Starting a family collection is a great way to get kids involved in the family vacation.  If you can find an item that everyone can get involved with, everyone will be searching for their own way to add to the collection during their travels.  Whether you are attending local events, browsing at flea markets, or shopping at antique shops, if there is a definite item you have in the back of your mind, it adds interest and excitement to the hunt.  Also, whatever you choose as a family collectible will most likely involve learning and research about the product.  This interest may expand into larger fields and who knows where this will eventually lead?

If you decide to start a family collection, what should you collect?  The choices are in the thousands so how do you break it down to managable proportions in order to make a choice?
Here are some hints and guidelines that may help in this area:

1. Is there already a collector in the family.  Does anyone in the family have an interest they are enthused about that they would like to share?  Would other family members also like to know more about this subject and be interested in starting a collection in this area?

2. Is there something you all share as a family?  Are you nature enthusiasts?  Are you a sports family?  Do you all golf or go 4 wheeling?

3.  What are individual interests?  Does one collect coins and another collect Pez containers?  Is the father a wood worker and the mother a quilter?

4.  After the inital assessment, have everyone start making lists.  Has one person always wanted to collect coins while another person wants to collect trading cards?

5.  Collect all the lists and discuss the various possibilites.  Can you find some common ground where everyone has some interest in the field.

6.  Discuss if you would like a broad field such as nature where everyone could pick their own sub-interest such as leaves or shells or rocks.  If you choose sports each person could collect tee shirts, banners, autographs, or equipment owned by famous people.

7.  Perhaps since this a a collectible for family vacations, souvenir memories of the trips would be interesting to everyone.  Post cards, both antique and new, books on the local history, maps and posters of the area, all of these can be considered when trying to make a decision on what to collect.

8.  If no one can agree on a family collectible, perhaps each person could choose to do their own thing.  Even then, each family member could be on the lookout for items that would appeal to that family member.

9. Consider limitations of cost and space.  If you are collecting while on a family vacation, is the item small enough that it can fit in your luggage?  If children are joining in, is the cost reasonable enough that they can enjoy the thrill of the hunt?

10. Is the item going to be something you would like to show in your home.  Consider how you will display this collectible to it’s best advantage.

Once you have made these decisions, it’s time to start your collection.  When everyone gets involved in this family project you may find some great excitement building up when everyone is tallking about what treasure they may find on this trip.

You may even set up some contest or competition among family members such as:

• Who will find the first item to add to the collectible
• Who will buy a great item at the cheapest price
• Who can find the most items, even though you don’t purchase all of them
• Have a vote on which is the best (most valuable, oddest, etc.) item found

Having a family collection is great fun, can set up some friendly competition, create learning experiences, and form memories that will last a lifetime.

Does your family have some special items you collect on your various family vacations?  Comment and let us know of your experiences in this area.  We’d love to hear from you.