4 Reasons Why Our Kids Want to Collect All The Things - and when it starts to become a problem

Some of your kids might even be what I lovingly refer to as Curators -- those are the kids who make your limited resource of space a special challenge - because they want to collect everything! I remember the day my mom told me that I would have to carry my own shiny rocks... it was at Girl Scout Camp and it was a formative moment! Hah!

The stuff can clutter our house, and get so frustrating - especially when it seems like they don't even play with it. It's one thing if they were using the supplies constantly - but some of our kids seem to like the idea of the stuff more than using or playing with it.

This can definitely cause some concern for parents - who are worried that the desire to hold onto things signifies an underlying anxiety or fear.

Most parents can rest easy and focus on helping your kids collect happily. Here are...

4 Reasons Why Your Kid Might Collect Stuff

1. They're curators! They enjoy the organization and display of collections!

This is a skill! There are higher level degrees in how to curate a collection. It's a well-respected ability. It takes observation, awareness, and attention to detail. Parents - you can help by creating a space that really honors the collection! Maybe a display case, or a special shelf, or better lighting.

2. They enjoy having the expertise, knowledge, and ability to categorize and re-categorize.

There's something so fun about having enough of a collection to be able to sort and re-sort it! This ties in with a love of seeing and recognizing patterns, and again speaks to intelligence and awareness. It takes dedication and investment to understand nuances about their collection in order to sort into different configurations! Parents - you can help by listening to the same information on repeat and asking questions that ask them to dive even deeper.

3. There's security, pride, and accomplishment in having a complete set!

The sense of completion that happens when you "catch 'em all" is so great! This feeling of mastery is not always easy to come by for a lot of kids. This creates the foundation for healthy neurotransmitters and actually makes it easier for kids to build their confidence and self-esteem in other areas! Parents - you can help by naming the strengths it took to build their collection, such as dedication, perseverance, and commitment.

4. Stuff is fun. It's okay to like stuff.

Just because minimalism is a trend, and just because you want to give away your possessions does not mean that everyone else needs to. Stuff can be great. Stuff = cool stories, neat reminders, fun textures, homey spaces. I take great pride in my stuff - it shows my personality, it's interesting to see what changes and what stays the same over time. It reminds me of people and places I love. Collections are interesting. There's nothing morally superior about wanting less.

When should I worry that my kid is collecting too much?

Why are they collecting so much? Is this a red flag? Are my children becoming hoarders? Are they collecting things because they are anxious or unable to let things go? When should I worry?

So mostly - kids collect for the reasons I listed above, and the only real issue is when parents don't help them achieve those collections. Every once in a while, however - I do run across a situation where the collection is indicative of a deeper issue. Here are questions to ask that will give you insight.

• How does it feel if you can't keep something?
• How do you feel if something happens to one of your things?
• How much time do you spend worrying about your collection?