Insights By Sharon Verbeten How soon is too soon to infuse children with the "collecting gene?" I’d like to believe it’s never too early. Oh, sure, the baby I’m expecting this fall will not be cognitively aware of the antiques I’ve creatively placed around her nursery. But in doing so, I believe I have subconsciously planted a seed of appreciation and respect of things from our past. Or, perhaps it just made me feel a little better buying those 1920s silk baby booties and the teddy bear crafted from a 1930s chenille bedspread. Nonetheless, I’d like to encourage others to foster a love of collecting in their children and grandchildren. In fact, I do get up on that soapbox occasionally when I present my Kids Collect program to local libraries and schools. How many times have we as collectors – whether it be of stamps, pottery, glassware or vintage toys – lamented that enthusiasts are aging and that tomorrow’s generations may not share the fervor. I’ve attended many collecting conventions where that concern is being actively addressed. For example, at last year’s salt and pepper shaker convention, the group sponsored diorama and costume contests for juniors – encouraging younger members to show their creativity and express their interests. For others seriously wanting to promote collecting to kids, I’ve created the five Ws and the H of collecting – who, what, when, where, why and how. Here’s a crash course I use when speaking to kids; the conversation builds off these key points – at least planting a kernel of collecting knowledge early. Share these key points with kids you may know. Who? Who should be collecting? Everyone. Ask your parents and grandparents. Does your mom like teapots and have several in her kitchen? Does your dad have a bunch of old tools? They are collectors. You may already have a collection; do you pick up interesting rocks and keep them in a shoebox? Press leaves in an album? Why? Why collect? It’s fun, and it’s cool. You get to search for things you like, add them to your collection and learn more about those things. It’s cool because you can also meet other people who share your interests. What? What makes a collection? Some people say it takes three "like" items. For example, two sock monkeys are just two sock monkeys. Three or more makes a collection. A collection can be as small or as large as you like, depending on how much room you have. What should you collect? Rule no. 1: pick something you like and something that makes you happy. It should be fun. Don’t collect something because you think it will make you rich someday. Some great places to start that don’t cost much? Nature items – things like rocks, leaves, insects and shells. What about newspapers? Save one from your birthday or another special day. When? It’s never too late to start a collection. That’s why starting when you’re a kid is a great idea. You’ll have years of fun ahead. Plus, your interests will change over the years, and that’s fine; you can have the joy of collecting many diverse things throughout the years. Where? How? Where do you start? After you decide what you want to collect, find the best place to do that. If you’re collecting nature items, plan regular trips to the park or beach. Try to find a different item each time. Look for something special; something you don’t have. Or find a duplicate item that you could trade with a friend. Rummage sales are a great resource, even if you have very little money. You’d be surprised what you can find for less than $1. Once you find items to collect, think of ways to display them. Many kids keep collections in shoeboxes. It’s kind of fun to keep items stashed away in a secret box, stored in your closet or under your bed. Then you can pull out your treasures and sift through them whenever you want. Or place them in a frame, in an album, or on a bookcase, shelf or display case so that you can share your collection openly with friends and family. While there are some kids involved in collecting true antiques, more often, they start smaller. Here’s a list of items I recommend kids start with; they’re fun, inexpensive and sure to foster the "thrill of the hunt" and the excitement of sharing with others. • Keychains or small toys like PEZ dispensers or fast food toys. • Stickers. They’re a great way to begin "character" collecting. • Stamps or coins. Collecting fun wrapped in a history lesson. • Paper ephemera, such as event tickets, postcards, newspapers or greeting cards. I hope the few antiques I’ve placed in my little girl’s nursery will someday become her heirlooms … and that my love of collecting will rub off on her. In any case, I’ll know I’ve shared a bit of myself – and that’s perhaps the best part of collecting. Sharon Verbeten is a freelance writer from De Pere, Wis. She often speaks to library and civic groups on collecting, in particular, vintage toys. |