Pokemon, pokemon, poke-me-in-the-eye.
August 17, 2022 11:34 AM Subscribe
My kid has gotten into Pokemon cards. Two related questions:
1. What is the best way to keep them organized and out from underfoot? Right now, he is keeping his treasures in an Ikea cookie tin, but I see there are binders available with inserts, although they seem kinda pricey.
2. If I want to blow his mind with happiness, what are some fun Pokemon related things we can get him? He mostly likes looking at the cards and telling me in enormous detail and specificity about the factoids on them, so maybe the official encyclopedia?
1. What is the best way to keep them organized and out from underfoot? Right now, he is keeping his treasures in an Ikea cookie tin, but I see there are binders available with inserts, although they seem kinda pricey.
2. If I want to blow his mind with happiness, what are some fun Pokemon related things we can get him? He mostly likes looking at the cards and telling me in enormous detail and specificity about the factoids on them, so maybe the official encyclopedia?
1. Any baseball / Pokemon card binder with clear sleeves for each card is very your best bet - your kid will get to spend hours organizing them and there will be less damage to cards then in a rubberband, cookie tin, etc. If you want to go real expensive put each card in a its own stand alone sleeve (you will do this anyway for favorite cards). I find these at garage sales.
2. The most recent encylopedia is the way to go - knowing that you will get add ons with each new series. If you can get it in hardback do it. (Also t shirts so the pokemon kids can recognize each other and geek out.)
3. Please for your kid and the rest of us who love your kid and who love other kids out there in the world. Make some clear ground rules - no taking cards to school or camp and no trades where you will be giving away / trading away / letting someone borrowing cards that you don't already have copies of or with people you don't already know.
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 11:51 AM on August 17, 2022 [9 favorites]
2. The most recent encylopedia is the way to go - knowing that you will get add ons with each new series. If you can get it in hardback do it. (Also t shirts so the pokemon kids can recognize each other and geek out.)
3. Please for your kid and the rest of us who love your kid and who love other kids out there in the world. Make some clear ground rules - no taking cards to school or camp and no trades where you will be giving away / trading away / letting someone borrowing cards that you don't already have copies of or with people you don't already know.
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 11:51 AM on August 17, 2022 [9 favorites]
Yes get encyclopedia! The most current one right now is called “ Super Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook (Pokémon): The Need-to-Know Stats and Facts on Over 875 Characters”. I got this version for my friends Pokémon obsessed 8 year old and he loved it.
Also I ordered it from my local bookstore and it got enough interest from passing kids on the hold shelf that they started stocking it.
posted by lepus at 11:53 AM on August 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
Also I ordered it from my local bookstore and it got enough interest from passing kids on the hold shelf that they started stocking it.
posted by lepus at 11:53 AM on August 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
1) The binders are good (and you can easily get them for less on Ebay or free if you have a Buy Nothing Group), but based on my own kid experience, they'll all end up in cookie tins anyway.
2) This book is like the bible in our house (well, the last edition has been). Be prepared that once he knows the stats, it may be all he talks about.
Also my son still loves these guys.
Depending on his age, there are some great "How to Draw Pokemon" books out there.
posted by Mchelly at 11:54 AM on August 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
2) This book is like the bible in our house (well, the last edition has been). Be prepared that once he knows the stats, it may be all he talks about.
Also my son still loves these guys.
Depending on his age, there are some great "How to Draw Pokemon" books out there.
posted by Mchelly at 11:54 AM on August 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
(FYI The minifigures I linked to are not licensed and they are garbage quality, but my kid has had them for years and still loves playing with them)
posted by Mchelly at 11:58 AM on August 17, 2022
posted by Mchelly at 11:58 AM on August 17, 2022
My son memorized the Pokemon Encyclopedia. Once he does, it actually allows you to play a game where you look up an obscure fact and quiz him on the book, which is slightly less boring than just listening to him ramble. "What is the final evolution of Fomantis?" "What is the Strong Arm Pokemon?" "What is different about the Alolan form of Diglett?"
We also did some really beautiful 1000 piece puzzles together that had Pokemon themes; he's not into puzzles but it kept him interested.
posted by gideonfrog at 1:32 PM on August 17, 2022
We also did some really beautiful 1000 piece puzzles together that had Pokemon themes; he's not into puzzles but it kept him interested.
posted by gideonfrog at 1:32 PM on August 17, 2022
You don't need to buy special binders, you can get 9 pocket pages that fit in any 3 ring binder for under $20/100. The main brands that people use are Ultra Pro and BCW, but there are cheaper generic ones too. If you're buying on Amazon just look for "PVC Free".
I agree about BCW boxes, but it's better to buy those in person than online because they're kinda bulky cardboard boxes and shipping is prohibitive for the big ones. I'd look for a local card or game shop and ask there, they can be really helpful and welcoming. I'd just search for "Pokemon cards" or "card shop" on Google Maps and go to one with a good rating. Even the ones that are more for sports cards should have storage stuff and can point you towards a more Pokémon-oriented shop. No one uses the BCW brand name btw, just ask for "cardboard storage boxes".
posted by Small Dollar at 3:00 PM on August 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
I agree about BCW boxes, but it's better to buy those in person than online because they're kinda bulky cardboard boxes and shipping is prohibitive for the big ones. I'd look for a local card or game shop and ask there, they can be really helpful and welcoming. I'd just search for "Pokemon cards" or "card shop" on Google Maps and go to one with a good rating. Even the ones that are more for sports cards should have storage stuff and can point you towards a more Pokémon-oriented shop. No one uses the BCW brand name btw, just ask for "cardboard storage boxes".
posted by Small Dollar at 3:00 PM on August 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by okonomichiyaki at 11:47 AM on August 17, 2022