When my oldest son was five, we created a new house rule: If you find money laying about the house (between the couch cushions, in the clothes dryer, on the kitchen counter, etc…) AND you can count it – you can keep it. Well… never have I seen a child so quickly learn the difference between a nickel and a dime and how to add up to 100.
Years later now, both my boys have taken up coin collecting. One day my oldest son started keeping track of the ‘States Quarters’ and (a couple of library books later) he soon began telling me which of our coins was minted in Denver and which came from Philadelphia.
This new hobby has led to a new discovery of a family-friendly Salem location: The Salem Coin & Stamp Shop. In a strip mall off Lancaster, the location may not be dazzling, but the kind shopkeepers are always wonderfully patient with my sons. Using birthday money from Grandma we’ve purchased coin protectors & organizing sleeves, a steel penny, a buffalo nickel, and some pretty interesting coins from countries outside of the U.S. As we explore money values (math), we’re also learning skills in history, geography, reading, and writing (“Thank you Grandma for the birthday money. I use it to buy…”).
Although, my son’s collection wouldn’t actually be considered valuable in today’s market, in our house we think of it as time well spent. :)
Years later now, both my boys have taken up coin collecting. One day my oldest son started keeping track of the ‘States Quarters’ and (a couple of library books later) he soon began telling me which of our coins was minted in Denver and which came from Philadelphia.
This new hobby has led to a new discovery of a family-friendly Salem location: The Salem Coin & Stamp Shop. In a strip mall off Lancaster, the location may not be dazzling, but the kind shopkeepers are always wonderfully patient with my sons. Using birthday money from Grandma we’ve purchased coin protectors & organizing sleeves, a steel penny, a buffalo nickel, and some pretty interesting coins from countries outside of the U.S. As we explore money values (math), we’re also learning skills in history, geography, reading, and writing (“Thank you Grandma for the birthday money. I use it to buy…”).
Although, my son’s collection wouldn’t actually be considered valuable in today’s market, in our house we think of it as time well spent. :)
PS: The tooth fairy just brought my son a Sacagewa dollar.
I just love it when Santa and friends get in on the action!
I just love it when Santa and friends get in on the action!