 |
Trading Cards: Memories from the Past or Money for the
by Antone Capstane
http://www.factstrading.com
For generations, children of all ages have been collecting
trading cards of anything from sports to superheroes and
video characters. We all had a special hiding place for our
precious card collection. We couldn't wait to get our
allowance or our newspaper delivery money so we could
spend every penny to buy the next pack of bubble gum and
get more cards, either to collect or to trade. Some people
have given the collection away, and others have them in a
dark corner of the attic, buried, but a great many people
have continued to hold onto their old trading cards well
into adulthood. It's hard to remember how precious they
were to us when we were young boys or girls.
There are many very serious collectors of trading cards,
mostly of sports personalities and there are many adults
who still take this hobby very seriously. Today, in fact,
many of those bits of cardboard we treasured in our
childhoods are now actual treasures. A few of them are
worth a lot of money to certain collectors and therfore
have become virtual gold mines. You too, can bring back the
days of the card trading of your youth, and this time, it
can also be very lucrative, besides being a lot of fun. And
this time, you don't even have chew all that gum to get
those great cards.
You can also use this wonderful tradition of youth to
introduce a sense of history to your children. By showing
them the ins and outs of trading cards, you will have fun
while showing them how we had fun in the old days. Kids
today get cards of video or animated characters, but
that~s not nearly as exciting as our old sports trading
cards. Besides learning some valuable sports history, you
will also be embarking on an activity that you and your
children can pursue happily for hours together. It will
also teach them the value of such cards and collecting in
general. And, who knows? Maybe they will get that one that
turns out to be a collector's item and will be worth a lot
of money someday. Yours will not be the first child to
dream of financing his or her college education or their
home from their sports card collection.
Don~t assume that trading card collections are for boys
only. There are plenty of girls out there who are
interested in sports, and cards such as these would hold
just as much interest for them, as well as offer the same
benefits. In an age when children and parents seem to be
growing apart a little more each day, this is a great way
to form closer bonds with both your sons and daughters, and
cement those relationships through a common interest.
If your children don~t appear to show an interest at first,
try taking them to a hobby shop and casually walking
through the area where the trading cards are kept. Use the
opportunity to discuss the different figures from the past
and relate some of your favorite childhood memories to
them. Chances are, they~ll come around sooner or later, and
you~ll be on your way to a parent-child activity that can
be enjoyed at any time.
You can focus your approach on the sentimental value of
these cards, and how they fit into your childhood, or you
emphasize how valuable some of them have become and what
a good investment they can make. The main idea of this
exercise is to create a bond of interest between you and
your children and allow you to spend quality time with your
kids. In the process, you will also have introduced them
to a wonderful old-fashioned, wholesome pastime. If they
also make some money from it, what a bonus!
Submit An Article
|
|  |
