As the recipient of multiple collections started specifically for me, I have to say, most of this is ridiculous–be very careful if you’re going to start any collection for a child, please!!

Unless it’s small and very well curated, it’s likely to be a burden emotionally and physically. In the least, make it clear that you’d like your child to enjoy these, but if they’re not their cup of tea so to speak, it’s ok too.

Thankfully my mom put the spoons of every location they ever visited into the attic at an early age instead of obligating me to keep it in my bedroom. The angels took over my bookcase (although I appreciate the sentiment that started it: one of my aunts who had moved out of state about the time I was born would send one to me for birthdays and Christmas, so she would have one specific thing to send me–but a lot of other people decided to get in on that collection), and because my mom asked if I liked Coke after bringing home a glass bottle from my girlfriends house (just because I thought a glass bottle was cool in general), I ended up with a very large collection of Coca-cola items that I felt obligated to appreciate when gifted new items for far too many years–at 10 or 12 years of age you’re not emotionally equipped to say, enough is enough! I enjoyed some of them, but it just takes over too easily.

I don’t want to sound ungrateful, I know that my aunts and parents wanted to buy something for me that I liked that could be part of something I’d appreciate over time, and frankly they were easy gifts for them to get as opposed to trying something new I may or may not like (which as an aunt now I hope that the gifts I give will be enjoyed, so I understand all the more), but they became a burden instead of a treasure.

I do appreciate having a dated ornament from each year, as well as an assortment of others from over the years to choose to decorate my tree with…my husband joked that my ornament collection was dowry because I had more than I could decorate a large tree with by the time we were married. But now that I’m an adult, I can choose which ornament I put out.

Other mothers apparently have much more time to dust.

I agree with Kate that a collection can be a burden, so start one with care! The problem seems to be that once a collection is established, the collector probably already has enough…but that’s when people (extended relatives and bad gift givers) catch on and suddenly your daughter is drowning in something–and isn’t getting any gift she wants or is excited by. Unless there is a real passion for something and an interest in building an expert knowledge about that thing, hold off. And if your kid is the collecting type, help her find a way to display and care for her collection. The collection collected here are LOVELY, but the best collections come from the collector’s desire, not the parent’s.

Whilst in theory I like the idea of starting a collection for my daughters, I echo those posters above who advise caution. These are beautiful pictures, but I was also struck by how many of the links here are stuff that is really, really fashionable right now (brooches, vintage tins, matryoshka Russian dolls, owls…..) Surely all this stuff is going to date really fast?!
If I was going to start a collection, it would be a collection of something very small, and hopefully a bit timeless.

I started a small jewelry collection when my daughter was born. A birthstone necklace, diamond studs, gold cross, etc. They’re all stored in my safe at the moment, but hopefully when she gets old enough, she’ll have a collection of beautiful things, that she’ll also be able to use.

I like the book idea, because books are always good to have for educational entertainment with your kids. i also like the tea cups, mostly because my daughter already has a few and loves playing with them, though i would suggest starting with miniature size ones. i love the idea of starting a collection but being a family who lives in a smallish apartment, space is a big issue so if i were to make an official collection it would have to be something small and useful.