An educational and fun hobby for all the family that costs next to nothing!
In the age of iPods, computers and Play Stations keeping children happy can be extremely expensive. There are, however, some hobbies and interests that need not be financially draining and which are also designed to encourage your child's natural instinct for discovery and learning. The common misconception that stamp collecting can make a child more inward looking is far from true - in fact, collecting thematic stamps is more likely to make the child want to find out for themselves about the wider world, other nations and cultures.
Thematic stamps are a great starting point for a child's first stamp collection. Any number of events and anniversaries are celebrated on commemorative stamps of one type or another in a vast number of countries around the world. What could be an easier way to start than simply collecting the used commemorative stamps on the letters that arrive at your home every day? Or if you work in an office, for example, ask your colleagues to keep the stamps off the envelopes that arrive on their desks too - you will be surprised how quickly your child's collection grows. And an increase in international shopping, particularly with the advent of Internet auction sites like eBay, means that we now often receive interesting packages from foreign countries too - be careful that you don't tear the stamps on the envelopes as they may make a great addition to your child's thematic stamp collection.
International used thematic stamps can also be bought in jumbo packs that cost very little - cheap enough certainly to be affordable for most pocket money allowances. In fact, with some African and Caribbean countries actually producing a surfeit of commemorative issues to supply the collector's market, the values are consequently low - but the stamps are usually very attractive. Typically, a mixed pack will give your child a good choice of stamps in categories as varied as:
Sport – Football is always popular with World Cup stamps found in every corner of the globe.
The Animal World – Mammals, birds, fish, insects, reptiles...think of an animal – a stamp exists somewhere featuring it!
Walt Disney – Favourite characters on stamps are Mickey, Goofy and Donald Duck.
Famous People – Elvis Presley, Princess Diana, Charlie Chaplin and even Leonardo DiCaprio have been featured on stamp issues.
Transport – Trains, planes and automobiles as well as bicycles and boats – they are all found on stamps!
The only minor expense for the budding collector is the acquisition of some basic equipment - tweezers, maybe a magnifying glass and an album etc. These items, however, make excellent gifts when Christmas or birthdays come around - friends and family will never again be stumped for ideas as to what to buy the young stamp collector as a present!
Deborah Swain has been a keen philatelist since childhood.
She presently runs the stamp collecting Websites Penny Black 1840 and Elvis on Stamps.
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