How to Start a Sticker Collection: Tips for Kids & Parents

How to Start a Sticker Collection: Tips for Kids & Parents

Sticker collecting has been around for decades, and it’s making a big comeback! Whether you’re a parent looking for a fun, screen-free hobby for your kids or a sticker-loving grown-up feeling nostalgic for your 80s and 90s childhood, starting a sticker collection for kids (or yourself!) is easier than you think.

And when it comes to collecting, nothing gets kids excited like a scratch-and-sniff sticker collection. They’re fun, they’re silly, and they smell amazing… well… sometimes “amazing” means “stinky” in the best possible way. You could start a collection for yourself around your favorite foods, or build one together with your kids as you experience new adventures. Maybe you have a nephew or niece who's into all things scented. Sticker collection starter packs can make great gifts, too!

Here’s how to start a sticker collection that’s fun, organized, and full of personality.

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Check out our sticker collection! Every scent we make at Dr. Stinky’s is pictured in our Collector Guide.

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Why Collect Stickers?

A sticker collection isn’t just a pile of sticky paper. It’s a memory-maker, a conversation starter, and a creativity booster. Here are some reasons you might want to start your own collection.

✅It’s affordable: Stickers cost less than most hobbies and require zero special equipment.

✅It’s easy and fun for kids: The fine motor skills needed to peel and stick stickers develop as young as age 2, so you can start early. Stickers are a hands-on, screen free activity that kids love.

✅It teaches a variety of skills: Sticker albums, sheets, and binders help kids learn organizational skills like sorting and categorizing. Free form sticker sheets and books foster imagination in kids as they decide which stickers to place and where.

✅It’s social: A sticker collection gives parents and kids something to do together. And kids love trading stickers with friends and siblings.

✅It sparks nostalgia: Parents remember collecting stickers as kids, so it’s a shared experience across generations. The unique artwork and humor behind scratch-n-sniff stickers is a childhood memory parents enjoy sharing with their children.

Plus, collecting gives kids something to look forward to. A new sheet of stickers can turn an ordinary day into something special.

👉Interested in using stickers to learn at home? Check out our post Homeschool Rewards that Work: Why Scented Stickers are a Hit

How to Start a Sticker Collection

Here are some simple steps to kick off a fun sticker-collecting adventure:

1. Pick a theme (or don’t): Some collectors focus on animals, food, or glitter stickers. Others just grab what makes them smile. Decide if your collection will have a theme and what it will be. Some sticker sellers offer themed collections, making it easy to find exactly what you want.

2. Choose a collection method: How will you store and display your stickers? There are several choices, so pick something that makes sense for whoever will be the primary guardian of the collection. Some options include:
⭐Sticker albums or collector books
⭐Loose sheets in page protectors in a binder
⭐Sticker trading cards or mini boxes for organizing by theme

3. Set a sticker budget: Part of the fun is slowly growing the collection over time instead of buying everything at once. There’s no need to spend a ton on supplies or stickers right away.

4. Start small: One or two sheets is enough to get kids excited, and they can grow their collection as they go. Individual sticker packs are often only a few dollars, so it’s not expensive to get started with a few styles they love.

👉Got a collector with a funny bone? They’ll love a super stinky (and silly) sticker like Silent but Deadly.
👉Not sure where to start? Check out our Sticker Bundles! We’ve put together themed and variety packs perfect for kickstarting a collection.

Sticker Collecting Tips for Kids & Parents

Want to make sticker collecting even more fun? Try these ideas:

💡Trade with friends: Trading duplicates keeps things fresh and teaches sharing.
💡Hunt for rare finds: Limited editions, vintage stickers, and funny scents make collecting exciting.
💡Create sticker art: Use extra stickers to decorate notebooks, storage boxes, or school supplies.
💡Track your collection: A simple checklist helps kids keep track of what they have (and what they want next).

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📢Bonus Tip: Dr. Stinky’s sticker packs come with a free, limited edition scent inside. They’re called Secret Scents, and if you save up your Stinky Cents from each pack you can trade them in for even more rare finds!

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Why Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers Are Extra Fun

A scratch and sniff sticker collection adds a whole new dimension to your collection: smell! Kids love the surprise of scratching a sticker and leaning in to find out what it smells like. Scented stickers spark connection and conversation like nothing else. Talking about how the Popcorn sticker smells EXACTLY like buttered popcorn, or recoiling in horror from the stench of Wet Dog keeps kids and parents laughing together.

👉Shop Popcorn
👉Shop Wet Dog

Where to Find Stickers Kids Love

You can start your collection anywhere, but of course, we love Dr. Stinky’s for the world’s stinkiest, funniest, and most collectible stickers. Here at The Stink Factory he’s always cooking up something new to smell. We have over 100 scents, including rare designs and new monthly releases so your collection never gets boring.

👉Shop our NEW Stickers

Start Collecting Today

Sticker collecting is a hobby kids love, parents appreciate, and teachers secretly wish would take over the world (we see you, gold stars!). Start small, have fun, and watch your collection grow one sticker at a time.

Scratch, sniff, and start collecting — your sticker adventure begins now!

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