Precious Moments is sad to announce that we will will be closing down Precious Moms on October 30th. Precious Moms was a wonderful outlet for news and information of dedicated moms and the decision to close the site was not an easy one. If there is any information or content you wish to save, please copy and save the information to your computer by October 30th. We appreciate your past support and input on the site.

If you came home from your last beach trip and your daughter had 3 buckets of shells organized by size and color…chances are you’ve got a budding collector on your hands!  Many children start out collecting natures treasures, but collecting today has moved from rocks and shells and even the classic stamp and coin collections to a whole new level that is wide open.  So how do you find a collection that is right for your child?  Here are a few helpful hints to keep in mind when considering a collection for your child:

1. Let Your Child Lead: For many children a collection represents their first shot at “complete” control and a wonderful opportunity for self-expression, so as much as possible…stay out of the way.  Let your child explore his or her own interests when choosing and maintaining their collection and try not to “manage” their system.  Other than issues involving safety, space and expense, children should have as much control as possible to maximize the learning and the fun!
2. Provide Tools and Resources – Once your child has selected what to collect, you can assist by helping your child do research on his chosen topic, but be sure to let your child do most of the work. The internet is a great tool to use together to search interesting sites and check your local library for books and additional resources. 
3. Stay Involved and Interested – While parents should not try to control their child’s collection, it’s still important to your child that you show interest and stay involved.  Fuel your child’s enthusiasm by asking questions about how she has sorted her dolls or which figurine is her favorite.  You can also suggest ways to display her collection and provide a journal or other means of keeping track of her collectibles.  The Precious Moments Collectors Club has a wonderful online tracking resource to assist their club members in maintaining their Precious Moments collections.
4. Look for Learning Opportunities – Collecting provides a great opportunity for children to learn even more about their area of interest.  If your child has chosen to collect dinosaurs, for example, check out the local museums for special exhibits or visit the local library to read up on excavations and the role of a paleontologist.  It’s always great when kids are having so much fun they don’t even realize they’re learning! 
5. Have Fun! – One of the pitfalls of collecting today is that often times the emphasis is on volume and value, getting more rather than the pure fun of collecting items that you love.  While the thrill of the hunt is definitely exciting, it’s important to remind your child to value each item that they have already collected.  Remember that in the end, a collection is about memories -- where she was when she received a certain ornament, and who gave her a special commemorative birthday figurine.  And when she pulls out her collection 20 years from now, she will be flooded with wonderful childhood memories.