A Flea Market
Field Trip
Written By Beth Wolfensberger Singer
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The fleas are gone, but it's still got history, mystery, and buried treasure.
My husband, David, and I are antiques hounds. We filled our old house with old things because we think they're well made and unique: You're not going to find a circa-1920s lollipop-shaped drugstore scale at Macy's. But we couldn't expect our kids to listen quietly to an auctioneer or keep their hands off the art glass in antiques shops. Our first trip to this flea market, held on 34 acres of a former farm, was therefore a last-ditch attempt to include them in our hobby.
We suspected the kids might like the exploring and running around, as well as the occasional find: the 1940s-era stamp pad set, the box of theater costumes. But we were surprised to find that they learned so much about collecting, bargaining, history, and their own tastes. They now see the flea market as the ultimate treasure hunt. Still, the sheer volume of stuff can overwhelm kids, so I've developed a few age-based strategies that seem to foster their treasure hunting spirit.
All ages.
To mute the gimmes, we sometimes give each kid just one dollar. We illustrate the difference between "want" and "need" by asking them to imagine their find at home, and if they think it would really get much use. We often leave the flea market empty-handed, and, to our relief, the kids don't seem to mind. Like any good collector, they believe they'll find the real treasures next time.
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