by Sarah Belle

Created on: February 19, 2007   Last Updated: November 25, 2008

Stamp collecting is more than an activity to keep children occupied. Just as the responsibility of having a pet can teach your child important life skills, so too can the hobby of stamp collecting!

Stamp collectors go through a process: collecting envelopes, removing the stamps, organizing them into relevant categories, filing them in albums, researching the background of the stamp issue...all of these activities set a solid foundation for more advanced organisational skills as the child grows.

If your child has an interest in stamp collecting, here are a few tips for you to help them get started:

* Contact your national Philatelic Bureau (industry speak for a Postal Authority) they often have "kids clubs" and/or free newsletters for stamp collectors. Arrange a free subscription for your child. It's great fun for a child to receive a personally addressed envelope and it will give them a publication to read and then file away for future reference.

* Your child might like to focus their collection on a particular theme of interest to them, e.g. Animals, Cars, Royalty, The Ocean, Sports.

* Encourage your child to research the background of their favorite stamps. Most stamps picture a famous historical personality, event, invention or some other important aspect of the world around us. Stamps can be great a springboard for the development of further interests.

* A stamp album is essential. Involve your child in the purchase by allowing them to select the album cover they like best. If they are begging you for the most expensive album on the shelf, take it as an opportunity to teach them about the value of money! There's no harm in setting a price limit and you can sometimes find a perfectly good album at a Discount Variety Store or on Ebay.

* Send away for free stamps. There are companies in most countries which offer free stamps to collectors who simply provide a stamped self addressed envelope (SSAE). Try a Google search for "free stamps" and see what comes up! (Q: Why would anyone offer free stamps? Various reasons, but most often as a promotion for their stamp-selling or related business. You are likely to receive a promotional catalog along with your free stamps).

So what is a good age to start? There's really no standard age - a child as young as 5 could start a stamp collection but would need a lot of help from his/her parents. Older children can work more independently on their collection and may be interested in attending a local Stamp Fair to learn more and meet other collectors.

Stamp collecting is a rewarding hobby for millions around the world and I hope that you and your child find it a satisfying experience!

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