Have you ever considered starting a stamp collection with your grandchild?

One of the long-lost arts of childhood is collecting. No, amassing king’s ransom in video games doesn’t count. In fact, that’s one of the reasons teaching our children about collecting items is so important. They are used to “collecting” large amounts of toys and games, but there is a difference between acquiring and selective collecting.

Collecting items that interest them, and that pique their curiosity, add to a child’s life. It also has the added benefit of growing in value in time, which is all but a lost concept.

Therefore, it’s up to us grandparents to lead the way. Besides, we long to give our grandchildren good gifts. That’s just part of our DNA. Because we do derive a lot of pleasure giving gifts to our grandchildren, it’s a good check in our own character to make sure they are good gifts.

Some things to think about are, will this gift add to their skills? Will this gift bring them closer to you? 

That’s why stamp collecting fits so well. And it has stood the test of time. 

Unlike video games, which lose their value and soon become obsolete, stamp collections can grow with your grandchildren into adulthood. 

Stamp collecting obviously can be done all year. In fact, every season, new stamps are issued. It’s not uncommon for avid stamp collectors to begin at a very young age, as early as four, and continue all their lives. 

How cool would it be to get your grandchildren started on a gift that they would treasure throughout their lives?

Philatelist is the fancy name for people who collect and study stamps.

Who Collects Stamps

“Stamp collecting has often been called “the hobby of kings and the king of hobbies.” Linn’s Stamp News estimates that more than 5 million individuals in the United States collect the small pieces of paper that indicate payment of postage. Stamp collectors include individuals from all walks of life. While President Franklin Roosevelt may have been the most famous U.S. collector, other well-known collectors include financial gurus Bill Gross and Warren Buffet; astronaut Henry Hartsfield; actors Gary Burghoff, James Earl Jones and Patrick Dempsey; author James Michener, explorer Jacques Cousteau; former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova; musicians John Lennon, Freddy Mercury and Ron Wood; cartoonist Gary Trudeau; and French President Nicholas Sarkozy.”

Stamps are in fact, tiny works of art. While you are collecting these masterful markers in time, you and your grandchild will also gather and share a wealth of knowledge. Stamps are known to provide a better return on your investment than the majority of hobbies available to children.

How to start your stamp collection.

The best place to start is your own post office (USPS). The USPS is a wealth of knowledge. It could be one of the most underutilized government agencies. 

For example:

“The Postal Service has also recently partnered with the History Channel to create “Stamps: An American Journey.” This 13 1/2 minute video tells the surprising story of the journey of stamps from an idea, to art, to the issued stamp. You can view the entire video online at the National Postal Museum website or the American Philatelic Society website (requires Windows Media Player).”

Why not start your adventure with a field trip to your local USPS, and see where it leads?

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