making a collection

What Makes Childhood Magical? Part15: Collections

The Magic of Making A Collection

As adults, we forget that magic for kids can be something very ordinary, everyday, and simple, like making a collection. Every time we go out for a walk, Little Sister soon stops to pick up a rock or two to tuck into a pocket. If she happens to be wearing something without pockets, she will hold it tight in her hand before eventually asking someone to carry it for her. All pockets have to be checked diligently before putting any clothes in the washing machine! For her, rocks are very special.

making a collection for childrenMany children will collect rocks or something else such as buttons, stickers, shells, driftwood, shiny foil, pine cones, matchbox cars, dinosaurs, or other items. Not only are these important to kids, but they help with early learning and development.

making a collection for kidsWhen children make a collection, they practice paying attention to what they see and they learn to search for their particular items. They check the characteristics of things they find to see if they would match their collection items or not. Sometimes, kids have to choose among objects because they can not collect everything. We all need to practice making decisions and this is especially true for young children. Vocabulary, explaining, organizing, displaying, counting, categorizing, grouping, deciding, etc are just some of the kindergarten readiness and life-long skills that kids develop.

Collections can begin in childhood but continue for years, even becoming part of an adult’s career. I’m sure many researchers and scientists collected rocks, bugs, or nature items, when they were children. Occasionally, collecting also requires creative problem-solving with regards to finding storage solutions. Egg-cartons, fishing tackle boxes, and craft containers are possibilities for storing collections. Many, many adults have collections such as ball caps, old cars, vinyl records, stamps, books, teacups, coins, marbles, and clocks, to name just a few. I think it would be safe to bet, that the wonder and joy in collecting began in childhood, wouldn’t you?

Pirate Activities for Kids #14: Collections

Pirates collect treasures and to kids practically anything can be a treasure. Making a collection can be a fun learning and kindergarten readiness activity. Treasure for a child to collect might be rocks, shells, driftwood, sticks, wrappers, shiny foil, pine cones, buttons, stickers, and other items. Some are more collectable than others.

pirate activities for kidsWhen children make a collection, they kids practice paying attention to what they see and learn to search for their particular items. They check the characteristics of things they find to see if they would match their collection items or not. Sometimes, kids have to choose among objects because they can not collect it all. We all need to practice making decisions and this is especially true for young children. Vocabulary, explaining, organizing, displaying, counting, categorizing, grouping, deciding, etc are just some of the kindergarten readiness and life-long skills that kids develop.

developing kindergarten readinessTo store collections, egg cartons or shoe boxes are useful. A fishing tackle box is storing this collection of buttons that has been contributed to by four generations of family members! Some collections have a ‘best-before’ date and a collection of socks under the bed doesn’t count. For collections that are eating up storage space, some problem-solving may be needed. That’s another important thinking skill.

Creating a collection when young, may be an interest that continues as a child grows. How many scientists started out collecting rocks or bugs? Sometimes collections do turn into real treasures. Does your child have a special collection?

Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping Collections

One person’s junk may be another person’s treasure, but when it comes to kids everything is treasure. Collecting “treasures” found when camping is a valuable kindergarten readiness activity. To start, kids practice paying attention to what they see and learn to search for their particular items. They check the characteristics of things they find to see if they would match their collection items or not. Sometimes, kids have to make choices among objects because they can not collect it all. Vocabulary, explaining, organizing, displaying, counting, categorizing, grouping, etc are just some of the readiness for kindergarten skills that kids develop.

Kids may collect rocks, shells, driftwood, sticks, wrappers, shiny foil and practically anything you can think of. When it comes to storing their collections a shoe box is an ideal container because it lets air circulate or an egg carton is easy for displaying treasure. A friend of mine posted on Facebook that she’d tracked down the terrible smell in the car to some shells that the kids had found and put in a plastic bag and then into the trunk. The heat in the trunk had made it even worse! Collections can also threaten to use up all the extra space. Parents may have to “guide” the collecting. While collections can create some problems, that’s another kindergarten readiness skill, too–problem solving. What do your kids collect? What do the adults collect?

Kindergarten Readiness – Pirates #8

What do pirates collect? Treasure. What do kids collect? Tra…, well, they call it treasure. Seashells, rocks and coins are obvious items to collect. As are stickers, cars and trucks, and ponies. But there are other things, too. Collections can be all kinds of different objects from one place, one event, or from a trip or holiday.  A collection can … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Pirates #8

Kindergarten Readiness – Collections

Parents’ trash can be kids’ treasure. Children can make a treasure out of almost anything, but whatever it is can be the start of a collection. And collecting is another way to build readiness skills. The most obvious one is categorizing: to what group do all these things belong? Another is sorting, for instance, these … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Collections