Suggestions for a Dad and his young son.

[DICKTOWLE]

Does anyone know who bought the 4 sets that were scotch tape:d on paper

[timzcardz]

New cards or old cards, it is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your children.

In 1997, my then almost 7YO was behind in reading, in part because he liked to be read to every night rather than read himself, but I noticed that he was trying to read baeball cards that Santa had left him in his stocking. Putting 2 and 2 together, I decided that if this was what he would try to read, than I better get some cards. The next day I stopped in Kmart and picked up a box of '87 Topps, and that night we opened a pack. If he read the front of the card, name, team and postion, and then read something off of the back of the card, then he would get the card.

We started doing a pack a night and then my 3YO wanted to get in on it, so if he read all of the letters off of the front then he would get the card.

A year later, the 7YO went from being behind in reading to being held out as an examplary reader in school and the 3YO knew his alphabet and was reading already.

Oh, and we all became hooked on cards too!

The younger son (16YO now) is still into collecting and loves going to shows with me. He has a big Pettitte collection.

More recently he has taken a real liking to some of the current retro sets like the Topps 206, and the Upper Deck Goodwin Champions.

We're headed to our first National this year, and although I only have a couple of prewar cards now, I am pretty sure that we will each leave Baltimore with at least a couple, in addition to the few (or several) fresh Ripken atuographs that I'll be leaving with.

It's been a great ride for the last 13 years, and based on my experience, I'll offer the following tips:

1. When the kids are young, don't hand them anything that would bother you if you never saw it again. They'll learn how to handle and care for cards, but don't forget that they are young kids, and sometimes kids do really stupid things. It's part of growing up.

2. Let the kids decide what interests them, whether it be old cards or sparkly new ones, sets or just cards of a partciluar player or team. There is no wrong way to collect.

3. If you take them to a card show, by all means keep your eye on them, but don't keep them on too short of a leash. You will see them start develop and interact with dealers on their own. And when a dealer spends time with them, remember to thank them and at least look to see if the dealeer has anything that may interest you too.

3. Enjoy the time that you spend together in the hobby. It is great that parents and children can still do some things together that they both love.

[deadballera]

my 10 year old knows about the T206 Wagner. He wants some of the T206 cards that I have. I like the idea of getting some beater cards for him.

I already have given him some of the Horrors of War cards that he also liked....

[nebboy]

My almost 4 yr old likes Dads cards to so I was thinking the same as others here. To start a set that him and I could put together over the next 10 years. I also didn't want to go with T206 set knowing I would never finish it. It important that the set I choose could be completed. While still having college money.

So Im going with T205

[scottglevy]

Get him a few beaters for the vintage sets you like (e.g. T205 / T206 etc). But also get him a whole bunch of older common cards like from the 70s or 80s - that are basically worthless but that he can flip, put in the spokes of his bicycle, etc. Let him tell you what he likes by exposing him to a whole bunch of different options and sets.

And most importantly enjoy the time it is brings you and your son together.

My dad and I started this way about 25 years ago. He helped my put together early 1980s topps sets and ended up getting sucked into the monster himself. Then I followed as soon as I was in my teens.

-Scott

[joeadcock]

Great private stories. I really envy those whose children are interested in cards.

I live in a house with only females. None of them have ever been interested in cards.

If you start the T206 collection and he loses interest, it is something you can still connect to him, in your own memories. He may become interested again much later in life. Of course, I would hang onto anything I collected with my child.

My father was never interested in cards at all(or sports) but I never forgot the T206's he bought for me in the early 1970's at a flea market.

Good Luck

[Danny Smith]

We have a 3 year old and a 2 year old. they love checking out my cards so i decided to do a smaller set for each. I settled on the e95 and e96 sets because they are small and relatively affordable - and just enough of a challenge to make it fun. I buy them mostly slabbed so they can mess with them.