Saying Thank you to Father Christmas?

[cakesonatrain]

This is the first year that 3yo DS is really aware of Father Christmas bringing presents. I was pondering yesterday about writing to FC to ask for presents, and then thought "But what about saying thank you?". If Auntie Thing gives you a present, you say thank you. If anyone hands me anything, ever, I say thank you. We encourage our children to say thank you for everything. But I don't recall anyone in my childhood ever writing a thank you letter to Father Christmas, the bringer of all the good presents for good boys and girls.
Does anyone do this with their children? Should we? Am I overthinking? :)

I have pondered this before. Last year Dd1 drew a picture for fc to sat thank you and we posted it to dm to him.

I wonder why it's not a Thing that people do.

E always say thank you for last year's presents in this year's letter, as part of the "yes I was good this year" introduction part. Before we get into the "please can I have" part.

And unprompted, she has often said it to the Santa at my office's kiddie party, a thank you for last year.

When I was little I would put a thank you letter at the end of my bed to be picked up on his route (Christmas Eve)

We always left a thank you note with his cookie and wine on christmas eve. It was a bit presumptuous now that I think about it!

We don't write thank you notes, but we do always leave a polite letter for FC on Christmas Eve thanking him for the previous year's gifts and telling him a bit about our year. Father Christmas always leaves a reply as well as eating the mince pies etc.

Hmm. Maybe I'll get them to shout "Thank you" up the chimney!

I thought that leaving him a drink and a mince pie was to say thank you? In a non-specific way? I do like the idea of drawing a picture for him though. dd only 3 so can only really write her name so far.

I suppose the drink & mince pie is a thank you. It's a pre-emptive thank you though, which isn't usual for presents. But then Christmas is a bit different, isn't it?

I think the book, Santa has a Busy Night by Lynne Bradbury encourages children to thank Father Christmas. It has been a long time since I last read it though, so I can't swear to it.
If you do want to encourage your ds to thank him though , it might be worth a read.