Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
My Thank You Page: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
My Thank You Page is a free printable PSHE worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children draw in each box to show who looks after them, what makes them smile, something they are glad to have and a place they like to be. They tick a short checklist when they have shown thanks. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help, a stretch idea and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children draw in each box to show someone who looks after them, something that makes them smile, a thing they are glad to have and a place they like to be. The sheet also has a checklist. Children tick when they have said thank you to someone, given a smile or a hug, and told a grown up what they are thankful for. Adults can write the child's words beside each drawing.
- Someone who looks after me
- Something that makes me smile
- A thing I am glad to have
- A place I like to be
- I said thank you to someone today.
- I gave someone a smile or a hug.
- I told a grown up what I am thankful for.
Ways to build a thank you habit
Make it part of the day
Choose a regular moment, such as tea time or bedtime. Ask your child to name one thing they are glad about. Short and regular works better than long and rare.
Say thank you out loud
Children copy what they see. When you thank a bus driver, a shop worker or a teaching assistant, let your child hear it and see your smile.
Notice kind acts
When someone helps your child, name it. "Grandad helped you tie your shoe. What could we say to him?" This links the kind act to the words.
Turn thanks into something to give
Let your child draw a picture for someone they are thankful for. A gift made by a child often means a great deal to the person who gets it.
Why talk about being thankful?
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Personal, Social and Emotional Development is one of the prime areas. Building Relationships is one part of it. Young children learn how to get on with others by seeing and copying kind behaviour, and by having words for feelings. Saying thank you is one of the first polite habits, and a simple way to show others that they matter.
Being thankful is hard to explain to a four year old in the abstract. Drawing makes it real. A child can draw a person, a toy or a favourite spot long before they can write about it. Talking about the picture then gives the grown up a chance to listen and add words. Keep it relaxed. There are no wrong drawings.
Skills and curriculum link
- Saying thank you
- Drawing and talking
- Noticing kind people
- Sharing feelings
- Showing kindness
Ideas for helping your child think
- Start with a personMany children find it easiest to begin with someone they know well. Ask who helps them get ready in the morning or who reads to them.
- Use the sensesAsk what they like to see, hear, touch or play with. This often leads to something that makes them smile.
- Let the drawing leadAccept simple pictures. Ask, "Tell me about your drawing," and then listen before you add any words of your own.
- Link it to real lifeAfter the sheet, look for a chance to say thank you for real. A hug or a few kind words counts.
Key words
- ThankfulFeeling glad about something good in your life.
- Thank youKind words we say when someone has helped us or given us something.
- KindCaring about other people and helping them.
- SmileA happy look on your face. A smile can be a kind way to say thanks.
- CarerA grown up who looks after you.
- GladPleased and happy about something.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Read each box aloud. Give your child time to think before they draw.
- Ask them to tell you about each drawing. Write their words beside it if they like.
- Work through the checklist together. Tick each line when your child has really done it, now or later in the day.
- Come back to the sheet another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Offer choices, such as "Is it Mum, Dad, a carer or a friend?" Draw alongside your child and keep the talk simple. Do one box at a time and take a break between them. A pointing finger or a short word is a good answer.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to say a full sentence beginning with "I am thankful for". Then ask them to think of one way to say thank you to that person or for that thing. They could say it, draw it or do it.
Make it a game
Cut out the boxes, with an adult doing the cutting for younger children. Stick them in a small book and share it with a friend or relative as a thank you gift. Your child can tell the person about each picture.
Talk about it
- Who looks after you at home? What do they do for you?
- What makes you smile? Why do you think it does?
- What is a thing you are glad to have? Would you share it?
- Where is your favourite place to be? Who is there with you?
- How do you feel when someone says thank you to you?
- What could we do to show someone we are thankful?
Take it off the page
Thank you card
Fold a piece of paper in half. Your child draws a picture inside for someone special. An adult writes the message they say.
Kind thing jar
Each time someone does something kind, draw it or say it and put a small paper note in a jar. Read the notes together at the weekend.
Thank you walk
On a walk, spot people and things to be glad about, such as a tree, a lollipop person or a postbox. Say a quiet thank you for each.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Listen more than you talk. Write down what they say, and keep the finished sheet to look at together later.
Teachers
Use it as a circle time follow up, a table activity or a calm settling task. It fits Personal, Social and Emotional Development. Children can share drawings with a partner, and adults can scribe their words.
Home educators
Pair it with a story about kindness or a family walk. It works well for brothers and sisters of different ages, because each child can draw and talk at their own level.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children learn to name feelings, take turns and play alongside others. They hear adults say please and thank you and begin to copy them. Talking about family and friends helps them see who is important to them.
After this sheet, children can go on to think about how their actions affect others, how to be a good friend and how to keep a community happy. In Key Stage 1 PSHE they build on these ideas by talking about relationships and caring for others.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is My Thank You Page for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger or older children can enjoy it too if a grown up shares the talk and drawing with them.
- What will children practise?
They practise saying thank you, drawing and talking about their ideas, and noticing the kind people around them. It links to Personal, Social and Emotional Development, especially Building Relationships and Managing Self.
- How do I use it?
Read each box aloud and let your child draw. Then ask them to tell you about it. Write their words beside the drawing if they like. Tick the checklist together when your child has done each action.
- What if it feels too hard?
Offer choices and keep things simple. You could ask, "Is it Mum, Dad, a carer or a friend?" Draw alongside your child, do one box at a time and return to the rest another day.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or other children in your group, and use it more than once.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and adults can write down what young children say about their drawings.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour with pencils or crayons if they want to, but the sheet does not need it.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.