Stamp Collecting For Children

How to Get Started with Stamp Collecting for Children

The practice of philately or philatelics, also known as stamp collecting, is one that can be enriching and enjoyable for all ages. Stamp collecting for children can be a fun and rewarding hobby for youngsters and their parents or older siblings. Some kids are old enough to handle their stamp collection themselves, while others will require a bit of assistance. Bonding with your child over their collection is certainly an experience you will both remember for a lifetime! Not only that, but helping your child collect stamps is a great way to teach them about history.

The first thing you and your child will need is the proper supplies. You can purchase starter kits made especially for children that contain everything they need to begin collecting stamps. Or, you can purchase each item separately from your local hobby shop or even online. You'll need an album with acid-free pages, stamp hinges, rounded tip tongs and a magnifying glass. There are other philatelic supplies you might come across, but these are the basics. After you have these items, you're ready to collect stamps! A good starting place is the post office. Take your child on an outing and let them choose the stamps they like the most. You can also help your child remove stamps from envelopes to be discarded by soaking them in a shallow bath of cool or lukewarm water.

A fun way to collect stamps, especially for kids, is by theme. For example, your child might want to collect stamps with a train, plane or automobile theme. Or maybe they love animals and want to collect wildlife stamps. Other themes include celebrities, holidays, military and of course international stamps. Your child can devote their entire album to one theme, or have certain pages designated for certain themes. Every time your child obtains a new stamp, help them research the background and history of the stamp.

Stamp collecting for children is not just a fun hobby, it can be an investment. Imagine how much your child's collection might be worth when they are old enough to have children and grandchildren of their own. Even if your child does not end up keeping their album as an investment piece it can be, and should be, a prized family heirloom. When your child starts collecting stamps, you may want to encourage them to join a local or online group for junior collectors. This will help them make friends with other young collectors and learn more about the world of philately.

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