Take a kid to a local rock and mineral show, and I can almost guarantee that you will end up spending a few bucks to buy that kid something that is either shiny, colorful or both. There is something inherently appealing about rocks to kids. Put that together with a kid's natural tendency to collect things (and I promise rocks are better than some things they bring home), and rock collecting is a natural family activity.

For us adults, it is a chance to hold on to that bit of childhood while at the same time bringing the hobby to a more adult level of interest. Hence, it ceases to be rock collecting and becomes mineral collecting.

I started collecting minerals in November of 2013 when I was seeking an activity to do with my 6 1/2 year old son who loves science. He has since put together quite a collection of his own during that time, one which is a solid foundation for a lifelong hobby. My collection is displayed here on Mindat.org.