ABSTRACT
This paper reports on a comparative study of children’s collections and reflects on the role of collections in nurturing talents and interests of children. In 1900, eminent psychologist, G. Stanley Hall and his colleagues surveyed childrens’ collections in selected schools in California. Recently, the author and her graduate students embarked on a similar investigation of present-day childrens’ collections. Results indicate that nine and ten continue to be the ages when children make the largest number of collections. Also, fewer items are collected today that relate to nature. Results are discussed in relation to curriculum for the gifted.
