Business cards, historically, have had essentially one function: to facilitate the exchange of contact information. As technology has become increasingly ubiquitous in business communications, however, the business card has adapted admirably.

In addition to standard business card, we now see date cards, mommy cards, and coupon and discount cards. If you think business cards are just for professionals, think again. Here are ten ways parents can use business cards in their personal lives.
  1. Lunchbox Notes
Personalize a friendly-looking business card with space in the middle for a handwritten note. Drop it in your child’s lunchbox for a reminder of home each day at lunch.
  1. Bookmarks
Use the same cards from point #1 as bookmarks for your kids’ reading material – use motivational or funny quotes to encourage them to crack the books.
  1. Food-Based Uses
If you make homemade recipes that end up in jars, consider using business cards to label them or list the ingredients. When putting on a spread for a party, label hard-to-discern dips and dishes with business cards.
  1. Earring Display
Skip the fancy (and expensive) jewelry display cases, and use business cards to hang and display your earrings.
  1. Kids’ Playdates
As the world becomes less and less spontaneous, use business cards to dash off a quick reminder about your child’s playdate or to swap information with a new parent.
  1. Kids’ Backpacks
Put business cards with your name, address, and several ways to contact you into your child’s backpack. That way, if the bag is lost, you will have a much better chance of recovering it.
  1. Teacher and Coach Contact
Give the same card as described above to your son or daughter’s teachers, coaches, and babysitters. It will be easy for them to contact you in the event that they need to.
  1. Reward Cards
Just like at a restaurant, you can use business cards as a reward system. Have your child keep a card with him/her and punch a hole or draw a checkmark each time your child does something well: cleans his/her dishes, picks up the bedroom, or helps out a sibling. Reward your child after a certain number of check marks.
  1. Healthy Eating Checklist
To start your children out with the desire to eat healthy, use business cards in the same manner as the previous note. Make a note on the card of each serving of fruits and vegetables eaten per day. Show your child that healthy eating is an important part of life.
  1. Tickets

Parents sometimes have a hard time limiting their child’s interaction with television or video games. Make business cards that look like tickets – one ticket equals a set amount (15 minutes or a half hour) of television or video games. Give your children a set number of tickets each week, to be used only during designated times.