BellaOnline Forums Education Gifted Education Kids and Collections

I never knew that gifted kids are more likely to have some sort of collection. DS's current collection is twisty puzzles, but over the years, he has had other passions.

But I wonder -- is that connected at all with pack-rat-ism? All three of us in this household are horrible pack-rats. "Well, this will be useful someday" or "I'd want it as soon as I get rid of it" and so forth. In fact, ds has always collected odds and ends of trash from outside (amazing how many nuts and bolts and such can be found!), because "I could make something from that." One summer, every cardboard box or tube was snatched up by ds so he could make something with it. (Three foot high, 10x20 room filled with games he made that summer....)

But surely there are some who escape unscathed, no? ;-)

Oh yes, before computers were popular, smart kids were often stereotyped as collectors of stamps, insects, etc. Do you recall the Brady Bunch episode when Marcia had a crush on the smart boy with a passion for entomology? She was examining bugs with him- I think the character's name was Harvey.

I was very into stamp collecting as a middle school girl, and I had two (gifted) friends who shared that interest. Attending a stamp show at a large hotel was the highlight of our 6th grade year!

I think of collectors as being more specific in their interests than pack rats. But a person can definitely fit into both categories!

If anyone is into postcard collecting, see a site I recently joined. www.postcrossing.com/ There you send and get cards randomly among over 100,000 other members and you can choose to do private exchanges with members if you want.
A great way to make efriends and learn about the worldIf you join you'll find me as the only member in the country list under Northern Mariana Islands.