What age is Mailbox Kid for?

Mailbox Kid is designed for children ages 4-17. We have three levels so the kit always matches where your child is as a writer: Starter (ages 4-6) for early writers who may need a little help, Growing (ages 7-9) for kids building confidence, and Independent (ages 10-17) for kids who are ready to write in their own voice. Not sure which level? Start with Starter - you can switch anytime.

What is included in each kit?

Simple Mail ($12/mo) includes 1 letter sheet with guided prompts, 1 envelope, 1 real Forever stamp, a sticker sheet to decorate, and a monthly Mail Mission. Mailbox Kid ($24/mo) includes everything in Simple Mail times two - so your child can write to two people every month - plus a wax seal sticker.

What is the difference between a subscription and a gift?

A subscription is ongoing - it renews automatically each month and you can cancel anytime. It is the best option if you want to build a real letter-writing habit for your child. A gift is a fixed term - 3, 6, or 12 months - with no auto-renewal. It is perfect for grandparents, aunts, uncles, or anyone who wants to give a meaningful, lasting gift.

How is Mailbox Kid different from pen pal subscription boxes?

Most pen pal boxes match your child with a stranger to exchange letters with. Mailbox Kid is different - your child chooses who to write to. Grandma. A friend. A cousin. Someone they already love. We believe the most meaningful letters go to people who will keep them forever. A stranger might write back once. Grandma will keep every letter in a drawer for the rest of her life.

Do I need to provide stamps or addresses?

Nope. A real Forever stamp is included in every kit - your child puts it on themselves (one of their favorite parts). Your child also addresses the envelope to whoever they are writing to. For younger writers, you may need to help the first time. After that, most kids take it from there.

How much parent involvement is required?

Very little - that is the whole point. The kit is designed so your child can open it and get started mostly on their own. A parent note with simple tips is included in every kit. For Starter level (ages 4-6), you may want to sit with them the first time. After that, most kids run with it.

Can I subscribe for more than one child?

Yes - and each child gets their own kit with their name on it, which matters more than you would think. Simply add multiple subscriptions at checkout and include each child's name and level in the order notes. Different levels are totally fine.

Can I cancel or pause my subscription?

Yes - cancel or pause anytime, no questions asked. You manage everything through your account portal. If you cancel before your next billing date, you will not be charged again.

About

I was reading a book — The Correspondent — when a line stopped me cold. Someone asked why she writes letters, and she answered:

"Because they last forever… even after you're gone."

I couldn't stop thinking about my kids. How fast they're growing. How one day they'll leave our house. And how the little things — the drawings, the notes, the messy handwriting — those are the parts of them I'll wish I had more of.

The moment it hit me

Not long after, I was cleaning out my phone. You know how your phone groups photos into albums? There was one labeled "Handwriting."

Inside were pictures of little notes my kids had written — notes to me, notes to each other. Small, ordinary things I had snapped a photo of in the moment.

And I just sat there thinking: why did I take pictures… instead of keeping them?

I'm grateful I have those photos. But they're not the same.

They're not the paper they held. Not the pencil marks pressed into the page. Not something I can pull out years from now and hold in my hands.

They're growing up so fast. And I'm losing small pieces of them every day.

A real note. The kind you keep.

The problem I couldn't ignore

Like most parents, I'm constantly battling screen time. Notifications. Tablets. Phones. It's so easy for kids to live through a screen instead of in the moment.

And I kept thinking: what are they missing? Not just the skill of writing — but the ability to slow down. To think. To put their feelings into words. To create something real.

What I wished existed

I didn't need something complicated. I just wanted something simple that made it easy. Something that would help my kids:

Get excited to check the mailbox
Learn how to write a real letter
Take what they're thinking and feeling and put it on paper

And not just for them — but for the people in their lives. Grandparents. Friends. Family.

There is something different — something special — about receiving a letter from a child. You don't just read it. You keep it.

Why Mailbox Kid exists

Mailbox Kid exists because I didn't want to look back one day and wish I had done more.

Even if it's just once a month — that's 12 letters a year. 12 moments captured. 12 pieces of your child you get to keep.

And over time? That becomes something priceless.

A note to you

If you're here, you probably feel it too. That pull to slow things down. To hold onto what matters. To give your kids something more than just another screen.

You don't need to do it perfectly. You just need to start.

Because one day, your kids will grow up and leave your home. But their words? Those can stay with you forever.