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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,734 |
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Valued Member
United States
292 Posts |
I've seen this topic come up a few times and I thought I'd throw out my personal experience and some opinion. When I was a kid (26 now) my family was big in supporting my collecting habits. I had sports cards, rocks, olympic pins, coins, paper money, stamps, arrow heads, and many other random things. My Grandfather built me a wooden chest that I kept everything in. By the age of 13 that chest was simply a box of memories. My grandparents kept the chest in their living room from my childhood all the way up until roughly one year ago. Recently after digging through the box I jumped right back in. My childhood collection was far from spectacular, but it does have memories tied to it which are much more valuable than what I'd get for them on ebay. I think there are two distinct goals when a parent is looking for advice on coin collecting with their kids. The first goal is a good investment with the novelty of their children appreciating the collection (this may or may not happen) tacked on. The second goal is to bond and develop. If you can spend time with your kids doing something you both enjoy memories are created and anything that brings back those memories will be cherished. If you can understand where a person is coming from answering that infamous "I want to collect coins with my kids, what do I do" question will be much easier. |
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Valued Member
United States
294 Posts |
Nice story. I've told this before, but I do allow my granddaughter to "help" with my collection. She listens well (which isn't the norm), and is very good with the stuff. Knows how to handle coins, and can even do a good job stapling them into 2x2s. Hopefully, this continues when she is old enough to actually know what we're doing. Right now she's 4 years old.
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Valued Member
United States
284 Posts |
Good post. I collect with one of my kids, so far the others are not interested in collecting so I do not force them. My oldest son, the collector, loves coins and I try to make sure that with each coin he gains that he learns about it and gains knowledge, such as with State Quarters. Every time we add another State Quarter to the album we look that state up and learn something about it. Same with the Presidential dollars. |
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New Member
United States
29 Posts |
I have a two year old and a four year old. Both girls. They both love shiny things, so the fact that most of my collection is made up of "shiny materials" is awesome.
A couple weeks ago, I got some nickel rolls and searched through them with the help of the two year old. She had a blast. So did I. The other kid was in school, no doubt, she would be jealous if she knew what she was missing out on. But, I'll include her at some point. Maybe this summer.
Josh
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Moderator
 United States
188770 Posts |
Thank you for sharing your story. My son is almost four. His interest in coins is very basic (for him they are just shiny little toys that he calls "monies"), but he is definitely aware that they have value (he enjoys putting them in his piggy bank and hiding them for safe keeping). He has recently started "reading" the legends on the coins; that is, he can "spell out" the year (one, nine, eight, four) and some the words. Little by little, step by step.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
I needed a post like this!
You are of course correct, ContraJame, but I believe that you should switch priorities:
Number One should be bonding!
Number Two should be appreciation of the collection.
Here is why:
omahaorange writes that her granddaughter "helps" her.
Be it making a pie or stapling coins into 2X2s, this is the kind of memory that lasts a lifetime.
"I remember helping grandma."
DM1975 writes that his son learns about each coin that goes into an album.
"My father taught me about the States as we collected the quarters."
And gillie writes:
"Both girls. They both love shiny things ..."
Now THAT was the key to getting my sister interested in learning about what I collect. She loves jewelry.
When she said, upon examining a recent acquisition, "It is very pretty and I can understand why you wanted it.", I knew that she had finally gained an appreciation of the collection.
I am 60 and my sister is 58. We have neither children nor grandchildren. My memories were made long ago, in my parents' bedroom, as my dad spread out his collection on the bed and allowed me to look.
So maybe my opinion means little.
BUT, ContraJame, this topic cannot be posted too often.
It is THAT important.
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
Quote:
My memories were made long ago, in my parents' bedroom, as my dad spread out his collection on the bed and allowed me to look.
So maybe my opinion means little. I beg to differ, your opinion shows how lasting and precious these memories are.  |
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Valued Member
 United States
292 Posts |
matthewvincent: I completely agree about the priorities. I was simply stating that everyone has different goals in mind. My grandparent's goals were obvious. Since I'm not a father (yet) I haven't had to make the decision, but I'm sure you know what decision I'll make when the time comes. :) Your opinion and reasoning behind that opinion really support the impact this hobby can have.
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
Quote:
Since I'm not a father (yet) I haven't had to make the decision, but I'm sure you know what decision I'll make when the time comes. You may or may not be surprised how easy it will be to make that decision. |
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Valued Member
United States
259 Posts |
Allow me to add something here. My kid, now 12, loves to attend the coins shows with me. He does have a penny collection, and some coins with animals on them, but it is the action on the floor, the buying and selling, looking at all the coins (especially gold and silver) that gives him a thrill. We haven't been for awhile and he just said to me the other day "I miss going to coin shows."
Edited by chasinva69
02/22/2012 6:58 pm
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Valued Member
United States
306 Posts |
Very nice story, I'm about your age and have similar memories!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
With me it all went the other way. Of course there are memories of attempting to get my kids intersted in coins but for some reason, just never did work that way. Wife too has no interest in coins. Same with all her family, no interest. Now my Son is married and has a kid. His wife's family too has no interest in coins. That daughter will grow up with also no interest in coins since he and his wife could care less.
So it sort of runs in those early attempts at least for many. Oddly enough some collectors I've met gained interest much later in life and had no family background in coins. You just never know.
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
Hmmm ... well, my Granny collected coins and she would baby-sit me and show me her miscellaneous coins .... so at a very early age I had an interest in coins ... but although I always kinda liked coins and would sporadically buy annual coin-sets, the whole coin-addiction thingy didn't kick-in-big-time until I was much older ...
... but now it has matured into a full-grown obsession! ... "ummmm, honestly Honey, I could quit anytime!?"
Edited by stevex6
02/22/2012 10:12 pm
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
Quote:
We haven't been for awhile and he just said to me the other day "I miss going to coin shows." Hint, hint! I patiently await the time when my son is interested in coin shows. Quote:
That daughter will grow up with also no interest in coins since he and his wife could care less. I think her grandfather should be able to help. I sure he has a Whitman album or ten to share with her.  |
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Valued Member
United States
284 Posts |
Although my oldest boy loves coins my youngest boy doesn't have really any interest in coins and I don't push it on him at all. Instead, our bonding time is building Legos and Bionicals on the floor together. if he never gets into coins then I could care less. I still buy him (and my other two kids) a silver dollar a piece every month and stash them away in my safe for when they turn 18.
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Moderator
United States
188770 Posts |
Quote:
Instead, our bonding time is building Legos and Bionicals on the floor together. My son and I are most definitely bonding over the Legos now. |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,734 |
Posted 02/22/2012 11:10 am
