Need storage ideas for rock collection

[neetling]

for preschoolers. My girls LOVE rocks and we took them gem mining yesterday. They have quite the little collection started. They are 4 and almost 3 and love to handle and sort the rocks so I need it to be accessible and little kid friendly. I would also need it to be securable as they have a new baby brother that will be mobile at some point and I don't want him to choke obviously.

I am not crafty in the slightest and they are currently being stored in bowls which won't work in the long term.

Thanks in advance for the input!

[blazfglori]

How about a tackle box or small toolbox?

Both of those can be locked down.

[JessicaS]

I see those shadow boxes at thrift stores all the time.

If you found a big one or even two..you could paint to match their room, that might be really fun for them. They could see their rocks easily and it could be high enough to be out of reach of little brother.

[Ambrose]

They get heavy over time. I had collected 4 shoeboxes worth of rocks as a kid when I moved one time. I went to Crafts Direct the other day and say a 'Gem Cleaner'. You put your rock in it and it cleans it all up and sometimes you find out that instead of a crusty old grey rock you really have a pretty quartz or some such.... I think that's what it was about.

I'd look into if DD was older and was adamant about rocks, but right now she's stuck on sticks.