Collectors and kids

I'm sure some of you collectors out there have kids, (hec Im pretty sure some of you ARE kids.) Heres my question, do your kids share your enthusiam when it comes to collecting or just TF in general? Do they have the same bright eyed look on their faces that you did the first time you got a TF?

I ask this because I met a collector the other day that was a HARDCORE, MISB collector. I mean to the point where it seems more like an obession than a hobby. Now my feelings toward someone like it this, is "why?" I dont see a point in it, it takes away from the Hobby aspect of collecting and turns it into a business. This guy was forcing this obsession onto his 5 year old son. he would buy the kid hot wheels SW and TF and not allow the kid to open or even handle the box.

I guess i could somewhat understand if he bought one for play and one for show, but that wasnt so much the case. it was more like "son, im buying you this leader class prime, and a real gear" then the kid can only play with the RG.

Maybe its just me but this seems like the collecting equivilant of those Little League dads that beat up a coach because their kid doesnt start, when in reality the kid doesnt even want to be there.

I'm not a MISB Collector but i have some MISB such as Movie Leader Optimus, 20th Aniversery Prime,K,O Evac and Micromaster Long hual,Quickmix and Swindle.

Yeah,I'm a kid of course.

Originally Posted by Autovolt 127 i wished i was named after something.......like pyschopathic murderer that's be cool.

Originally Posted by ambushbug74 Well, give it time. When you become a serial killer, someone might name their kid after you. So there is still hope.

Some of the parents I've met like that aren't buying the "leader class Prime" for the kids in actuality, they're just using the kids as an excuse to spend the money. I'm a collector with kids. Ask anyone that met me at the last 2 Botcons. My oldest son was with me pretty much the whole time at both cons. He does get that bright eyed look, the possum grin, and start bouncing from foot to foot. He also is allowed to play with any toy in my collection, and I've got a pretty decent collection. Does the occasional toy get broken? Yeah, but hell, I've broken them, too. At the end of the day, they're just toys, but the relationship you're building with your kid's is much, much more. Tear 'em open and play with 'em, preferably with a kid.

my oldest son is in LOVE with transformers. he can play with any of my transfomers he wants (the alternators are sort of off limits). if he wants nothing to do with transformers thats fine too.

See thats what I'm talking about. Adult collectors should share the joy of collecting with there kids, not use them as an excuse.

I dont have kids but my girlfriend does and the first time she brought her 5 year old son over and he grabbed my G1 Prime she spazed. I had to explain to her that these are toys, and they're ment to be played with, if not by me than a child.

Couldn't have said it better myself

too true. have you ever sat and just played with energon omega supreme! i dont think i would have if i was not playing with my son!

I only trust myself and and my friend Brad with my TF's,Brad becuase he can transform any Transformer without instructiuon,Instructions stand by.

Originally Posted by Autovolt 127 i wished i was named after something.......like pyschopathic murderer that's be cool.

Originally Posted by ambushbug74 Well, give it time. When you become a serial killer, someone might name their kid after you. So there is still hope.

It's all about the kids. I have a few toys that I won't let them touch but I have no problem with my son having a little fun.



Poor ravage.....lol

The way I see it, if I bring something home for me, I bring something home for my daughter. Its what my dad did with me. He has a complete loose Star Wars collection he let me play with (big mistake, lots of teeth marks on the early ones). When i got a little older and was into Transformers, he'd bring home Star Wars, and a Transformer for me. So when I went into my attic at 21 and pulled out a nearly complete G1 loose collection with 95% of all accessories baggied with the toys and their tech specs, suddenly his crazed "CLEAN UP YOUR TOYS!" attitude seemed like the most brilliant thing he ever did. Thank Grandma for throwing out his comics and baseball cards. It was spoiling me, be he thought it was mean to bring your kid something he didn't want or wasn't for him.

I started out collecting G1 MISB when I got bored with comicbooks. At first my 3yr. old son was fascinated with the "wobots", but was only allowed to handle them under close supervision and care. After buying, and watching the 20th Anniversary DVD boxset of the G1 cartoons, and original TF movie, this type of interaction with my toys wasn't going to cut it anymore. I bought him some of the newer toys, and we enjoyed those together, but he wanted toys like daddy's. So it started with tearing open some carded Throttlebots, and a MISB Cyclonus. This got expensive quick!
Thats when I decided that a portion of my money budgeted for TF's would have to be alotted for loose G1 toys for him. Since then he has got the rest of his Throttlebots,(they are easy for him to transform by himself, and he takes great pride in schooling his friends on them), a Metroplex, and 3 deluxe Insecticons.

Shopping on Ebay with him is great fun, even though he wants EVERYTHING!!!
Hopefully, we can both experience Botcon for the 1st time together in 2008.


He told me yesterday that he absolutely needs an Optimus Prime, so that is next.
I am just really glad that he has intense interest in my hobby, and look forward to many years of enjoying Transformers with him.