Why Your Toddler Should Be a Collector

Your Grandmothers China collection is far to precious to let go of, and chances are, you know when she started collecting it. Maybe it was a wedding present, that she simply added pieces to throughout the years. This is what most people believe collecting is all about, something precious, with irreplaceable value.The art of collecting has been around for ages. From figurines, to train parts, just about anything can be used to start a collection. But collecting should not be limited to just adults, and fancy "one of a kind" pieces.

Your toddler is growing up, and it's time they had a collection of their own. Not only will collecting be a fun hobby that the family can get involved in, it can also be a educational tool that will install important values in your child such as:
Learning to count. Help your toddler count their collection at least once a week, whenever they add a new piece, or when they ask to.
Learning the alphabet. When possible categorize the collection. If they are collecting toy cars, have the child separate them, such as T box for trucks, and C for cars. You can also categorize by colors, Y box for yellow, or R box for red.
Learning to be responsible. Even though their collection isn't as valuable in a money sense then yours might be, it is just as precious. Help your child display their collection, and keep it clean. It will be their responsibility to see that their collection stays in order.
Learning to be a good parent. Your toddler isn't to young to learn how to be a good parent. Your child looks up to you as a role model, in short they trust you to do the right thing, and use the skills you as a parent have taught them. By spending time with your child, and showing interest in what they like, will create good memories. Then when they become parents, they will remember them happy times, and do the same with their kids.

There are many items a toddler can start collecting, here are a few idea's:
Postcards. Especially ones from family members, or from trips the family takes.
Pictures. Most toddlers love looking through photo albums, let them start their own.
Shells or Rocks. To bring out a little more creativity, let your child paint them.
Books. Little Golden Books makes for great bonding time, and encourages them to read.
Toy cars. Matchbox, and Hot Wheels are fun to collect, and do increase in value over a period of time.
Animals. What it their favorite animal? Let them collect things that show off that animal, such as plush toys, and figurines.

There are countless ideas of items a child can collect. However, you should make sure that they aren't collecting anything that could potentially be dangerous. As a rule of thumbs, if it can fit down a toilet paper roll, them it can fit down their throat. It is alright for older tots to collect smaller objects, as long as you always supervise them, and make sure you put the collection in a safe (unreachable) place.

Last, but not least. Remember this is their collection. Don't buy expensive collectibles that you don't want then to touch, or open. It is child like to open packages. If you want to collect unopened toys for them, then make that your collection. A child just don't understand how it something can be theirs, but they can't play with it.