Saying Thank You

My nine year old daughter Kay said that she received a gift from her classmate today. Her friend had gone for a holiday at the beachside and had given her a keychain in the shape of a plastic dolphin. The dolphin was partly filled with water and had another little baby dolphin inside together with some tiny sea shells, fine beach sand and shinny confetti. The keychain was very creatively done and the movement of the objects within would hold your fascination for a little while. It was not surprising that Kay liked it. I asked how she had thanked her friend. She said she just shoke her hands. I told her that she needed to do five things to show her appreciation. She would first have to thank her friend for thinking and spending time in getting her a gift. Second, to thank her friend for spending her money to buy the gift. Third, tell her friend how thrilled she was in receiving the lovely gift and how much she liked it. Fourth, to give her friend a big hug for being so nice. Fifth, to remember to reciprocate her friend's kind gesture in the future. That would be one good big thank you. When she responded that it seemed like a lot of things to do and she could forget. I said a sweet hand made thank you note would do just fine.