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I wrote this back in 2014 when I first received one of these letters, and looking back, I was definitely in full rant mode! My feelings haven’t entirely changed, but I’ve made my peace with the fact that plenty of families genuinely enjoy it. Read on for both sides of the debate…
Welcome to Sticker Club: what is the Sticker Club letter?
At the weekend, the 7yo received a letter. Very exciting, always nice to get something addressed to you in the mail. Even us adults get a bit excited, if it’s not a bill.
Welcome to the “Sticker Club”. Please send one pack of stickers to the person listed in the #1 spot. Next move my name to the #1 spot and put your name in the #2 spot. If you can’t do this in 6 days, please let my parents know because it isn’t fair to all the other kids who have participated so far…
My first instinct was that this was essentially a chain letter. I have to admit, my heart sank a little. Am I alone in thinking this is a really bad idea? Do I want my child to be the one that ‘breaks the chain’?
And, isn’t it rather reminiscent of the ‘if you don’t send this letter to fifteen people by tomorrow, terrible things will happen’ nonsense of the chain letters of our youth?
Within two weeks, you should receive 36 packs of stickers…
Not a chance! Remember the knickers one in the nineties anyone?
But, should I just send some stickers and pass it along, even if it’s not really my thing?
At the moment I’m thinking of sending stickers to the child at the top of the list and also to the friend who started this whole adventure. And maybe a friendly note to her mum too!
Am I just being a grouch?
I would be perfectly happy to take part in a Sticker Club where my son’s friends sent each other stickers. And, I have no issue with the time or effort involved in getting stickers and mailing them out to other kids. I just don’t like chain letters!
P.S. to the parents: please take the time to do this quick project. It is worth it to see the smile on your child’s face when they open their own mail…
I also don’t like being made to feel guilty, and I won’t like having to explain to my 7yo why he didn’t get lots of mail to open!
I would really appreciate your thoughts on this one, my six days are nearly up! What would you do?
What Other Parents Say
It turns out this is a topic that strikes a nerve, this post has been found by parents around the world, from Australia to Minneapolis to a neighborhood two towns over, all facing the same envelope and the same dilemma. Here’s a flavor of where people landed.
Most parents share the same gut reaction. The overwhelming majority of commenters felt uncomfortable with the chain letter format, regardless of how they ultimately handled it. The guilt-trip language, particularly the line about the “smile on your child’s face”, rankled many, as did the feeling of being put in an awkward position by another parent without any prior warning or opt-in.
But plenty of families had a genuinely lovely experience. Several parents took part, let their children pick out the stickers together, and watched them excitedly check the post for weeks. One mum pointed out it took ten minutes and a few dollars, and her daughter absolutely loved it. Another family used it as a geography project, tracking where their letters travelled around the world. For them, the joy was real and the fuss felt overblown.
The most common middle-ground solution? Send stickers directly to the two children immediately affected, the one at the top of the list, and the friend who sent the letter, and leave it there. Many parents felt this was a way to be kind to the children involved without endorsing the chain itself.
Privacy came up more than once. A number of parents flagged that they were unsettled by their child receiving a letter from people they didn’t know, in some cases, complete strangers from other towns who somehow had their child’s name and address. For families new to an area, this added an extra layer of unease.
The consensus, a decade on? Do what feels right for your family. Participate wholeheartedly if it sounds fun, your child might love it. Opt out gracefully if it’s not your thing, send a friendly note to the parent who sent it, buy your child a sticker book, and move on. The only thing most people agreed on was that the guilt-trip wording makes an otherwise sweet idea land badly.
FAQs
[As an aside, my husband, who can’t resist a spreadsheet, worked out that for everyone in the chain to get their stickers you’d eventually need the entire population of a small country involved. But that’s probably overthinking it… And, in the US chain letters that ask for money or other items of value and promise a substantial return to the participants are illegal, and while Sticker Club may be just a bit of fun; I still don’t like chain letters :)]
I absolutely hate hate hate this kind of thing too and if I were you I’d probably do what you suggested – one pack to the two kids immediately affected by the broken chain. I think the younger you are the more difficult it is to say no sometimes but I’ve reached an age where I’m no longer afraid to be opinionated! And also who the heck needs 36 packs of stickers anyway! BTW if it had been up to me you would have been one of the MADS finalists! X
I’m glad it’s not just me! I make the effort to join in with most things, I just draw the line at this kind of chain letter :)
And, thank you for the lovely comment re the MADs xx
I’m also in this ridiculous situation and I don’t want to participate but I just moved into the neighborhood and wanted to make mom friends. If I just sent stickers and the letter to the child in number one spot. If I don’t have six other kids to send the letter to will I be found out if I just leave it at that and don’t say anything.
We just go this letter and we decided to bow out as far as sending it along. While I would be providing the name and address to 6 people I know, I won’t necessarily know the other 36 people they send to and I don’t feel it is smart or safe to be putting your child’s personal information out there like that. We decided we could easily get some awesome stickers online and be done with it.
I’m faced with this decision right now.. thank you so much for your posts and comments, I felt exactly the same way but wasn’t sure how to go about it and not upset the 2 children.
I’ll do the same as you suggested, so thanks for helping me out in my dilemma:)!
.. what is “a pack of stickers”??? Is it an American thing where you buy a then in a big “pack”, we can get them as a single sheet or as a little pad… I hope the 2 kids will be fine with my children’s discarded “sheets” that have been in their sticker collecting folder pretty much untouched for years now..
I found you on a search for “sticker club” and am comforted in the fact that I am not alone in loathing this hand grenade that I was just handed.
I remember this kind of thing floating around when I was a kid, these things just keep circulating like a virus. The letter looks like it was run off on a first generation inkjet sometime in 1992, reproduced so many times its fuzzy.
I’m convinced more than ever that it is my duty as a responsible parent of the “it takes a village” perspective to not be a spreader. I am going to politely decline the experience. My parent friends will thank me.
I am going to be classed as a grouch with you my lovely. I would buy a sticker page for your own child and his friend them to go play with them and have fun! Then nicely explain to sender mom thanks but it’s not for you and hope for the best. I actually have received one of these for kitchen towels, same concept so that I would receive all these unique kitchen towels it never happened I send mine out this was years and years ago and never got ONE. Like you said it’s illegal and probably not teaching a valueable lesson so go with your gut my lovely. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me. I love reading your post. You are an amazing writer. #sharewithme
Thanks Jenny, I’m definitely starting to feel better about my decision :)
And, thank you for your very kind comment x
I’m totally with you! I find the principle and language of any kind of chain letter really quite distasteful, however well intentioned. I recently got an email one from one of my best friends about sending inspirational quotes, and in the end I decided just to ignore it. I’m sure the ‘disappointed’ would-be recipients of my wisdom will live without it. To pile the guilt on with a scheme aimed at 7 year olds and their parents is just ridiculous! I really wouldn’t want to pass that guilt on to anyone else, and unless they’re really spectacular stickers I’d say it probably isn’t worth it… X
That’s exactly it, I’m feeling guilty and irritated – why on earth would I want to inflict those emotions on six more mums?!
I agree Sara! In fact (mum confession here) I ignore a lot of those kinds of things! As you say, it wouldn’t be so bad if it was just from one child, and you were aware of where it originated. But I wouldn’t want to associate myself with something of dubious origin either. I think your stance is a good one! E x. #sharewithme
Thank you! I’m feeling better already :) That’s the thing isn’t it, associating yourself with something you feel really uncomfortable with!
urgh- I can not be doing with stuff like that my love!! you are not on your own at all. If you’re not in to it, don’t do it.
If you’re feeling guilty, by the littlie a sticker book but leave it there I think!
#sharewithme
Muma Leary. x
Thank you! All your comments are making me feel much better about my decision :)
Oh god I HATE this kind of thing too! Talk about guilting you, do they own shares in the stickers or something?? So annoying as now you have your little one wanting you to do it, and like you say, it’s not the cost of the stickers, but the principle! I think reply to the parents saying you won’t take part and then buy him and a friend some stickers. There’s no way you’d get many, if any back as I’m sure other parents won’t join in either! Great post xx #sharewithme
I know, I wish the mum had warned me first!
Im totally with you on this… Its a Pyramid ‘Scheme’ whichever way you wish to look at it.. that’s exactly what it is… Its been made Illegal for a reason. I wouldn’t participate in anything like that myself and no way would my kids. Its just wrong? Good for you putting a stop to it :) x
Thank you, I am feeling much happier with my decision x
Now, I’m all for sharing lovely post, especially stationery & stickers, but this is a chain letter & I hate them! I always delete chain texts, too, as I’m way to grouchy to get involved in those. Tough one, if your son was excited, though x
Yeah, I’m annoyed that he’s been given that initial excitement… Grr!
I totally agree with you. I hated chain letters and they essentially cause a lot of stress for people and now they’re being directed at our kids???? I’m not normally serious but my Nana received a chain letter once and it really upset her. I love the idea of sticker club though, except when those blasted stickers end up in your carpet! Great post #sharewithme
Thanks, a Sticker Club would be fine, a Chain Sticker Club, not so much :)
Ash the Dog says – Although I’m only a doggie I have to say that ANYTHING that may start upsetting our lil’ dudes is so not cool!! Lucas loves stickers butt hey always seem to get caught in my very swishy tail!! #sharewithme
Thanks Ash :)
I would not do it either, I don’t reply to any chain anything!! I would buy a pack of stickers for my child if she were bothered by not doing it and perhaps invite the friend over for some sticker fun.
Thank you, that’s a great idea x
I think everyone has said it already. We’ve not had it in the mail, but eldest has a mobile phone now, and friends are forever sending similar kind of chain texts. “Send on to 20 people or its bad luck”. She ignores now, but it upset her at first. She’s learning!
I’d either completly ignore or you could just randomly send a letter and stickers to 7 friends, not as a chain letter, but as a nice surprise. You never know what may happen!
That’s a really good idea, thank you x
Sorry but I don’t like this stuff either and would probably ignore it or send the two that you suggest. My eight year old said that he couldn’t delete a game on his iPod because people would start watching him!?! I told him to delete it and explained about chain letters and that nothing bad happens if you ‘break the chain’. This sounds more harmless but is still putting a guilt trip on people which I really don’t like. I agree with the comments about buying stickers for particular friends or maybe sending a select few through the post. I personally resent being ‘guilted’ into anything xx
Thank you, I’ve been so glad of the support. I still feel a bit like the new kid on the block over here, so probably worry more than I would at home x
Ugh. I remember chain letters and I also remember my mum promptly throwing them in the bin!!! Stick to your guns- guilt is never a good reason to do anything!
x x
You are so right Susanne, thank you x
I’d definitely be annoyed too! It’s rather a bit disturbing that our kids are being exposed at such an early age to scams like that one. I wouldn’t get involved. But that’s me. Your idea of sending stickers to the top one and the other kid sounds like a good idea too. #PoCoLo
Thank you, I don’t want to get involved, but I can’t help feeling guilty about the kids directly affected… Which is one of the things that annoys me :)
I have to say that I remember getting this type of thing when I was young and it NEVER worked. I hate the sense of guilt you feel too. Awful. If it happened to Grace then I would tell her my experience and advise her to forget it. Thank you for linking to PoCoLo lovely (btw, I don’t know if I’ve said but your blog is looking great x).
Thank you Vicky, that’s my plan with the 7yo. I’d like him to understand why I’m not going to do it x And thank you for noticing the blog, still playing around with it :)
I am thrilled to find, while cruising the #mummybloggers, a mum turned mom – even if you are far away from me here in Minneapolis. (I hooked up with mummy bloggers through #ArchiveDay, and now #PoCoLo, and am enjoying the memories it brings back of my own young children, even though I’ve never spent time in the UK.) Have to say that I have always hated such chain letters and I am particularly angry that someone would involve a child in them. It is not an example of American entrepreneurship I am at all proud of. I still remember having to call the Humane Society because my son kept sending them all his allowance money since (a) puppies and kitties would die if he didn’t and (b) otherwise they’d stop sending the stickers.
Thank you, #PoCoLo is wonderful for finding interesting blogs, I will be over to check out yours later :) Using guilt to get anything from people is an awful thing; and charities can sometimes be the worst for it.
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Okay, so I’ve missed the 6 day deadline in commenting but… in my opinion, this is just cheap, nasty and as you’ve pointed out, guilt-ridden. No, no and no. I would much rather our little bear did as I did when I was younger and had a good old-fashioned penpal who she writes to, shares her adventures with and vice versa… and swaps sticker if SHE wants to!
Thank you, I went with my gut and didn’t get involved x
It’s NOT a pyramid scheme! Everyone always says it’s some kind of pyramid or ponzi scheme. I don’t know what kind of math your husband did, but if you follow the traditional sticker club directions, you only receive stickers from the people 2 levels below you. Everyone, including the person who “starts” the chain stops receiving any benefit from it after maximum of 36 stickers.
We thought it was a great way to show our son the global impact of a very small thing (sending a few letters). We traced ours around the world (with the help of a little technology that we put together).
Thank you very much for your comment, I’m actually really glad to have a comment from the ‘yes’ camp on this one, so thank you for taking the time to comment. The numbers were just a bit of fun to show the impact weeks down the line, and while you’re right that only 36 people are needed for each single person to get their stickers, you need to have 216 people involved for all 36 of those to get their stickers and 1,296 people for the 216 to get theirs and so on – the idea of the numbers was to show the ripple effect of a chain letter like this. My objection is to the chain letter element, and I would rather see a club or a project where a group simply exchange with each other and don’t solicit from several others at a time. I have taken part in school projects looking for postcards from around the world, or a travelling journal that is sent to individual friends in different parts of the world, to demonstrate geography and global reach. I’m not objecting to children getting involved in interesting projects, I just don’t want them to get involved in a chain letter.
Andrew,
To address the :’I don’t know what kind of math your husband did’ comment;
Week 1: 6 letters.
Week 2: each of those recruits 6 people; thats 36
Week 3: each of those recruits 6, that 216
etc.
After 9 weeks, you’re at 10,077,696 People. Thats 10 MILLION people, just *that* week. There are kist over 2 Million from the previous weeks. 10 + 2 = 12.
After 13 weeks, you’ve got the entire population of the globe. Everyone.
Here’s a nice diagram showing the same figures: http://www.sec.gov/answers/pyramid.htm
I figured 12 Million letters, at 50c for postage, plus a couple of dollars for the two sheets of stickers; $2.50*12 => $50M.
As for whether its a pyramid scheme or not; the classic definition of a pyramid scheme is one where the reward stems from recruitment rather than work. This certainly fits that category. In the US, such schemes are considered illegal by the FTC, USPS, SEC and both Federal and State laws.
regards,
Hubby.
http://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/1998/05/pyramid-schemes
http://www.sec.gov/answers/pyramid.htm
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1302
Hi. I googled sticker club chain letter and your blog appeared :-) I too received a text but from a kid, a friend of my child who asked if I would allow her friend to receive a sticker chain letter. I hate to break her heart that’s full of excitement so I said yes. Ours was to send to only 6 kids. My understanding is that you only send to 6 kids and those 6 kids will in return send stickers to my child – and it stops right there. Thus 36 stickers. Because the sender’s name is moved to a #1 spot to whom you send a pack or one page of stickers if buying a booklet (Walmart $6.00 – 1000 pcs – your child can keep the excess) Call it pyramid scam or not, the point is if it’s not for you then decline nicely. If you’d like your kid to participate, then just smile and do it. I am not a huge fan of chain letter too but this sticker club does not involved any bad wishes or curses that if you break them something will happen bad. It’s just simply a kid activity that not all parents are not too excited to join in :-)
I’m in Australia and my 7yo son received exactly the same letter from a dear friend. I used it as a learning opportunity for him about why chain letters aren’t good. I explained it wasn’t nice to make people feel bad or guilty. He was horrified that people sent such mail and said he wanted nothing to do with it. I was disappointed that my friend participated in the letter and more particularly that it was sent directly to my son without consultation. These things also have natty undertones of grooming. I was further
Thanks for commenting, I also explained to my son why we weren’t taking part, and I was also disappointed to see the letter come directly to my son… Really dislike this kind of thing!
I just got one of these letters in the mail. Since it was addressed to my son, I thought it was from family but it wasn’t. The letter was from another parent if never even met or knew. How did they know my son’s name??? I don’t know I was a little freaked out. I’m new to the area here and don’t know many people in my town yet alone 2 towns over. I feel bad breaking the chain but I think I’m going to just send the 2 people stickers and break the chain…. confused…
For me, this is one of the reasons why I disliked it so much, I felt bad for breaking the chain but I shouldn’t have been put in that position. I think you’re doing the right thing x
None of these thoughts had crossed my mind and I think the reason why is that all of the people involved have volunteered to do so. I am going to do it, since I signed up through a friend. We will see how it goes, and it will be interesting to see how many other people follow through with it.
I guess I will have to keep you posted :)
I think that’s very different, if you’ve volunteered to do. Hope it goes well :)
I can understand all of these points of view. My only thing is as Adults we can also act as adults and communicate appropriately to the sender of the letter. Remember it is voluntary, and a respectful thing to do is to let them know that you are not able to participate and they will need to find someone else to send the letter to. It will also be a lesson for your little one.
You are, of course, absolutely right; perhaps a lesson for all of us. Thank you for commenting.
Just received letters for a sticker club AND a book club. Total grouch here, too. My son is 4 years old, so can’t even go get the stickers / books himself, which means I would be the one buying them and then making the copies to pester our friends with requests. I too agree that I hate the guilt-trip associated with the “smile on the child’s face when opening mail” – I know how to make my son happy, and if I want him or he wants to have stickers and books, we can get them for him! No need to pester our friends to do so!!! So I just emailed one of the parents of the sticker club to tell them sorry but we won’t be able to do it… About to do the same with the book club!
It’s hard isn’t it when it’s friends, but I think you did the right thing x
I missed this first time round – just clicked after reading your NY tag post. I wouldn’t have anything to do with this kind of scheme. I really dislike feeling pressured to do things. Oh dear, my kids are going to think I’m such a mean mummy
I’ll be a mean mummy with you :)
I’m kind of blown away about how crazy people get over something so simple. My daughter is 7 and she recently received the sticker club letter. Was I annoyed? Yes. Did I sit down with her and do the letters anyway? Yes. It took 10 minutes. We went to Michael’s and together picked out the ONE pack she needed to send out. She loved it. Now she’s gotten a few packs in the mail. SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT!!!!! No on was harmed. No one died. No one is now involved in some giant chain conspiracy. I got her a sticker book and she’s having a blast.
Stop overreacting. It’s stickers. They’re kids. No need to freak out and make a huge deal about everything and take the fun out of everything. If you don’t want to participated don’t. Toss it. Writing a blog about it? Wow. Talk about sweating the small stuff.
You know what, a year down the line, I’m inclined to agree with you to a certain extent, now that my initial irritation has worn off. I still really don’t like chain letters of any kind though… But, you’re right, in the great scheme of things, there are far worse things to deal with. Thank you for commenting.
Thank you, you have confirmed my thoughts on this, and given me a way out. I (or rather my little girl) has just received two sticker letters. I’ve sent nice texts to the moms (they are my friends after all) but will also be sending stickers to the kids.
You’re welcome!
Guys stickers are literally a few dollars this whole thread is insane hahaha how fun is it that your kids can get stickers in the mail from friends of friends. Sorry parents had to spend 10 minutes and a couple dollars on something cute. I came upon this on accident while looking for the letter to print and can’t stop laughing at how dramatic this thread is
Here we are, 2025 and my 6yo just received one of these. I immediately started cringing, wondering if the mom who included us hates me! I got to wondering if everyone feels like I do or if I’m an outlier. I asked my husband what to do and he just laughed and walked away. My mom said to trash the project asap. My 6yo and her 9yo sister are very excited about it and won’t let it go, which means I need to find TWELVE little kids to send this to. I don’t wish to alienate myself from other moms enough for that. I’ve considered how I can cut off the chain and secretly send my children a total of 72 sheets of stickers. LOL. Now I am either at “pretend to mail these” or “rewrite the letter to remove the obligation and guilt” and just send some stickers to some friends. Ugh, humanity.
Yup! I’m sorry, good luck!
2026 and still around!
I’m glad I found this as I didn’t know how to deal with this without participating into this madness!