Collect antiques

What can we use if we don't have a small box, soft cloth, toothbrush, or masking tape?

Use a sturdy shoebox or an egg‑carton‑lined container instead of a small box, a clean cotton T‑shirt or microfiber cloth instead of a soft cloth, a Q‑tip for tiny crevices if you don't have a toothbrush, and painter's tape or sticky tack in place of masking tape.

Some items are very dusty or my paper labels keep falling off—how should we handle these problems so we don't damage the antiques?

If an item is too dusty, follow the instruction to dust delicate pieces gently with a soft cloth and never use water, and if labels fall off, tuck the paper label into your notebook, put it in a small plastic bag, or secure it to the item's display base with tape with an adult's help.

How can this antiques hunt be adapted for younger children or for older kids who want more challenge?

For younger children, have an adult lead the search, let them pick a few sturdy items and use stickers while the adult writes the notebook entries, and for older kids let them research each item on a supervised computer, take photos, write detailed care notes, and catalog measurements.

What are simple ways to extend or personalize the collection beyond labeling and putting items on a shelf?

Enhance the project by photographing each item before cleaning, creating a digital catalog or timeline that includes your notebook notes and family stories, making custom hand‑drawn labels for the display, or preparing a short presentation to share on DIY.org.