A Collection of Your Own

For lots of kids, collecting is a fun and interesting hobby. Even if you don't collect something, there's a chance you have the beginnings of a collection or two already. If you would like to start a collection of your very own, here are some tips.

First, choose something that is easy to get and not very expensive. If you live near a beach, you may want to collect stones, shells, or beach glass. If you travel, you might collect coins, roadmaps, or postcards. Magnets are popular, too. They can be colorful reminders of places you have visited. If letters come to your house, you can collect the stamps from the envelopes. Or, you might consider collecting something your family and friends can give to you, like stickers, pins, or rocks.

Be sure to choose what interests you. If you favor sports, you may want to collect baseball cards or stadium tickets. If you are a bookworm, maybe you'll choose bookmarks, comic books, or magazines. If you enjoy putting things together, you might collect Legos or model airplanes. If cooking is your thing, try collecting recipes or recipe books. Once you get started, your collection can build up quickly! It can be fun to hunt for unique items and to share your collection with others.

Once you decide what to collect, you will need a way to organize your items. A collection should not be messy. Take some time to think about sorting and storage. You can clear a drawer or shelf in your room or keep the collection in a special container. You may decide to display your collection on a table or in a shadow box. A scrapbook or photo album can hold some collections—stamps or postcards, for example. Find a place where your collection will be safe, neat, and easy to get to.

Summer is a perfect time to start a new collection. Call a friend or grab a sibling. Then go outside and explore. You may be surprised at what you find in your own backyard!