Everyone enjoys receiving a special piece of mail. Whether it’s a card, a handwritten note, or a postcard, snail mail from a friend or family member makes us smile. And kids might just love it even more!

Even if the postal service isn’t delivering these things too often, you can help your children set up their own mail system at home. This happy mail box can be assembled by older children with minimal help, or you can put one together for them.

Soon they’ll be sending cards and notes to each other as they play or go about their day!

• Card stock (blue and white are perfect)
• Scissors
• Craft knife
• Glue stick
• Tape
• Markers or crayons
• Mail Box Play Set template (download here)

Step 1
Print the five mail box pieces on blue card stock. You can also print on white card stock and color the pieces. Cut the pieces apart.

Use a craft knife to cut out the rectangle on the mail box front, and cut the slit on the mail box back.

Step 2
Fold the tabs on the sides of the mail box pieces and glue the four sides together. Glue the last tab, forming a squared tube.

Step 3
Curve the top pieces in and glue them where they overlap. The curve should match up with the curved sides. To help hold the sides in, you can place a few tabs of tape inside.

Step 4
Fold the tabs on the bottom piece and glue one tab. Attach the glue side to the inside of the front of the mail box so that the edge of the tab aligns with the bottom of the box as shown.

Slide the second tab through the slit on the back of the mail box. Sliding it in can be a little tricky at first, but this will allow you open the bottom and retrieve the mail.

Step 5
Print the postcard and stamp page on white card stock. Print a few copies to get your kids started.

Encourage them to design their own stamps and create fun mail for friends and family. On the front they can practice writing names and on the back they can draw pictures to make a postcard or just write a simple note.

Glue the stamps on with a glue stick.

If you have decorative scissors, you can cut the stamps out with a more traditional stamp edge!

Your kids can mail notes to each other when they are doing some pretend play or when they just want to send something special to each other.

You could even use this as a way to inspire your whole to send notes of kindness to family members. Open the box each night at the dinner table and read them aloud to help create an atmosphere of love and encouragement.

Happy crafting!