One of the joys of childhood is collecting things. Maybe you remember having a collection or two when you were young. A rock collection may have started with one or two pretty pieces of stone, or a shell collection may have begun with the annual family trip to the beach. You may have liked dogs or cats and collected pictures and books.
As a parent, you may not understand why children collect the things they do, but one thing is certain: Children learn about the world around them through these collections. At first that shell or stone is just another pretty item, but from there, the child will want to know what that pink stone is, or what kind of animal lived in the tiny shell.
The urge to collect usually begins around age six or seven. While you might not understand the reasons why your child chooses to collect a particular item, the important thing is to let them do it. At this stage, your child hasnt grasped the concept of a true collectible having greater value in the future.
How many times have you said to yourself I wish I still had those model airplanes Mom threw out. Theyd be worth a lot today? Your child is going to want to play with his or her...