Start Your Kids Collecting Stamps


Just about every child loves to collect things. Boys often collect matchbox cars, action figures or rocks, while girls often collect dolls, teaspoons or thimbles - but there are thousands of different things that kids love to collect. So why not help a child collect something that's fun, educational and may increase in value over time? Stamp collecting can grow into a lifetime hobby and it's easy and inexpensive to get them started.

Here are a few ideas to help you get your kids interested in stamp collecting:

Decide together what your children want to collect. Are they more interested in collecting stamps from a certain country or stamps with a particular topic like Boy Scout stamps? Do they like stamps that feature one of the Disney cartoon characters, or maybe stamps that show Princess Diana? Make the decision jointly, with everyone having a say: choose stamps that they will like and will hold their interest.

Help your beginning stamp collectors with the stamp collecting supplies that they'll need. The proper tools will help their stamp collection grow and be something to be proud of. At a minimum, the kids will need at least a few stamps, a pair of stamp tongs, a catalog that pictures stamps so they can be identified, some type of stamp album and/or a stock book, and some glassine envelopes.

Keep their stamp collections going by giving them stamps to add to their collection on a regular basis (or you could let them buy some very inexpensive stamps.) Collect stamps that you receive in the mail and set them aside for the kids. And keep the kids excited about their stamp collections by asking them questions about it, such as did you see the new Boy Scout stamp that just came out? Are you planning on adding it to your collection? Do you need any help organizing your stamps?

Work on the children's stamp collections with them. It's quality time you can spend together and it's an investment for the future - it's not just a financial investment, it's an investment in your childrens' futures.