What methods (force?) do you use to get your kids into coin collecting?

SethChandler

My son Alex is one year old. I give him silver American eagles to play with. They're to big to swallow(he doesn't eat much anyway)and since eagles haven't circulated there aren't many germs. Problem is, he just dumps them in his piggy bank. He's learning how to grade, the other day he pointed out a small nick in the fields......I think I heard him say 62?? Who knows, maybe by the time Alex is ten, he could spot AT and altered sufaces and save his Dad alot of money. Another one is on the way, due in Oct., so we'll see what happens.

Seth

cladking

Enthusiasm is contagious. If a child can catch the bug then he'll quickly
pick up on excitement. Let him fill some holes in a folder or album. Explain
the basics and wait for his questions. It really helps to have some coins
you can give him right away.

Don't despair if he shows no interest. Many non-collectors go on to lead
productive and fullfilling lives. Most are mainstreamed now and their peers
won't be able to tell just by looking.

RYK

My son, Jack, is four. He is interested in whatever Daddy is into. He sees my rare date gold coins around my desk or on the computer or in books, and asks, "Can I get a 'penny' like that for my birthday?" pointing to my 1861-O $20. "Yeah, sure, " I respond. It's hard to say "no" to a little guy that wants to collect coins.

I have started to collect the state quarters with him. He liked sorting through the coins and pulling out the various states for the book. I have a few rolls of Indian pennies, and I plan to buy a Whitman folder for him, so that we can fill it up together. Initially, I think will use the IHC's an incentive for him for good behavior, goals achieved, etc.

My 18 month old daughter, who has little hair on top and blondish stringy hair in the back, looks a lot like Ben Franklin. So she collects proof Frankies, but more on that later...

FinallyHere

Seth,

Enjoy your posts a great deal!!!

I too have kids....a little girl 6 and a new son 8 months....and have really given a lot of thought as to how I will(can) stimulate interest. My little girl, Sarah, is now at the age where she loves to look at some of the things Daddy plays with at the office. I brought home my 1853 Arrows and Rays half and she loved the design....commenting on the eagle and the rays and asking why "that lady" was sitting on a rock!!! Oh to be a child again!!!

Anyway, Larry and I from time to time will go to elementary, middle and high schools to talk about coins. It is rather amazing to hear the different reactions from kids and yet you can see the interest as well. What you are doing for your son Alex is wonderful. He is getting the benefit of being around Dad, yet seeing what Dad really enjoys as well. I say you are doing just what is needed......now if we could only get the kids of today to learn how to make accurate change without the aid of a cash register!!!

Mike Printz
My Site

Kim

My father was 100% responsible for my interest in coins. I used to play with all his loose "junk" when I was really little, like two. By the time I was five, he was telling me about the coin, and what was happening during that period in history, or he would tell me stories about the city it was minted in. By ten, I was going to shows...my interests may have waxed and waned over the years, but Dad made sure just by sheer exposure and imagination that I would come to love coins.

FinallyHere

Kim,

I had to comment on the quote you have under your signature......what a wonderful saying and so true!!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
moments that take our breath away."

Mike

matteproof

Hi Seth. When your son gets older, try taking him with you to some live coin shows. It is important for YOU to PRE-judge any dealer first. Make sure the dealer is "kid friendly" BEFORE bringing your kid to his table. If he is not kid friendly, move on. Dealer friendliness toward children is key. You would think the dealers would be eager to teach the kids but alas, it is not always so.

Caution is advised because one bad experience with a nasty evil dealer will ruin the kids numismatic experience forever. It's like Dorothy approaching that angry man behind the curtain in the movie the "Wizard of Oz." ANGER in adults frightens children irreparably forever.

The way the dealer treats your kid at a coin show is FAR more important than the coins they are showing them. It matters not if the coins are expensive and rare or just cheap crap. The experience is far more important than the coin when it comes to kids and numismatics. Finally, it's polite to buy something from the dealer that IS friendly to your kid. Even if it's a low grade Lincoln Cent for a few bucks it shows good manners. Good luck.

matteproof

BigD5

I let my kids poke around with ALL my "stuff". That's the loose wheaties, merc's etc. that I always have hanging around. I have a special loupe for them to use if they want (my seven year old LOVES the loupe for all kinds of stuff ). I show them the slabs when I have them at the house. My 5 year old daughter is the most interested so far. If I'm sorting darkside stuff, or wheaties by decade, or Merc's from Roosies etc. etc. etc. She's always right there with me. The other two are too little for anything yet, but we'll see what happens.
Two kids in my neighborhood collect, and I always make sure to save some different type pieces for them whenever I can.

toyonakataro

<< <i>Two kids in my neighborhood collect, and I always make sure to save some different type pieces for them whenever I can. >>


Don't forget a 34 years old kid in Japan

cascade

I think a first person shooter game for the XBox, or Playstation 2. Your objective is to make it to the coins shows & auctions while taking out ACG Dealers & AT doctors along the way, & aquiring eye apealing coins for your in game boss.

longtimecollector

I've tried to tie it in with what my son (now 14) is doing in school........ He's come home and told me how they're "doing" the Colonial period or Civil War or WWI in history......... Over the last 4-5 years, I've given him a handful of Colonial coppers or Confederate notes, or a handful of circ Peace dollars to take in for "Show and Tell" (do they still call it that?)........ I make sure that the pieces arent "scary" valuable, because I want him and his classmates to have "hands on" time with these ties to the past....... He gets his 15 minutes of fame without being the class "nerd" in the process....... Its proven to be somewhat of a "hit" with a few teachers as Ive had his teachers from past years contact me to see if I would bring in the coins and things my son had brought in in previous years........ I collect Seated Halves by die variety, and sometimes I'll feign my eyes arent what they used to be and have him try and identify a particular variety on a "new" piece......... deceptive? probably.......... He's 14 and into paintballing, PS2's, and worried about being a Freshman next year....... Im not trying to pressure him into coin collecting, but he does enjoy heading out 3-4-5 hrs to a coin show for the weekend, but I think the highlight is the motel hot-tub and the bikini watching (14 remember?).......

dpoole

I told my kids the one who shows the most interest in coins gets them when I kick off.

Works great

jonesy