Pin Trading - Ideal Starting Age?

[DisneyGirl3820]

My girls were about the same age when one of them wanted to get into pin trading and the other one could care less so we saved some money there I think it all depends on the kid. Just make sure you don't invest a lot into the initial lanyard and pins. What I did was buy a lot of 25 from ebay for about $17 and the tooth fairy would put pins under pillows up until the time we went to Disney. My daughter then had a bunch to work with when we got to Disney.

Another tip is if your children are too shy to go up to cast members at the parks...you can trade at the front desk of some of the resort hotels. They keep a pin trading book behind the desk and you can ask to see it and your children can take their time looking at the pins without the chaos of approaching a cast member in a park with millions of people around. Good luck and have fun!

 

[disneygirl1]

I think your girls are perfect ages to start pin trading, I'm pretty sure my DS got into it when he was 6 years old! He looks forward to doing this every trip now. One thing we learned over the last 4 years is to buy a lot of Disney Pins on ebay before you go and use them as traders. Buying pins to trade in Disney adds up!

 

[Alison1975]

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?

My kids traded last year at 5,7 and 9 and they LOVED it.. i think 4 and 6 would be more than fine!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

My girls were about the same age when one of them wanted to get into pin trading and the other one could care less so we saved some money there I think it all depends on the kid. Just make sure you don't invest a lot into the initial lanyard and pins. What I did was buy a lot of 25 from ebay for about $17 and the tooth fairy would put pins under pillows up until the time we went to Disney. My daughter then had a bunch to work with when we got to Disney.

Another tip is if your children are too shy to go up to cast members at the parks...you can trade at the front desk of some of the resort hotels. They keep a pin trading book behind the desk and you can ask to see it and your children can take their time looking at the pins without the chaos of approaching a cast member in a park with millions of people around. Good luck and have fun!

With my girls, I see my younger one being bold and totally getting into it at first, but I see the older one latching onto it a little bit more and enjoying it more as well once she gets past her shyness. Since I posted this- I picked up a bunch of things...trying to economize and not go too far overboard.

Good tip for dealing with a shy child. We may have to use that with DD6

I think your girls are perfect ages to start pin trading, I'm pretty sure my DS got into it when he was 6 years old! He looks forward to doing this every trip now. One thing we learned over the last 4 years is to buy a lot of Disney Pins on ebay before you go and use them as traders. Buying pins to trade in Disney adds up!

I bought about 75% of their pins to start with on ebay, so that definitely saved the budget. Well, that and the $1 lanyards I got at Party City. They're each getting a $25 Disney gift card so I guess it's up to them if they want to use it on pins. What's really funny- the nicest pin deal I got was from the Disney store...2012 spinners reduced by $9

My kids traded last year at 5,7 and 9 and they LOVED it.. i think 4 and 6 would be more than fine!

Great to know! I think the girls could really have a blast doing trading. Thanks!

 

[Alison1975]

With my girls, I see my younger one being bold and totally getting into it at first, but I see the older one latching onto it a little bit more and enjoying it more as well once she gets past her shyness. Since I posted this- I picked up a bunch of things...trying to economize and not go too far overboard.

Good tip for dealing with a shy child. We may have to use that with DD6



I bought about 75% of their pins to start with on ebay, so that definitely saved the budget. Well, that and the $1 lanyards I got at Party City. They're each getting a $25 Disney gift card so I guess it's up to them if they want to use it on pins. What's really funny- the nicest pin deal I got was from the Disney store...2012 spinners reduced by $9



Great to know! I think the girls could really have a blast doing trading. Thanks!

Mine were hesitant at first ..but pin trading really brought my then 9 year old out of his I dont like new situations or approaching people issues.. it was awesome!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Mine were hesitant at first ..but pin trading really brought my then 9 year old out of his I dont like new situations or approaching people issues.. it was awesome!

That's good to hear b/c my older one is pretty fearful of new people and situations. She's unstoppable once she gets past that initial fear, but we were really hoping this would be a shot of confidence for her once she gets into it.

 

[Alison1975]

That's good to hear b/c my older one is pretty fearful of new people and situations. She's unstoppable once she gets past that initial fear, but we were really hoping this would be a shot of confidence for her once she gets into it.

Mine is too.. he gets such anxiety and is a worrier. We didn't pre-buy any pins last year because I just figured he wouldnt want anything to do with it. Once he traded once forget it..all we did was pin trade..LOL.. I spent a small countries budget on pins. This year I pre-bought over 300 to spread between the kids.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Mine is too.. he gets such anxiety and is a worrier. We didn't pre-buy any pins last year because I just figured he wouldnt want anything to do with it. Once he traded once forget it..all we did was pin trade..LOL.. I spent a small countries budget on pins. This year I pre-bought over 300 to spread between the kids.

Hopefully she'll respond in similar fashion. Of course, she's a bit of a hoarder as well so that might be an issue too. We shall see. They're getting 6 pins each to start with. I was sooooo tempted to buy more, but my friends remind me on a daily basis of all the other special things we're doing and that I'd be really ticked off at myself if I killed something like the cake budget on pins. And they're right, but it's hard to stop when there are so many neat pins to be had.

 

[DisneyAubs]

I started my nieces when they turned 4 & 7. They did enjoy it. The lanyards were kind of heavy and awkward for them to wear, so be prepared to carry the lanyards in the backpack for them. Because of this, make sure you are checking the backs of pins to make sure they stay secure or maybe get some locking backs. The 4yo lost her tinkerbell pin and I ended up giving her mine.

I encourage my nieces (and my DH) to leave pins they really love in the room so we don't accidentally lose them or so they don't accidentally trade them.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I started my nieces when they turned 4 & 7. They did enjoy it. The lanyards were kind of heavy and awkward for them to wear, so be prepared to carry the lanyards in the backpack for them. Because of this, make sure you are checking the backs of pins to make sure they stay secure or maybe get some locking backs. The 4yo lost her tinkerbell pin and I ended up giving her mine.

I encourage my nieces (and my DH) to leave pins they really love in the room so we don't accidentally lose them or so they don't accidentally trade them.

That's kind of what I was afraid of...i.e. "Mommy- I don't want to wear it anymore - it's hurting my neck." I'll also be sure to check the backs and use your suggestion of leaving some pins back at the room. Thanks for the suggestions!!!

 

[sgtmgd]

Here is a thought...check ebay and other sites..buy a "lot" of disney pins to trade they are much much cheaper then shelling out 29.95 per set of 7 pins at disney...you can get a lot of 50 pins for40-50 dollars...just ensure you get them from a good source..trust me there will be a ton of them online. Also Disney has a page with all the hidden mickey pins by year on them..Id print them and let them pick a couple sets to look for while in the park...see if they can collect a complete set of their favorite characters. Each resort has a "pin book" or "pin board" in the gift shops of concierge desk...and each park has a pin book at the guest relations...they generally have alot more than you find in shops or CMs