New to the site, 9yo son is a Toy Story fan
My name is Brian, son Daniel is 9, wife is Camellia (she doesn't trade )
So how this all started...
About two years ago we went to Disneyland and found out about Disney pins. My son was 7, his cousins were 6 and 5. Daniel has autism but is high functioning. I thought that the interaction with others, waiting your turn, and being polite would be a good thing for him. This first trip he wasn't interested at all, we actually made him trade a pin before he could go on a ride. I think most trades were for Toy Story pins.
The next year we made it to Disney World and he was willing to trade but didn't seek out people to trade with. I would point out a lanyard and he would want to go over but with everything else to look at he never seemed to notice them on his own. He would trade with every person even if they didn't have something he liked (Dad's pocket full of pins meant he didn't have to give up any of his favorites). Each night after trading we went through the pins and some went back into the trading pocket. The main focus was still Toy Story.
This year Grandma took the family on a Disney cruise to Alaska (awesome). Daniel now looks at nearly every worker to see if they have pins. He will say no thank you if he doesn't find a pin that he likes. The best part is that he asked every day to go trade pins after dinner (they had a set time and place to trade). Daniel is still trying to add Toy Story pins (expecially the vinylmation shaped ones) but has now added pins that have the theme of pirates. Any pin that has hinges and opens up is an added bonus to him. His favorite is Pin 46072: It Was All Started With ... - Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse
Personally I enjoy the trading as well, it was a lot of fun to be able to trade away tinkerbell or puffles to the other kids that are so excited to get them. Personally I don't get the puffles but I have never seen the show. My part of the collection is trying to build the Hidden Mickey Lanyard - Silhouette Collection from 2007-2009, I am about half way there.
Whew.... that is enough for now.
So how this all started...
About two years ago we went to Disneyland and found out about Disney pins. My son was 7, his cousins were 6 and 5. Daniel has autism but is high functioning. I thought that the interaction with others, waiting your turn, and being polite would be a good thing for him. This first trip he wasn't interested at all, we actually made him trade a pin before he could go on a ride. I think most trades were for Toy Story pins.
The next year we made it to Disney World and he was willing to trade but didn't seek out people to trade with. I would point out a lanyard and he would want to go over but with everything else to look at he never seemed to notice them on his own. He would trade with every person even if they didn't have something he liked (Dad's pocket full of pins meant he didn't have to give up any of his favorites). Each night after trading we went through the pins and some went back into the trading pocket. The main focus was still Toy Story.
This year Grandma took the family on a Disney cruise to Alaska (awesome). Daniel now looks at nearly every worker to see if they have pins. He will say no thank you if he doesn't find a pin that he likes. The best part is that he asked every day to go trade pins after dinner (they had a set time and place to trade). Daniel is still trying to add Toy Story pins (expecially the vinylmation shaped ones) but has now added pins that have the theme of pirates. Any pin that has hinges and opens up is an added bonus to him. His favorite is Pin 46072: It Was All Started With ... - Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse
Personally I enjoy the trading as well, it was a lot of fun to be able to trade away tinkerbell or puffles to the other kids that are so excited to get them. Personally I don't get the puffles but I have never seen the show. My part of the collection is trying to build the Hidden Mickey Lanyard - Silhouette Collection from 2007-2009, I am about half way there.
Whew.... that is enough for now.