Pin Trading - Ideal Starting Age?

[HouCuseChickie]

I was thinking about introducing my girls to pin trading this upcoming trip, but a few of my friends wonder if they're a bit young for it. I'm sure some of that is coming from some of the pin and lanyard prices they've seen, but I still think my girls would have fun and it might offer some benefits as well.

The girls will be 4 and 6 on our next trip. While we would certainly help her through the process, we think it would help DD5 with some of her shyness issues. She's also quite tiny (41" tall and turning 6 next week) and I think it would give her something new to do that most of her friends haven't done at WDW. Most have only been once (and won't go as often as us) and have been tall enough to ride Space Mtn, Everest, and RnR- so she's been down about that lately i.e. feeling a tad left out. Yes, I know pin trading won't make up for not riding these rides, but it would give her something fun to talk about that none of her friends have done...since she may hit 42" by Nov, but 44" is unlikely and 48" seems impossible. DD3- who will turn 4 just before the trip- might not benefit as much, but she's the fearless one and might actually take the lead role until DD5 gets more comfy with this activity.

So what do you think? Do you think the ages are OK to start pin trading? Or would it be a waste of $ at these ages? And if you have tried it with kids around this age- do you have any tips?

 

[Dawg4Mickey]

I am interested to see some responses as well. My nieces will be 5 and 7 when we go next week, and I have been contemplating this as well. I hope you get some good quality answer, and with the group on this board I am sure you will.

 

[Blueskyze]

My son is 6, and I'm going to let him try pin trading for the first time on our trip (in 8 days!!!). I don't know if he will get into it, but I thought it would be good for working on social interactions, and my DH and I will be trading, too. I bought him a lanyard at Party City (I think it was $1), and I put some pins from eBay on it. If he likes it, then I'll let him pick out a "real" lanyard during our trip, and start building his collection. I'm going to practice with him a little beforehand, so he'll understand how it works.

 

[wiigirl]

I say as early as possible...but I did have to help my daughter manage it for a while until she was 8(ish), then she kicked me out and took over.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

We bought DS6 a lanyard and two pin sets to trade with about 2 years ago (so he was 4ish). He loved the idea of giving away pins he didn't want in exhange for ones CMs had that he did want. We brought them with on our last trip and totally forgot but I gaurantee you we'll be doing it on the next one. I think as soon as they are old enough to understand what a 'trade' is you're golden. Kids love the idea of constantly switching out what they have. Now that said, the problem we immediately ran into was him wanting to buy pin after pin in the stores too but mommy already has a pin collection so we told him he can "share" it with us.

 

[sgtmgd]

lol never too old as I started my DSO two kids age 7 and 10 on their first trip...and they loved it..but a strange thing occured as about an hour after buying them the first laynards and starter pins...she turns to me and says "Id like some pins" ...she has been scouring the universe for pins ever since

 

[bmarkelon]

I think their ages are just fine. My oldest started a few years ago when she was 4; we kept it pretty small that year...nothing major, just a little introduction to it. The next year she was a lot more into it. And now at 7 and the middle guy is in too they are looking forward to pin trading on our upcoming trip. It's lots of fun. But I think it's nice to ease your way in slowly.

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

My kids started when they were 10 and 4. The 4 year old was pretty shy, but followed her sister around. Now she feels pretty comfortable going up to cast members on her own. We also bought her a book to store the pins that she wants to keep.
Also we get each of the girls one "Keeper" pin each time we go. Usually it is either a pin with the year or hotel on it. They put these pins in the book and are a great memory of all of the vacations we have taken together.
Also a great gift idea... Disney gift cards that they can use to select their own pins.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I say as early as possible...but I did have to help my daughter manage it for a while until she was 8(ish), then she kicked me out and took over.

Yeah- I fully expect having to walk them through each one and orchestrate some of the early ones. Good to know that your daughter is still interested in trading.

We bought DS6 a lanyard and two pin sets to trade with about 2 years ago (so he was 4ish). He loved the idea of giving away pins he didn't want in exhange for ones CMs had that he did want. We brought them with on our last trip and totally forgot but I gaurantee you we'll be doing it on the next one. I think as soon as they are old enough to understand what a 'trade' is you're golden. Kids love the idea of constantly switching out what they have. Now that said, the problem we immediately ran into was him wanting to buy pin after pin in the stores too but mommy already has a pin collection so we told him he can "share" it with us.

You make an excellent point- i.e. them grasping the concept of trading. Of course the trip is a surprise, so I'll have about 9 days to work on trading lessons of this sort if we decide to do it. That's my other fear...the girls are going to want to buy as well as trade. Of course I don't have a pin collection...I'm more of a Vinylmation person ...so, we're totally from scratch on this.

lol never too old as I started my DSO two kids age 7 and 10 on their first trip...and they loved it..but a strange thing occured as about an hour after buying them the first laynards and starter pins...she turns to me and says "I like some pins" ...she has been scouring the universe for pins ever since

That's great! I'm really hoping at least one of the girls really gets into it like that. Definitely something fun for them to do.

My son is 6, and I'm going to let him try pin trading for the first time on our trip (in 8 days!!!). I don't know if he will get into it, but I thought it would be good for working on social interactions, and my DH and I will be trading, too. I bought him a lanyard at Party City (I think it was $1), and I put some pins from eBay on it. If he likes it, then I'll let him pick out a "real" lanyard during our trip, and start building his collection. I'm going to practice with him a little beforehand, so he'll understand how it works.

I have found a few on ebay for a little bit more, but I'll have to check out our party city before doing all of this. I was also going to check ebay. One of the other forums has a list of reputable pin sellers, so maybe I can find some cute ones w/o dropping too much.

I think their ages are just fine. My oldest started a few years ago when she was 4; we kept it pretty small that year...nothing major, just a little introduction to it. The next year she was a lot more into it. And now at 7 and the middle guy is in too they are looking forward to pin trading on our upcoming trip. It's lots of fun. But I think it's nice to ease your way in slowly.

That's my other problem...part of me keeps saying start small and let them buy a few as souvenirs on the trip, but then part of me has this idea of doing 8 pins per girl...which makes the balance obsessed part of me happy, but the rest of me thinks I should probably start with 3-5 per girl. I will try and remember "ease in slowly" each time I start thinking about going a little overboard.

 

[ellie-badge]

I say go for it! I can't remember when my mother got me into pin trading exactly, but I've had a blast ever since. Just expect to make a lot of stops at various places for your kids to check out cast members' lanyards!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

You make an excellent point- i.e. them grasping the concept of trading. Of course the trip is a surprise, so I'll have about 9 days to work on trading lessons of this sort if we decide to do it. That's my other fear...the girls are going to want to buy as well as trade. Of course I don't have a pin collection...I'm more of a Vinylmation person ...so, we're totally from scratch on this.

Yeah the whole "trade" thing was key for us because we didn't want him to think he could get pins from other folks/CMs without giving one in return. Oh and I started up with Vinylmation last year and kind of put the pins on hold so it's a great excuse to keep DS6 into the pins (cuz then we get both LOL)!

 

[ddbowdoin]

42 years old

 

[HouCuseChickie]

My kids started when they were 10 and 4. The 4 year old was pretty shy, but followed her sister around. Now she feels pretty comfortable going up to cast members on her own. We also bought her a book to store the pins that she wants to keep.
Also we get each of the girls one "Keeper" pin each time we go. Usually it is either a pin with the year or hotel on it. They put these pins in the book and are a great memory of all of the vacations we have taken together.
Also a great gift idea... Disney gift cards that they can use to select their own pins.

Good call on the keeper pins. We were thinking of something like this, but I'm not sure how I want to approach it. I like the idea of year pins as the keepers that you've incorporated. I could see DD5 never trading anything if I got her a really special princess pin...i.e. she'd wind up being more of a collector. So this strategy would at least set her up to be willing to trade.

I say go for it! I can't remember when my mother got me into pin trading exactly, but I've had a blast ever since. Just expect to make a lot of stops at various places for your kids to check out cast members' lanyards!

Very cool! Yeah- I figure this is the girls' third trip and I've been many times so I don't think anyone would be too horribly upset if we got caught up a bit stopping to make trades. Still- good to think about this b/c I'll probably have to factor the extra time into our plans.

Yeah the whole "trade" thing was key for us because we didn't want him to think he could get pins from other folks/CMs without giving one in return. Oh and I started up with Vinylmation last year and kind of put the pins on hold so it's a great excuse to keep DS6 into the pins (cuz then we get both LOL)!

That's exactly what worries me. DD5 will love getting pins, but having to give pins away in trade is going to be another story. I'm really going to have to work on this. It's funny- with the Vinylmations...I have no desire to trade them. I used to keep them lined up on my desk at work...loved just looking at them throughout the day. Then the cleaning crew started getting sticky fingers...so, they all came home with me and live in the guest bedroom.

 

[bmarkelon]

That's my other problem...part of me keeps saying start small and let them buy a few as souvenirs on the trip, but then part of me has this idea of doing 8 pins per girl...which makes the balance obsessed part of me happy, but the rest of me thinks I should probably start with 3-5 per girl. I will try and remember "ease in slowly" each time I start thinking about going a little overboard.

It is so easy to get carried away with pin-trading. We actually just bought some traders on eBay for the first time for our upcoming trip so save some money.
I also purchase keeper pins on each trip. Whenever one of the kiddos is brave and goes on a ride they used to be afraid of they get rewarded with a pin for that attraction. We also always do one with the year on it.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

It is so easy to get carried away with pin-trading. We actually just bought some traders on eBay for the first time for our upcoming trip so save some money.
I also purchase keeper pins on each trip. Whenever one of the kiddos is brave and goes on a ride they used to be afraid of they get rewarded with a pin for that attraction. We also always do one with the year on it.

I like that idea a lot. I could definitely see some pins in their respective futures if they were to ask to ride Haunted Mansion

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

My DS received his first lanyards and pins when he was 3. Although we had to coax him to do his trading and had to help him ask, he loved it. Whenever he would see a CM memeber he would mention that eh would want to trade, we would encourage him to go up to them but he never did on his.

The following year, when he was 4, we went back and he was much more used to it. He would always ask us if he could trade before he would do so. If we said yes he would head on over to the CM.

Whenw e go back this year he will be 5 nearing his 6th B-day so I can't wait to see how he does. My youngest DS will be three and it will be time for his own lanyard. I can't wait to see how they do together. Just knowing the relationship between the two, I can see my oldest son showing my youngest what needs to be done and then leading my youngest by his hand to a CM.

IMHO, Pin Trading is a great souvenier for young kids, encourages some independence, and is a great tool to teach young children some manners. Whatever you do, make sure you purchase the pin backs which lock. The regular pin backs can fall off which can lead to losing pins. I learned that the hard way. You can buy the locking pin backs their in the parks when you buy the pins. Good luck.

 

[bmarkelon]

I like that idea a lot. I could definitely see some pins in their respective futures if they were to ask to ride Haunted Mansion

Yes! This is the one I hope my DD7 will brave this trip. She went on way back when she was 14 months old and was fine but has refused to go on ever since!!

 

[SAV]

I started my kids at 5 & 9. They both loved it then and loved it more this year at 7 & 11. We started with a lot of 20 from eBay(many people have different opinions on this part) and let them pick the ones they wanted for their lanyards one by one. Heck, they were trading with each other. We guided the youngest a bit more, but he got the hang of it quickly. It was funny to hear them both say "I will never trade these 3 away" only to see those 3 traded away during the trip. The one thing I mentioned to each of them is to be nice to the CM and politely ask "May I please see your pins?" each time. There was some initial shyness, but by the end of the day they weren't scared a bit.

This last trip I got a 30 pack to have them split. They still look back on all of them with great memories from the trips.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Yes! This is the one I hope my DD7 will brave this trip. She went on way back when she was 14 months old and was fine but has refused to go on ever since!!

DH convinced our girls to ride on their first trip. They were terrified and said they never would ride again. Last trip they decided to give it another shot since we talked about the song Grim Grinning Ghosts and how the ghosts were really just being silly. It got them on the ride, but it ended again with them hating it. DD6 has noted that she is going to conquer her fear by our next visit and love the ride. Of course, she thinks she'll be much older and doesn't realize that it's less than 3 mos away Actually, really like this concept...reward pins.

I started my kids at 5 & 9. They both loved it then and loved it more this year at 7 & 11. We started with a lot of 20 from eBay(many people have different opinions on this part) and let them pick the ones they wanted for their lanyards one by one. Heck, they were trading with each other. We guided the youngest a bit more, but he got the hang of it quickly. It was funny to hear them both say "I will never trade these 3 away" only to see those 3 traded away during the trip. The one thing I mentioned to each of them is to be nice to the CM and politely ask "May I please see your pins?" each time. There was some initial shyness, but by the end of the day they weren't scared a bit.

This last trip I got a 30 pack to have them split. They still look back on all of them with great memories from the trips.

I am considering ebay just b/c I can save some $ and there are lists floating around with more reputable pin sellers. I know there are some really serious traders out there, but I'm just really looking for something novel for the kids. If you don't mind me asking, do you know who you bought your ebay lot from? And do you recall if there were any scrappers in there?

I can totally see my girls being that way. They'll fall in love with some pin and then suddenly a CM has a better one and there it will go. We will definitely go over etiquette- i.e. how to ask and how it works.

 

[SAV]

If you don't mind me asking, do you know who you bought your ebay lot from? And do you recall if there were any scrappers in there?

I got them from disney.crazy and I have no idea if any were scrappers. Didn't pay much attention to them since I knew they would be getting traded away.