Basic Preschool Note

The Basic Preschool Note can be used for many occasions. This particular note is designed to be inserted into the Preschool Toilet Tissue Tube Friendship Stick, but you can use the Basic Preschool Note inside cards or just folded and placed in an envelope. Any time you wish to give your preschooler a chance to express him/herself in written words is a good time to use the Basic Preschool Note.

Materials you Will Need

A pad and pen to write down your preschooler’s words
Printer paper
Crayons or makers
Your word processor and printer

How to Make It

This is a parent participation craft.
Step 1:
Talk to your preschooler about which people s/he would like to express friendship or thanks to.  Make a list.

Step 2:
Taking one person at a time, ask what s/he would like to say to this person. You can prompt a bit if necessary. For instance, if s/he has put his/her preschool teacher on the list, say, “what would you like to tell _____ thank you for?” For friendship, you can offer choice between two simple sentences such as “Thank you for being my friend” or “I like having you for a friend”. If your preschooler wants to make a new friend, s/he can say, “Please be my friend” or “I want to be your friend.” Be sure you use a proper salutation and closing. Let your preschool sign his/her name even if it is only a scribble then write it clearly for him/her beneath.

Step 3:
The toilet tissue tube is about 4 ½ inches long. Word process your preschooler’s words so that the paper will fit when folded in half and rolled up to fit into the tube. Leave room on the sides, top, and bottom for him/her to draw.

Step 4:
Let your preschooler decorate the edges of the “stationery”.

Step 5:
Let your preschooler roll up the note and put it inside the Preschool Toilet Tissue Friendship Stick

Step 6:
Help your preschooler deliver his/her notes.

Helpful Tips for Parents

Tip 1:
You can use Step 2 above to help your child write any kind of note or greeting to someone s/he would like to write to. Simply change the prompts to one more suitable and give limited choices, though if s/he comes up with something independently, that’s even better.

Tip 2:
The Basic Preschool Note is a tiny step towards teaching your preschooler that written language represents spoken language. Even if s/he is much too young to read, sit with him/her and read back his/her own words. Over time, the written/spoken word connection will become internalized.

Tip 3:
When the two of you are writing thank you’s, it’s a nice idea to include your co-parent on the list. Hopefully, when s/he receives his/her thank you, s/he will do the same for you.

Tip 4:
Don’t forget siblings. They often feel unappreciated by younger brothers and sisters.

Tip 5:
Be sure to make one or more photocopies so you have them for scrapbooking, the baby book, or your preschooler’s memory book.

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