Mailbox Job Card System


If you're anything like me... you've tried 100 different ways to get your kiddos to do their chores.  I can honestly say that after more than a decade I think I finally have the perfect system in place!!  As soon as I saw these cute, tiny mailboxes... the light bulb went off in my head.  What kid doesn't like to get mail?  So, I created job cards to mail my kids each day!  I simply pick a few jobs for each kiddo, mail it to them and flip the flag up so they know to check for new chores.  

To get paid for their chores when they are done, they mail the cards back to me by putting them in my mailbox.  On Fridays, I check my mail and since everyone has their own unique card design, I can easily pay everyone for the jobs they did during the week.  Of course, the money they earn gets put in an envelop... which I deliver back to their mailbox.  How fun is that?  They love it... and the best part is, the jobs are getting done and it isn't a hassle for me at all.  We've had this system in place for over a year and it's still working beautifully.  Plus, once in a while I even stick a sucker or love note in their boxes.  It can't be work all the time, right?

For me personally... when I have a WORKING chore system in place, our whole house functions better.  It's tough to stay on top of it all, but when the little ones are helping out - it gives me more time to stay on top of all the other things in my life! 


If you don't have the time to make some for your kids, stop by MY SHOP and I'll hook you up!  Now available in my shop is a fun "Job Card Bundle".  You place your order, I email you the file with all 6 card designs, then you print, trim and use with your kids.  I found my mailbox tins at Target (in the Dollar Spot last year), but have also seen then in craft stores like Joann's and Michaels. 

These cards can function as more than just job cards! They'd also make great notes, postcards, name tags or labels (like for toy bins, etc). The sky is the limit, get creative!

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Happy Chores!


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35 comments

  1. How clever is this...Almost makes you want to have a child again. Oh...what am I saying...I can use it with the BF...who needs more kids?

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  2. SOOO cute...i will be trying this! I love your blog...I'm your newest follower!
    Would love if you can check me out and maybe follow along too.
    D @ dthatssewme.blogspot.com

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  3. Oh Colette...this is a fabulous!!!! My daughter and I keep going back and forth about the best way to get her to do her chores...this might be our perfect solution!

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  4. Very cute idea! I'll have to keep that in mind as my boys get older! :)

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  5. I came over from About a Girl and I'm so glad I did. I'll be following you. Super cute stuff! Jenn @ ThisMommyLoves.com

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  6. Those are just darling. What a great idea. Thanks so much for sharing. My daughter would love this . . if it were a pink mailbox, of course!!

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  7. Do you have to make seven cards for cleaning their room? Or do you go through your mailbox everynight and recycle through the cards to be put in the box the next day? Great idea but don't really have the consistency or time to go through my mail box everyday. Would this still work for me?

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  8. I saw this on Tatertots and Jello...what a GREAT idea. We need this in our house!!

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  9. I can't believe you've been using this for over a year and it's still working! That's awesome! How old are your kids. I think this is a fabulous idea! I love that the job csrds have the $ right on it so they know how much they are getting! Love it! Thanks for sharing.
    Amy from The Happy Scraps

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  10. That is so creative! I absolutely love it!

    Thanks for plantin your creative seeds at Plant a Punkin Seed Party!

    Kristi
    Punkin Seed Productions

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  11. These are charming! Methinks I need a version for my hubby :)

    If you get a chance, I'd love for you to link to this on Not "Baaad" Sundays with LambAround!

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  12. I love anything that involves chores and mailboxes! What a terrific idea!

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  13. This is BRILLIANT! I hope it works with my 7 yr old and my twins when they are old enough. I'm new to your blog. Did you mention in a previous post where you found the mailboxes?

    Hugs,
    Jami

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  14. Freckled Laundry... I got mine in the Dollar Spot at Target, but I've seen them at Michael's and Joann's before. Good luck! :)

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  15. What a wonderful idea, without the nagging and the begging....sigh.....thanks so very much for sharing on Craft schooling Sunday!

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  16. Thanks for linking up to Take-A-Look Tuesday over at Sugar Bee Craft Edition - I featured you today! - - Mandy, www.craftedition.blogspot.com

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  17. Terrific idea! Thanks for stopping by and linking to Anything Related!
    {Rebekah}

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  18. Great idea...how badly do I need these for my kids!

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  19. What a great idea! I love it. I need to try this out with my kids! Thanks for linking up last Friday! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back here and check out your great ideas. I hope you can stop by and check out my giveaway going on now! alittleknickknack.blogspot.com

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  20. I love this so much i had to share it with my girls. http://www.couturiermommy.com/2010/10/brownie-points.html please grab button

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  21. What a GREAT idea!!! Thanks for linking up and sharing on Thrilling Thursday @ Paisley Passions :)

    ~Lori S.

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  22. Thanks for sharing with us at A Crafty Soiree! That's a great idea, I like the small compact size and so clever to suggest stashing them in a mailbox. Hope you'll join us at the lastest party, it begins tomorrow!

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  23. You're right, kids love to get mail. What a fun way to get kids to do their chores and yours are so cute too. Thanks for linking to We're Organized Wednesday.

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  24. Really cute idea! And I love your chore cards! Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites last week!

    Hope you'll stop by again this week. I'm celebrating my blogiversary with a giveaway for a Presto Cool Touch Griddle!

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  25. This is such a great idea. I'm finishing up my teaching degree and will be teaching next year (cross your fingers). I think I could really make this work for my classroom too! And when my daughter is old enough to start doing chores I think I'll use this for her too!

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  26. Hi Colette! I went to your etsy shop to purchase a set but couldn't find them... is the template still for sale? Thank you!!

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  27. ok! I found them! If you click the link "mailbox job cards- click here" above it goes to an error page, but if you go through your etsy shop tab it works! Thank you!!

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  28. WOW! what a great way to get organized and also make assigning chores to your kids fun, both for the mom and the kids! Thanks for sharing these.

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  29. This seems like a great idea but I am unclear exactly how it works. Could you be a little more specific? Do you give them chores each day? When do they have to do them by? How often do you pay them? etc. I have five sons and getting them to do chores is not easy! I could sure use a new tactic to try!
    thanks,
    emily
    nelsonemily@cox.net

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  30. Great Idea. I should try it!

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  31. I am back looking at these again. I love the concept, but I'm still not sure how you make it work. Do you have cards with the same jobs for each kid? Like, does each kid have a card for empty the dishwasher and then you just rotate who gets that job on that day? I would really appreciate it if you could help me understand this system better because I NEED a plan that works! I can't keep up with my kids messes and need them to take some responsibility for keeping things clean around here!
    Thanks SO much!

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  32. This idea is so fun! I have come back to look at them a lot. I am now linking to this idea on a blog post I'm doing on creative chore systems : )
    Jaimee @ craft-interrupted.blogspot.com

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