November is National Thank You Letter Month (NTYLM), a month-long celebration dedicated to fostering gratitude through the simple yet profound act of writing thank you letters. As the creator of this initiative, I encourage children—and people of all ages—to rediscover the time-honored art of expressing thanks.

This initiative aims to improve mental health, foster empathy, and strengthen community bonds through the act of giving thanks. Writing thank you letters not only cultivates gratitude but also supports literacy skills by enhancing writing abilities, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It promotes structured thinking and effective communication, making it a valuable practice for everyone.

When is National Thank You Letter Month?
Throughout November, culminating in National Thank You Letter Day on November 14th.

Who can participate? 
Students, teachers, parents, caregivers, and community members are all welcome to join.

Anyone!

Where can it take place?
Activities can happen anywhere—schools, homes, and local communities.

Why participate?
Engaging in this initiative improves mental health, fosters empathy, strengthens community ties, and supports literacy skills through writing.

One of the simplest tools to help children with mental health is teaching them gratitude. That’s why this year’s National Thank You Letter Month is more important than ever,” I believe. This initiative teaches children—and reminds adults—of the vital importance of expressing gratitude in daily life. It has gained national acclaim for its lessons in kindness and compassion, even earning a Guinness World Record for the largest handwritten thank you letter!

It’s more than just writing a letter of thanks; it’s a step toward repairing the mental health of our nation. Studies show that practicing gratitude leads to greater happiness, lower stress, and improved relationships.

Not sure who to thank? 
Here are weekly themes to guide your gratitude:
WEEK 1 (Oct. 28 - Nov. 3): Focus on COMMUNITY HELPERS. Honor the dedication of those like firefighters and police officers who keep our communities safe, non-profits who care for the arts, marginalized communities, and more; neighbors who watch and help.
WEEK 2 (Nov. 4 - Nov. 10): Focus on TEACHERS. Celebrate educators who have positively impacted your life with letters of appreciation.
WEEK 3 (Nov. 11 - Nov. 17): Focus on VETERANS. Thank those who have served in the armed forces for their bravery and sacrifices.
WEEK 4 (Nov. 18 - Nov. 24): Focus on CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS. Write heartfelt letters to family, friends, mentors, and role models who have made a difference in your life.
WEEK 5 (Nov. 25 - Dec. 1): Focus on HEALTHCARE WORKERS. Recognize healthcare professionals for their dedication and compassion.

I invite everyone to join this FREE, altruistic, and educational effort celebrated nationwide throughout November. For more information and FREE RESOURCES for students, parents, teachers, and schools, visit NationalThankYouLetterDay.com/guide .

Share your stories of gratitude on social media using the hashtags #NationalThankYouLetterMonth and #NationalThankYouLetterDay. For updates, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Carew Papritz is the award-winning author of the bestselling inspirational book, The Legacy Letters. Through his innovative literacy efforts to inspire kids to read, Papriz has created the “I Love to Read” and “First-Ever Book Signings” through his “CarewTube” video series. He is also the creator of National Thank You Letter Day, and the World’s Largest Thank You Letter–receiving a Guinness World Record for the project. As an educational thought leader, Papritz continues in his personal passion to teach people of all ages about personal and global legacy issues. Papritz's writing has been published in a number of media outlets including the Kelly Clarkson Show, Huffpost, Inc., Reader's Digest, Fox News, Woman's World Magazine, Yahoo! News, & First Time Parent Magazine.