as our fire department and are thankful they took the time out of their busy day to come visit with us.
Another reason I love writing thank you notes with children is because it’s a chance to reflect on their experiences. What did they like about the fire department’s visit? What was their favorite part? What words would best relay their gratitude for the time spent with others?
According to Jeffrey Froh, assistant professor of psychology at Hofstra University, teaching children to express gratitude may be crucial to the development of compassion, empathy, and even happiness. Writing thank you notes doesn’t have to be for just gifts received…Children can write notes in appreciation for a good time or a nice friendship or anything that makes them feel happy.
Want to try writing thank you notes with your children at home?! Here are some helpful tips for writing thank you notes with your children:
- Set aside time for it so children aren’t rushed.
- Gather resources. When my children were little we had a “Thank You Box” with paper, stickers, and special craft materials just for our thank you notes. Making it something special helped make writing fun for my boys. (We no longer have a thank you box but they now write their thank you notes without reminders from their Mom).
- Don’t forget about envelopes, colorful pens, and stamps!
- Remember: when you’re between the ages of 2-5, drawing is writing too! For a child who isn’t yet able to write, transcribing what she says gives you a chance to truly capture her feelings on the note.
I appreciate any opportunity to build character with my Pre-K students…Being able to work on our writing skills while expressing thankfulness and gratitude is a chance I love to share with them in the classroom!
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