These Lunchbox Notes Will Make Your Kids Feel Extra Loved

For some families, back-to-school means a return to making lunches. Perhaps this year is the one you'll get fancy with air-fryer eggs or overnight oats. Or maybe you'll be sticking to your kid's old standby of a PB&J sandwich cut into four triangles — never squares — with an apple.

Regardless, adding a lunchbox note offers a chance to present your kid with a side of sweet or silly. What's a lunchbox note?

"Lunchbox notes are short notes or a cute little picture tucked in a child's packed lunch, typically by their parent or caregiver," says Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, the creator of BraveBrains, a resource and training platform for educators.

It may sound like another thing to do — and lunchbox notes are not mandatory — but experts share that writing a short one is sweet for several reasons.

"No matter how old your child is, from preschool to college, lunchbox notes are like a surprise," says Regine Muradian, PsyD, a California-based clinical psychologist. "They are not aware you put the note in there, and that element of surprise is a dopamine booster. They also get to read — not hear — how much you care."

While there's no specific research on the impact of lunchbox notes on mental health, experts share that they can be a valuable tool to help a child struggling at or outside of school.

"With over 10 percent of today's kids experiencing a major depressive episode and increases in mental health symptoms and suicidal ideation, caregivers and educators alike are scrambling for resources to support their youth," says Robin Glenn, LPC, CAC, MAC, the chief strategy and business development officer at student mental health solution 7 Mindsets. "Kids want to feel safe, important, and loved — a simple note can convey all those things."

Writing one may not feel so simple. Consider these tips.

Need more inspiration? To get you started, we compiled 30 lunchbox note ideas from Sinarski, Muradian, and a few well-know celebs, too.

The idea of a sappy lunchbox note may not appeal to you or your kid. However, Sinarski says lunchbox notes can be an opportunity to get a little silly.

"Something funny, like a callback to an inside joke, a silly dad joke, or just a funny picture that will make them smile, [works]," she says.

School can present some sticky moments and hurdles — nerves over tryouts and tests, for instance. A lunchbox note can help inspire a child to keep going.

Heartfelt lunchbox notes can brighten a child's day and make them feel truly special. Use the note as an opportunity to point out a skill they're working hard on, something you love about them, or simply the fact that you love them.

"Just keep in mind that they will be reading this in front of their peers," Sinarski says. "They will also have to be in 'learning mode' again shortly, so you probably want to save anything long or more intense for after school." Sinarksi suggests keeping it simple yet sweet.