The first time I made a Family Joke Jar, it was one of those Yorkshire rain days where the sky looked like a wet sock and my three kids were bouncing off the sofa like popcorn. I needed a craft that used what we already had (hello, recycling bin treasures) and bought me enough peace to drink a cup of tea while it was still vaguely warm. This jar did the job. Even better, it turned into our go-to dinner table “conversation starter” that mostly starts conversations like: “Mum, why is Dad like this?”

A parent and two children decorating a clean recycled glass jar at a kitchen table with glue, paper scraps, and markers

Below you will find a simple step-by-step decorating guide, plus a big batch of family-friendly joke slips you can copy onto paper and pop straight in.

What you need

Use what you have. The jar does not care if your washi tape is fancy or if your “glitter” is actually slightly crushed cereal. (Please do not quote me on that.)

  • A clean jar with a lid (jam jar, sauce jar, pickle jar). Glass is best, but a plastic jar works too.
  • Warm soapy water and a sponge for cleaning
  • Paper for joke slips (plain printer paper, scrap paper, coloured paper)
  • Glue (PVA, glue stick) or double-sided tape
  • Decor supplies: markers, paint, stickers, washi tape, ribbon or string, tissue paper, old magazine pages, buttons
  • Optional: clear tape or water-based varnish/Mod Podge style sealer to protect the outside

Quick safety note: If you are using glass, check the rim for chips. Younger kids can decorate while you handle washing, drying, and any cutting.

Prep the jar

  1. Peel off the label. Soak the jar in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes, then rub the label off.
  2. Remove sticky residue. A bit of cooking oil on a cloth works well, then wash again with soap.
  3. Dry fully. Decorations hate damp jars. Leave it upside down to air dry if you can.

If your jar still smells like pickles, congratulations, you have a “mystery pickle punchline jar.” Wash again and let it sit open overnight.

Decorate your Family Joke Jar

Pick one style or mix them. The goal is a jar that your kids feel proud of and actually want to use.

Option 1: Sticker explosion

  1. Wrap the jar with a band of paper (like a label) and glue or tape it on.
  2. Let kids go wild with stickers, doodles, and stamps.
  3. Write “Family Joke Jar” somewhere big and bold.

Option 2: Tissue paper mosaic

  1. Tear tissue paper into small bits. Tearing is half the fun.
  2. Brush a thin layer of glue on the jar.
  3. Stick tissue pieces on, overlapping slightly.
  4. When dry, add a thin top coat of glue to seal it.

Pop a tea light nearby (not inside unless you are being closely supervised and sensible) and it looks surprisingly magical.

Option 3: Character jar

  1. Add big googly eyes to the front.
  2. Cut a paper mouth, moustache, or tongue and glue it on.
  3. Make a little hat for the lid from paper or felt.
A child holding a glass jar decorated with googly eyes and a paper smile while an adult helps at a table

This is the version that mysteriously gets tucked into bed with a teddy. I do not make the rules.

Finishing touches

  • Make it durable: Add a clear tape layer around paper labels, or use a thin coat of water-based sealer on the outside.
  • Add a ribbon: Tie string or ribbon around the neck of the jar for instant “gift” vibes.
  • Label the lid: Write “PICK A JOKE!” on masking tape and stick it on top.

Make your joke slips

You can absolutely handwrite these. In fact, kids love recognising their own writing later, even if the “R” looks like a confused potato.

  1. Cut paper into strips about 2 x 8 cm (roughly thumb-width by finger-length). Any size that fits your jar is fine.
  2. Write one joke per slip. Keep the punchline on the same slip so no one has to dig for “Part 2.”
  3. Fold each slip in half (or roll it like a tiny scroll).
  4. Fill the jar together, taking turns reading one aloud as a “quality check.”

My house rule: If you read a joke, you have to do the voices. Even if you are a grown-up. Especially if you are a grown-up.

Starter joke slips

Copy these onto slips, mix them up, and you are ready for giggles.

Classic Q&A jokes

  • What do you call cheese that is not yours? Nacho cheese!
  • Why did the banana go to the doctor? Because it was not peeling well.
  • What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.
  • Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot.
  • What do you call a sleeping bull? A bulldozer.
  • What do you call a dinosaur that crashes into things? Tyrannosaurus wrecks!
  • Why did the golfer bring two pairs of trousers? In case he got a hole in one.
  • What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.
  • Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.
  • What do you call a boomerang that does not come back? A stick.
  • Why did the computer go to bed? It had a hard drive.
  • What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef.
  • Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired.
  • What do you call a dog magician? A labracadabrador.
  • Why did the cookie go to the hospital? Because it felt crummy.
  • What do you call a snowman in summer? A puddle.
  • Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert? Because it was stuffed.
  • What kind of key opens a banana? A monkey!
  • Why are fish so smart? Because they live in schools.
  • What does a cloud wear under its clothes? Thunderwear.

Knock-knock jokes

  • Knock knock. Who’s there? Lettuce. Lettuce who? Lettuce in, it’s cold out here!
  • Knock knock. Who’s there? Owls. Owls who? Yes, they do!
  • Knock knock. Who’s there? Atch. Atch who? Bless you!
  • Knock knock. Who’s there? Tank. Tank who? You’re welcome!
  • Knock knock. Who’s there? To. To who? No, to whom.
  • Knock knock. Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?
  • Knock knock. Who’s there? Cow says. Cow says who? No, a cow says moooo!
  • Knock knock. Who’s there? Woo. Woo who? Do not get excited, it’s just a joke.

Food and dinner-table jokes

  • Why did the tomato blush? Because it saw the salad dressing.
  • What did one plate say to the other plate? Dinner’s on me.
  • Why did the orange stop rolling? Because it ran out of juice.
  • What do you call a sad strawberry? A blueberry.
  • What kind of room has no doors? A mushroom.
  • Why did the bread go to school? To get a little butter at spelling.
  • What do you call a cheese that likes to hide? Mascarpone.
  • Why did the egg tell a joke? To crack everyone up.

Animal jokes

  • What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator.
  • Why do cows wear bells? Because their horns do not work.
  • What do you get when you cross a snail with a porcupine? A slowpoke.
  • Why did the chicken join a band? Because it had the drumsticks.
  • What do you call a pig that does karate? A pork chop.
  • What do you call a rabbit with fleas? Bugs Bunny.
  • Why do elephants never use computers? They’re afraid of the mouse.
  • What do you call a fish with no eyes? Fsh.

School and silly brain-break jokes

  • Why was the maths book sad? Because it had too many problems.
  • What did the pencil say to the paper? I dot my i’s on you.
  • Why did the student eat their homework? Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake.
  • What do you get when you put three ducks in a box? A box of quackers.
  • Why did the music teacher go to jail? Because she got caught with sharp notes.
  • What do you call a dinosaur that knows lots of words? A thesaurus.

If you want even more joke fuel for your jar, hop over to our main kids jokes guide. And if you get the crafting bug, I keep loads of low-mess ideas in the kids crafts guide.

How to use the jar

  • Dinner time: One person pulls a slip while everyone is sitting down. No phone required, which is a rare miracle.
  • Car rides: Pick 3 slips before you leave and take turns reading them at red lights or traffic jams.
  • Morning mood booster: One joke before school. If it is terrible, even better. Terrible jokes build character.
  • Sibling peace treaty: If an argument is brewing, you can pause and do “one joke each” as a reset button.
A family seated at a dinner table laughing while one child holds a small folded paper slip

My favourite twist: Add a few blank slips and a pencil next to the jar. Kids can write new jokes or invent their own. Some will be nonsense. Those are often the best ones.

Make it extra fun

Once your family loves the basic idea, you can level it up without buying a single fancy thing.

  • Theme nights: Taco Tuesday jokes, animal jokes only, knock-knock night.
  • Challenge slips: “Tell your joke in a robot voice,” “Tell it like a sleepy sloth,” “Tell it like a newsreader.”
  • Kindness twist: Mix in a few “say something nice” slips like “Tell someone at the table one thing you appreciate about them.” If you want a bigger kindness-and-laughter activity, have a look at Make a Kind Joke Card Game.

Jar troubleshooting

The label glue will not come off

Soak again in warm water, then rub with a little cooking oil. Wash after. Repeat if necessary. Some jars cling to their labels like toddlers cling to your leg when you need the loo.

The decorations keep peeling

The jar was likely a bit damp or greasy. Wipe with soapy water, dry fully, then reattach with stronger glue or double-sided tape. A clear tape “seal” over paper labels works wonders.

My kids are arguing over whose turn it is

Two easy fixes: rotate turns clockwise, or do “youngest picks, oldest reads.” Or, if you want chaos, put two slips back in the jar and let fate decide.

We burned through all the jokes

Perfect. That means it worked. Add blank slips, make up your own, or pull another batch from our kids jokes guide.

A tiny challenge for tonight

Before bedtime, make the jar and add just ten slips. Ten is enough to start. Tomorrow, add ten more. By the end of the week you will have a proper treasure jar of groaners, giggles, and the kind of family in-jokes that somehow last forever.

If you want to know who keeps putting googly eyes on everything around here, you can find me over on my author page.