9 Ways to Share the Hobby with Your Family

Card collecting is a hobby best shared with others, especially those we love! It's an opportunity to create lasting memories and strengthen family bonds. If you're passionate about card collecting and want to involve your loved ones, here are nine fantastic ways to share the hobby and make it a family affair.

1. Visit your local card shop: Local card shops are treasure troves of knowledge and community. Plan a family outing to your nearest shop. Let each family member explore and ask questions. The staff can often share interesting stories or facts about different cards or sets. This visit can also teach kids about supporting local businesses and the value of expert knowledge.
   TIP: Set expectations with your kids before going in, such as what they can or cannot purchase.
2. Have a pack war: A pack war is a fun, competitive way to open new packs. Each family member gets a pack of the same type. Open them together and compare the contents. You can create a scoring system, but most pack wars are simply seeing who pulls the best card. This activity can also build excitement and teach about probability and value assessment.
   TIP: Record the pack war on your phone...you never know what excitement you might capture!
3. Figure out your personal collections: Encourage each family member to develop their own unique personal collection (PC). One might collect cards of a favorite team, another might focus on a specific player, and someone else might prefer a particular card design or era. This personalization keeps everyone engaged and allows for interesting discussions about different aspects of collecting.
   TIP: Collect what you love! 
4. Build a lineup or roster from your cards: Use your card collections to create dream teams or lineups. You could build all-star rosters or create teams based on specific criteria (like all players from the same state). This activity encourages creativity and deepens knowledge about the subjects on the cards.
   TIP: Compare your lineups and try to determine which team would win head-to-head.
5. Trade!: They're called trading cards, after all! Trading is a great way to grow your PCs and spend time together. Trading teaches valuable lessons about negotiation, fairness, and assessing value. Make it fun by creating a cozy trading environment with snacks and maybe even themed decorations.
   TIP: Have Mom or Dad act as a 3rd party to approve any trades agreed upon by siblings to make sure the trades are fair.
6. Go to a card show together: Card shows offer a broader experience than local shops. Plan a family day out to a local show. You'll see a wide variety of cards, meet other collectors, and possibly find rare items. It's an excellent opportunity to teach children about budgeting if you give them a set amount to spend at the show.
   TIP: Have a very specific plan! Shows can be overwhelming. Determine which cards you're looking for and set a budget before you arrive.
7. Give away cards to others: Use your collection to spread joy. Donate your cards to children in the hospital, elderly in a senior living facility, or maybe kids at a local youth sports event. You could also surprise friends or relatives with cards of their favorite players or characters. This teaches the value of generosity and can help grow the hobby.
   TIP: Spend some time chatting with the people you give cards to. Many times it will make their day!
8. Stash packs away for a rainy day: Create a special box or container where you store unopened packs. On days when you're stuck inside or need a pick-me-up, open some packs together. It's a great way to turn a potentially dull day into an exciting family event.
   TIP: These are a great way to get over the disappointment of a rained out ballgame!
9. Have fun & make memories!: This is the most important thing when it comes to collecting together. Don't let the hobby become stressful or too focused on monetary value. Create rituals around card collecting, like a weekly family card night or an annual card sorting day. Take photos of your collections or special finds. The goal is to enjoy time together and create lasting memories.
   TIP: Ask for input from your kids and spouse. Their feedback will help guide you.