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If you’re a parent of school-age children, you’re likely aware that Pokémon popularity is hitting a fever pitch. It’s the latest all-consuming obsession of Will, my eldest child — and he isn’t the only kid (or adult) out there that’s ensnared by the “pocket monsters” created in 1996 by Japanese designer Satoshi Tajiri, inspired by his childhood fascination with insects.
I started to dive into Pokémon’s popularity last summer, after we hosted a garage sale where, along with the children browsing our secondhand toys, more than one middle-aged adult approached us looking for Pokémon cards to buy. (One even asked to come inside our home to look through our kids’ stuff — a request that we sharply declined.) In our neighborhood, it was easy to see the craze taking over. Kids stuff Pokémon cards in backpacks to trade at school, wear Pokémon “merch” and discuss their collections endlessly.
Last fall we threw a Pokémon trading card party for my kids and their friends, where they huddled over open binders in our game room, debating the value of their cards and exchanging them at lightning speed. They even set up a separate tent dedicated to “serious” deals, monitored by parents to police any unfair swaps. It reminded me of a children’s gambling ring, and the kids loved every minute of it.
I learned that the parents were just as invested in the card exchange as their children. Darcy McDonald, a parent of two boys who attended the party, spoke reverently of her original binder of Pokémon cards from childhood. Another mom (who requested anonymity) admitted she agreed to a parking lot exchange with the cashier at our local Dollar Tree who claimed his cards were better than the stacks she was buying. Our house was also full of dads who took off work early to attend, one even whipped out his phone to consult stats on the TCGPlayer app.
According to the brand’s latest figures, over 75 billion Pokémon official cards have been produced and sold as of March 2025. Cards today sell for a wild range of prices: singles of lesser status can cost just a few cents, and rare or ultra-rare cards can be sold for hundreds or thousands of dollars. In February, influencer and wrestler Logan Paul auctioned off an ultra-rare Pokémon card – set in a diamond-encrusted necklace — for a record-setting price of $16.5 million.
Even if you’re baffled by Pokémon’s unrelenting popularity, if you’re reading this story, someone in your life — adult or child — is probably into the game. And what’s the harm in indulging your kid’s newest interest and learning about this global phenomenon? Who knows, maybe you’ll score a rare card, bond with your family and even gain a new hobby.
Ahead, find everything you need if you’re going to “catch ’em all.”
Some Pokémon cards from a trusted seller
If you go to the official Pokémon website you’ll see that the cards are available at variety of major retailers, including Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. Third-party sellers often supply the big-box chains with their online inventory, so double-check the “sold by” or “shipped from” information and ensure the vendor is trustworthy by checking reviews — these sellers could be counterfeit or selling resealed packs. (Yes, people really do open packages, swap out valuable cards and then re-sell them.) Know that these big-box stores primarily specialize in packs, so if you want to buy individual cards you’ll have to use a site like TCGplayer or even eBay, where you should carefully review product descriptions and photos to ensure the cards are authentic, and look for established sellers that are highly rated across numerous transactions.
If your kid has expressed interest in getting some cards, you can always start small with this 10-pack from Target for $20. If you want more cards with a chance of pulling a valuable one, then this 30-card assortment from Walmart is a good buy.
A professional or starter binder for aspiring collectors
When you catch them all, you need to put them somewhere safe. In our household, binders to store Pokémon cards have been accumulating almost as quickly as the cards themselves — and if you're planning to make this purchase, know that there’s a range of sizes and brands you can pick from.
Professional traders may prefer the rigid Vault X zip binders that are designed for longterm card protection, but for young Pokémon fans just beginning their journey, this decorated binder from Amazon is a great starter choice. It can hold up to 400 cards (trust me, your kid will fill it up fast) and is equipped with a carrying strap.
From past experience, it’s important you make sure whatever binder you choose has a zipper, it’s easy for cards to get loose and then slide out of binders that aren’t more secure. This binder has plenty of promising reviews that also attest to the zippers quality to safeguarding all of your Pokémon cards.
A character encyclopedia that kids can consult independently
If you're going to become a Pokémon parent, there will come a point where your child is going to desperately need you to know all about this universe...or ask for your phone to look up what power level each card they pull has. In order to impress them with your knowledge of the Pokémon world, or to avoid them grabbing your phone this essential guidebook is useful — it's the most up-to-date edition of the bestselling "Essential Handbook". The book includes all-new Pokémon with 640 illustrated pages with info on more than 1,000 Pokémon characters.
A screen-free drawing tutorial
My kids aren’t just obsessed with Pokemon battles with their cards, they love to practice drawing the little creatures. Without having to turn on a screen and watch YouTube “How to draw,” videos this Pokemon drawing tutorial book has 65 characters with step-by-step guide on how to best capture the likeness of their favorite Pokemons.
This historic collaboration between Pokémon and Lego
This Pokémon-Lego collaboration is perhaps one the hottest topics in my household — and I know we aren’t the only family obsessed with the three sets that launched earlier this year. This is the very first mashup between the two behemoth kids' brands, and some sets cost nearly 'Star Wars' Death Star-price points, while others that are more budget friendly. Choose from Eevee (bottom left), a Pikachu and Poké ball set (bottom right), or a mega-build consisting of the Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise characters (top).
Some soccer-inspired swag to show off your fandom
While it's not a super-rare card valued in the thousands, Pokemon merch is an essential part of every fan's collection. Target has a great selection of Pokémon clothing for kids, like this Pikachu soccer jersey that has high marks from shoppers and comes in youth sizes XS-XXL.
... or a Charizard tee
This bright Charizard shirt from Abercrombie Kids is 100% cotton, so it’s likely to withstand your Pokémon crazed kid wearing it frequently to school. On the front is, according to one reviewer, a “wee Pokémon,” and a “big image,” on the back (pictured here) — the anonymous reviewer also praised the tee for being true to size. I personally love the cut of the shirt, with a slightly wider crew neckline.
The merging of two fandoms into one
A Funko-Pop collectible toy in Pokémon form is a no-brainer for devoted fans. The miniature official Pikachu Funko-Pop collab is a waxed vinyl mini figurine that clocks in at almost four inches tall. It’s a perfect gift for Pokémon fans that want to invest in collecting, but will be just as much fun for a young player to have in their toy stockpile. And Funko didn’t stop at the classic Pikachu — they also made several other Pokémons including an Amazon-exclusive fuzzy Espeon and more affordable characters like Charmander, Squirtle and Charizard.
