Pokemon

What on earth did he see in them I thought. To me, it was another cheap asian cartoon with a pathetic story line. I never dreamt they would become as big as they have. A bunch of poorly thought up creatures with poorly thought up names battling each other.

For those that have been fortunate enough to know nothing about this craze, it tells the story of 3 people called Ash, Misty and Brock (trainers), that go around collecting Pokemon and using them to do battle against other Pokemon Trainers. The star Pokemon is called Pikachu, and an evil duo, known as Team Rocket (Jesse and James), are out to steal him.

Children were then subject to a very expensive hobby of collecting Pokemon cards, which they can too do battle against their friends Pokemon cards. Each card having a different value and different fighting moves.

Packs range from £7.50 for 60 cards to £2.50 for 11.

These prices are disgusting for what you get, and 11 cards do not last long if you continue to do battle against your friends.
This craze has become so big that it has led to bullying in the playground, and even children being robbed of their cards at knifepoint. (Yes really!) My sons school, and many other schools, have now banned the children from bringing them to school.

Pokemon is also available on the Gameboy and Nintendo consoles, and many other toys have been produced and are very over-priced.
The other day my son wanted a Pokemon holdall - it was £14.99!!

My son only gets £2.50 a week pocket money which he can spend on whatever he wishes, and he usually buys a pack of Pokemon cards with this.
I accept the fact that he is a Pokemon fan, but I do not like it, so we have made a deal. I do not want him to waste his money, so I have brought him a folder with plastic pages that hold 9 cards. In it he will place all his cards, but only do battle and swaps with his duplicates.
This way he can build up a collection, which in time may be of some value(?).
His collection is growing well, and he has become proud of it, boasting some rare ones among it.
We know that children's crazes come and go, and maybe this one will pass us by, but I resent the fact that somebody is always making a lot of money out of our children and also us parents!

By the way, I would like to make it known that I am not a skinflint by only giving my son £2.50 pocket money. It is a way of showing him the value of money and how quickly it can be spent. He gets extra treats like sweets and cinema trips, and an occasional toy.

A great place to obtain cards that your child needs is to visit ebay.co.uk. With my son sat next to me with his folder of Pokemon cards, we looked down the list of cards on offer. I suggest all parents take a hold of their kids collection and lock them in the safe!!!
We came accross several cards being bid for £5 and more, and ones that my son already has!
There was one guy there selling a completed set for £205!
You can even buy the plastic folders by the 100 from here!
Remember though, only cards in good condition are worth anything. A card that is scratched or curled up at the edges may as well go in the bin.

I think that now, instead of him swapping and battling his cards, it may be useful to sell them at ebay!! (unless of course he swaps a card for one he needs in his collection).