So if I wanted to start a collection for my grandchildren, what would you suggest? I would like to spend $1000 and buy a variety of cards that are graded 9/10. I’m thinking I’d rather buy from different collections and let them decide their favorites, and then we can build their personal collection from there. I have been out of Pokémon collecting for too long and there have been too many releases that I am not knowledgeable about. Any suggestions on certain cards for starting fresh? Thanks!
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Honestly, just take them to whatever stores are around you that sell cards and let them pick the packs they want to open. Maybe get a couple Elite Trainer Boxes that are available since they come with a booklet that shows all the cards that come in the set and it’s a decent option for storing bulk cards. From there maybe you can figure out what kind of cards they like. Maybe they like a specific Pokemon, then you can start getting them cards of that Pokemon.
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Good point. I was thinking more along the line of building collections that were already out of print, so I could give as gifts. I definitely want them to have the hands on experience of opening new packs, but I also wanted to help them get a head start so they could trade up or buy their own. They are only 3 and 5. Thanks for responding
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let them build the collection they want, not what you want them to have meaning chase cards of pokemon that they really like. let them dictate if they want graded or raw cards. And my biggest recomendation would be to spread out the purchases. Kids will get very excited if you get them one pack each time you go to the store instead of spending 1k out of the gate and then limiting them further down the road.
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I feel like this is a better question for your grandchildren than a forum of strangers.
It also sounds like you’re building a portfolio rather than a collection. Maybe it’s just me but I don’t associate vintage graded cards with 5 year olds.
You’re better off just buying the current stuff and if and when they get to a point where they can appreciate graded cards, that’s probably a better entry point for that
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Yeah, just buying what other people like for the purpose of gifting to your grandchildren will not go that well I think. I mean like if my grandparents were still alive and gave me a binder full of Charizards I wouldn’t enjoy it at all. I would tell them that I do so that they don’t feel like their effort is wasted, but inside, I really don’t want a binder of zards lol. I’d just tell them “hey I wanna help you guys get into collecting, so lets sit down on ebay or go to a store and look and see what you guys like.” and then when you reach around $1k then you just call it
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Find out what Pokemon they like, go on Troll and Toad, and buy one of each variant of those cards, most commons are $0.20 each. Get them hundreds of cards and a binder to keep them in. That is a great way to start collecting. I wouldn’t get them a chase card or any graded cards. Let me appreciate the common cards and the artworks, then build off of that. For example, if they like Eevee and the Eeveelutions, you can get dozens and dozens of those cards for $25. If they like Pikachu, buy any Pikachu under $2 and you will have a stack of them. Good luck!
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To add on to this, the commons and uncommons in the last 4-5 sets especially have been absolutely outstanding and of course since they’re super new most copies will be minty and cheap
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Not to oversimplify things, but it feels like you’re just ‘investing’ $1000 now into pokemon with the intent of handing off those investments (and hopefully profits) to fund their own collection goals down the line. Unfortunately, there is the likely possibility that they might not even be interested in pokemon/collecting in the future. If that’s the case, it might be better to keep the money as money (savings account, bonds, I have no financial acumen so do your research here) and gift it to them to do with whatever they want down the line. Even if the kiddos end up enjoying pokemon and take up the collecting mantle later down the line, the only way perfect outcome is if you either A) invested in what they eventually enjoy (good luck with predicting what a 3/5 year-old will like in the future) or B) invested in what YOU enjoy; that way your gift means something to you, which will mean something to them. I feel like if you gift them something that “were good investments” at the time so they can sell/trade it to fund their own collection, it’s no different than just gifting them money and they end up in that weird situation that nish mentioned above.
If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, I think you can’t go wrong with buying any product now and just enjoy opening and overall just having that experience with them now and maybe rethink the long term investment stuff.
Ultimately, it is your money and you know your grandchildren best. Just wanted to give my honest take.
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I actually WAS thinking of it as an initial investment into something I believe the boys will continue enjoying into the future, but you have all given me some things to consider. Most importantly letting them set the direction of their collection with whatever their interests are. I appreciate everyone’s responses!
I made this quick guide a while ago for questions similar to this, more on the introducing it to children side of things but i think some will still apply. Hope it can help.
www.reddit.com/user/Lyleberr/comments/mugagm/introducing_pokemon_tcg_to_children/
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My wife left me after I spent the kiddos college fund on Chanseys
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Worth it, those holo shifts are sick.
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not everyone can appreciate the #grind
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I’ll give you some actual suggestions since no one else really is answering your question.
Get Pikachu’s and Charizard’s. Something vintage-esque. Make sure it’s holo.
Here are some ideas.
PSA 10 CD Promos. They have iconic characters like Charizard Blastoise Venusaur & Snorlax. And they’re shiny.
McDonalds Pikachu PSA 10 2002 Japanese. It’s Pikachu and it’s holo.
Buy what you enjoy and let them decide if they want to join into this hobby themselves when they are older. I think it would be more enjoyable for me to see what my Grandfather liked collecting rather than the average Charizard or Pikachu stonk card that everyone owns.
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I think your grandchildren would love a nice BGS graded snap card, they look sick!
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I have been doing the same…putting away some of my favourite cards for the grandkids! Like yours, they’re 3 and 5 years old and too young to really appreciate the art of Pokemon collecting! The 5 year old loves Pikachu and Eevee…so those 2 are on my list! I have been saving graded vintage cards mostly. I agree that Charizards and Pikachus are a safe bet for maintaining value. I definitely plan to save some sealed 25th anniversary products for the kids too…the Japanese 25th anniversary set for sure! Good luck! 
For someone who is also building a collection for one of my kids (6yrs old) - I do something simple.
Every time I’m buying cards from Japan, I ask them to pick 5 Pokemon and get them some cards of they characters. Sometimes they are new, sometimes they are old. They love them all the same. My idea is that when he looks back on his binder as an adult, it will be all about nostalgia and nothing about the value of the cards.
His binder is already really nice to flick through and he really looks forward to getting more cards. I think I get more enjoyment from seeing him happy and hyped up then he does.
Hopefully my 2yr old will be as interested in a few years and I can do the same for him.
I like the idea of you wanting to help your grandchildren build up collections.
But don’t think of the monetary value of the cards THAT much. A lot of what’s going for really high right now is either a bunch of Charizards or really obscure stuff. If you want to invest in modern you can track down some PSA 9’s and 10’s on eBay between 50-300 for a decent card. Maybe show them some cards and make a fun game or experience with them and they can chose. And if you still have money left over buy some modern packs and have fun with them.
A BIG part of why there’s so much going on with Pokémon right now is because there’s many wonderful memories people have had with these cards in the 25 years the franchise has been around.