Stamp Collecting Is "Cool" Says Eight-Year-Old

Bobgggg, how are things going at the school stamp club you've been working with? Has it faded away or are the kids still staying with it?

I guess that what I liked about the experience with my niece was the fact that it was organic in nature; there was no intent on my part; she discovered the stamps for herself.

I haven't been to a library in years since it's easier for me to buy the books I want on ebay or Amazon than take the time to get to the library. However -- should you accept this mission -- what would happen if you were to leave a glassine with a few inexpensive stamps near a computer in the kids' section of your library the next time you're there? Would a youngster pick it up, and maybe even do some looking for more information about stamp collecting while at the computer?

Of course there is a little more intent this way, but as the saying goes, when the pupil is ready the teacher will appear.

Creative ways to expand this hobby, great thinking! Reminds me of the "Guerrilla Gardeners" in the UK who go around at night planting seeds and plants in bits of scrap land in cities. I like the idea of "Guerrilla Stamping!"

I accept this Mission!!

(I've just had a vision of me being chased down the road by a well-meaning librarian shouting, "Excuse me, you've dropped these..")

Stealth will be the key...

Great name for it!

My daughter is now 14 and well into the cellphones, music, makeup, and boys. However, I miss the earlier days. I got her the HE Harris beginner kits
when she was 9. It was pretty fun to sit at the dining room table together and "play stamps"! :)

I thnk in a way its almost inevitable that you lose the interest of the teenagers. In a way, thinking of my own teenage years, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Teenagers have to do a bit of breaking away from their parents, its just part of the natural growing up process. Many will come back to the hobby, having had the foundations in childhood. I'm sure that's true for many of us on SCF. I was like that with gardening with my Dad. Loved it as a small child, had my own patch. Later it was just a chore like all the others and I was no doubt pretty grumpy and teenager about it (especially the weeding!). Now I love it again and so does my daughter. Plus it makes me feel closer to my Dad now he's no longer with us.
All you can do is plant the seed and one day it will bloom

I aqree with you. My daughter was more of a topical collector, come to think of it. Flowers, animals, and native/traditional costumes. I'm sure some of it will come back. I've got a niece who's turning 6 in August. I may have to buy another beginner kit as a birthday present! :)

cool,,, a budding collecter,,,, hope she comes by more often and get envolved in learning to collect

I'm not pushing my daughter into collecting so much. She's seen me spend alot of time with stamps and creating pages etc.
So, I hope it's an example. I do miss the father-daughter time with the stamps. I guess all kids have to grow up. It's when they
don't we have problems! I guess I waited a bit late to start with her. Now, my niece on the other hand.... this will be interesting!