Ideas for Collecibles for Preschoolers?

[Bubblegum1286]

The last time we went to DL was in 2013 and my DS was 4. After we got back home, I looked into all of the pins and realized it's a big thing (duh) and it sounded like a lot of fun. So this time we're going to be trading pins. I think he'll really enjoy it.

Problem is, I feel bad that little sister (4) and little brother (3) won't get to participate. (DD is painfully shy and wouldn't get the "trading" part, and youngest son would eat them).

SO... Is there something they can do that's engaging and fun and kind of collectible like the pin trading experience? Even if it's collecting pictures or something. I'm open to ALL ideas.

Thanks!

 

[Angrose]

Pressed pennies! You can buy little passport-style books to put them in. It's fun and something they can add to their collection each time they visit. They can find pennies with the characters they like or from the rides they went on that visit. Someone recently posted this map, which is awesome: https://www.disneynow.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x5910a44b

 

[Bubblegum1286]

That's a GREAT idea!!!! Thank you! While big brother's on the look out for cast members to trade pins with, they can be on the look out for penny machines. Awesome! Not sure why I didn't think of that before

 

[MommyJKM]

Best part about the pressed pennies is my DD4 bored of them after only 1 Park day and I had only spent like $4 (well $4 and 8 cents )

And now she uses them in her play cash register at home.
Make sure to bring a roll of quarters and shiny pennies each day to be prepared.

 

[xlsm]

And if you do the pennies, one of the best pieces of advice we ever found was to take an m&m minis container and layer the coins appropriately (two quarters, one penny) so you just shake out what you need each time.

Have fun!!

 

[figment_jii]

There are a couple of websites that lists where a lot of the pressed penny machines are located in the parks.
http://www.parkpennies.com/penny-machine-locations.pdf
http://www.pennycollector.com/Details.aspx?location=366

Also, don't forget that there are also pressed nickel, pressed dime, and pressed quarter machines. So have some shiny coins in all denominations ready for pressing.

 

[corinne76]

thread crashing but how do you get shiny coins? like do you go to the bank and ask for a roll of shiny pennies?

 

[Bubblegum1286]

thread crashing but how do you get shiny coins? like do you go to the bank and ask for a roll of shiny pennies?

You can soak them in vinegar, and that'll shine them right up. Just pour a bowl of vinegar and toss a bunch of the nasty looking ones in there.

 

[figment_jii]

You can try cleaning your pennies (coins), but I've had mixed results about whether they retain their shine or not after being pressed and over time. Normally, I just collect the shiny pennies that get whenever I'm shopping and put them in a little container to take with me to DLR.

 

[Bubblegum1286]

You can try cleaning your pennies (coins), but I've had mixed results about whether they retain their shine or not after being pressed and over time. Normally, I just collect the shiny pennies that get whenever I'm shopping and put them in a little container to take with me to DLR.

Hmmm can you ask for new pennies from a bank? Do they have them? I know a lot of the rolled coins they have are circulated currency, so it's not new. But maybe some do?

 

[corinne76]

thanks! DH actually has a huge jar of coins and DD just looked through it for nice ones. We have a pretty good collection going, and our trip isn't til Oct

 

[figment_jii]

I've never asked at the bank because the coins come in rolls, so my guess is that they are mixed. I mostly use plastic, but I still surprised how many pennies I've managed to collect on a day-to-day basis.

 

[Canuck16]

Pressed Pennies for sure.....if your little ones are shy for the pin trading this one is pretty simple.

As the OP has said use the M&M mini containers and stack 2 quarters and 1 penny....best idea for this.

Our kids had a blast doing this. If you can get a map of all the penny squisher locations even better.

Have fun!!!

 

[kangamama]

I'd actually support pins for the little guys. My three year old LOVES his pins. He doesn't trade them, but that's ok. We keep them pinned on a canvas that I bought at an art supply shop, and we keep it displayed on a shelf that he can reach. He takes it down almost daily to look at his pins. Ones with sliders or other moving parts he likes to play with a bit, and then he re-pins them to the canvas. He understands that they are sharp, so he's really careful, and he also understands that these are intended to be a collection that he can enjoy for years and years, if he chooses.

 

[bumbershoot]

One doesn't have to trade pins in order to have fun with pins. Actually, once we took trading off the table (so to speak) my son liked pins MORE. When you trade, you have to get ones you don't *want*. That you're OK getting rid of. If you like your pins, why would you get rid of it?

 

[MommyJKM]

thread crashing but how do you get shiny coins? like do you go to the bank and ask for a roll of shiny pennies?

You can clean them naturally with toothpaste (like silver necklaces and charms). I didn't mean they need to be super shiny, I thought my DD would appreciate the bling, but she was over it

 

[l4dyj8]

We do pressed pennies for our 4 year old. And they just announced that there will be special 60 th anniversary ones! The Disney parks blog will announce more info later

 

[DreamIsaWish]

You can soak them in vinegar, and that'll shine them right up. Just pour a bowl of vinegar and toss a bunch of the nasty looking ones in there.

My favorite method is ketchup. Even if you run out of shiny pennies on the trip, you can always get a ketchup packet somewhere and shine them up on the go. If you really want to do it right, after doing ketchup rub a baking soda paste on them (probably the same idea as another poster who suggested toothpaste). The acid and salt in the vinegar will clean up the tarnish and the abrasive in the baking soda (or toothpaste I assume) will buff it to a nice shine.