Everything your child needs to write a real letter.
No Wifi Required.
The MailDay Starter Kit is a complete DIY pen pal toolkit — stationery, prompts, envelope templates, and a guide to help you set it all up. One download. Print at home. Start writing.
Digital download. Delivered immediately after purchase. Print on standard home printer.
$17
one-time. No subscription.
Three reasons families
get the Starter Kit.
Who it's for
You want to give it as a gift.
A grandparent, aunt, or family friend who wants to give something thoughtful and real. $17 is a confident gift. No subscription commitment required from the family receiving it.
You already have a pen pal.
A co-op family, a neighbor kid, a cousin in another state. You don't need us to find a pen pal — you just need everything your child needs to actually write to one.
You want to try before you commit.
You love the idea of MailDay but aren't ready for a full membership. The Starter Kit is the lower-stakes entry point. When your child is hooked — and they will be — joining is one click away.
Open the box
Seven things. Everything you need.
Three Months of Themed Stationery
Three complete packs of printable stationery — each with a different theme. Each pack includes a stationery sheet, a fold-and-seal envelope template, and a cutout sheet for decorating. Evergreen themes that work any time of year.
Letter Writing Guide for Kids
A one-page guide addressed directly to the child. How to start a letter. What to write about. How to end it. What to do when you don't know what to say. Written so a 6-year-old understands it and a 12-year-old won't roll their eyes.
30 Conversation Starter Cards
Questions that actually get kids writing — not "what's your favorite color." Organized from easier to more interesting so parents can pick the right level. Works for ages 4 through 12.
Parent Guide — Finding a Pen Pal Independently
How to find a pen pal without MailDay's matching service. Safe platforms, homeschool co-ops, Facebook groups, friends and family networks. What to share and what to keep private.
15 Drawing Prompts
For younger kids or non-writers who communicate better through illustration. Simple enough for a 4-year-old. Interesting enough for an 8-year-old. A drawing is a complete pen pal exchange.
Keeping the Pen Pal Going — Tips for Parents
The most common reason DIY pen pals fail is correspondence going quiet after the first exchange. This guide addresses that — what to do when momentum drops, how to build a habit, how to handle the wait.
Fold-and-Seal Envelope Template + Decorating Guide
The same envelope template used in the Core and Minis monthly packs. Fold lines marked, stamp box placed, address field laid out. Decorating guide included.
What the Starter Kit doesn't include:
- A matched pen pal — you find your own using the parent guide
- Ongoing monthly content — three months of stationery, that's it
- Physical materials — print at home on standard paper
- Postage — Forever stamps from any post office ($0.73 each)
- A guarantee of response times — that's between the families
If you want a matched pen pal and a new pack every month — that's the full MailDay membership. See membership options →
Simple setup. No special equipment.
What you'll need
Standard white US Letter paper.
8.5 × 11 inches. Any home printer works. Black and white prints fine. Color makes it more fun.
Print on
A few things from the kitchen drawer.
Scissors (for envelope and cutouts), tape or glue stick, a Forever stamp ($0.73 at any post office), and optionally crayons or markers for decorating.
Have on hand
Pro tip:
Want real stickers instead of cutouts? Print the cutout sheet on Avery 8160 address label sheets — available at any office supply store. Peel, stick, done.
FAQ
Quick answers.
Is this a subscription?
No. $17, one time. You own it. No billing, no recurring charge, no cancellation needed.
How do I get it?
Immediately after purchase you'll receive a download link by email. Click it, download the PDF bundle, print what you need.
Can I upgrade to a full MailDay membership later?
Yes — and we'll invite you to at day 7 and day 30 with no pressure. If your child catches the letter-writing bug and wants a matched pen pal, joining takes about three minutes. Your Starter Kit stationery still works alongside the monthly pack.
Is this good for a gift?
It's a great gift. Purchase it, forward the download email to the recipient, or print everything and wrap it. Works for birthdays, holidays, end of school year, or just because.
What ages is this for?
Any age. The stationery and prompts are designed to work across a range — the drawing prompts skew younger (ages 3–8), the conversation cards work well from about age 5 up, and the letter writing guide is written for ages 6–12 but readable for anyone.
Do I need to set up a PO Box?
No — though we recommend it if privacy matters to your family. A PO Box gives your child their own dedicated mailbox with their own key. Starts at about $10–20 every six months at any post office. Our free setup guide is at joinmailday.com/first-mailbox.
Is there a physical version?
Not currently. Everything is digital and print-at-home. Physical products are in our Phase 2 roadmap.
You're here
Starter Kit
$17
once
Three months of stationery
30 prompt cards
15 drawing prompts
Envelope template
Parent + kid guides
You find your own pen pal
Two ways in
Pick the one that fits.
The full experience
MailDay Membership
$14
/month
A matched pen pal — found for you
New themed pack every month
Poppy's monthly letter
Stationery, prompts, envelopes
Cutout sheets and more
Pen pal matched within 5–7 days
They just need the right piece of paper, the right question, and someone to send it to. The Starter Kit handles the first two. You handle the third.