Wonders and Warnings: A Parents’ Guide to Trading Card Games (Part 2)

Make sure to read Part 1 of this two-parter first!

Remember that Blastoise card?

I have been on the hunt trying to replace it lately. But getting my hands on that shiny piece of cardboard is a lot harder than it used to be. Welcome to 2026 where the trading card scene can be a hostile and sometimes volatile market. If you overhear two collectors comparing notes, it might be hard to figure out if they are talking about the stock market, or trading card market. And just like with that Blastoise card I accidentally left on the dash of my parents minivan, it’s often what we don’t know that can hurt the most. I had a blast talking about all the fun things that come with trading card games. I truly feel it would be irresponsible of me as a collector, and for some of you, a fellow parent, if I did not take time to tell you that while there are a ton of wonderful things about trading card games.

The reality is, there are some things to be wary of as well. While there is a long list of things a collector should probably know, for the sake of today, I am going to focus on the things a parent should know. Why? Because hopefully the majority of you reading this aren’t collecting cardboard for a living, you are doing your best to raise your younglings to be the best version of the awesome kid we both know they are.

Warning 1: When it comes to “chase cards” opening packs is basically gambling. Every new set has cards that are more elaborate and rare than others, and the chances of somebody getting that in one pack are next to nothing. The tiniest detail can set one card at a higher value than another. What are some of those details? 

Well for one, some card games print multiple copies of the same card, but in different art styles. So technically it’s the same card, it is just given an exclusive art that is harder to find than others. Sometimes it has a holographic or “shiny” treatment that adds value, but not all shiny cards are valuable. Most trading card games print shiny “common” cards just to add to the fun of collecting. 

No matter the reasoning for the value, it is important that often that value is set in a way that makes the card “desirable”, and thus creating a race for the consumer to try to get their hands on a copy. So if we zoom out and call it like we see it, what danger could this have the potential to create? A gambling culture.

Most trading card games offer a competitive aspect to them, and some cards just do things within the game that make it a very strong card. Maybe it is a key piece to a specific strategy or perhaps it is just a card that does something very specific within the game that elevates it among competitive formats. For trading card game cards, the value is more often attached to its exclusivity. Pikachu and Charizard are great examples. If your kid collects Pokémon cards, you have probably heard those names before. But a Pikachu card doesn’t always guarantee it will be worth money. And getting a cool looking rare printed is also not a guarantee that it is worth money. So how can you tell if a card is valuable?

There are tools out there that can help you and your collector quickly learn the value of a card. For many of the cards we have talked about, TCGplayer.com offers a quick value assessment. They have an app or you can look up the card on their website. There are sometimes different prints, or reprints of a card that might change the value. And just like any collector based hobby, there are details that are not always known just by looking at a card that can affect that value as well. Sometimes even misprints are worth more than the actual card itself. If you are completely stumped online we recommend taking it to a local game store or trading card show for somebody to examine in person. Other apps also can tell you quickly what a card is worth as well. 

Warning 2: Dopamine hits. No matter the reasoning for the value, it is important that often that value is set in a way that makes the card “desirable”, and thus creating a race for the consumer to try to get their hands on a copy. So if we zoom out and call it like we see it, what danger could this have the potential to create? A gambling culture. For baseball cards, the big gamble used to be on the rookie card. You got a few rookie cards in hopes that the rookie in question might eventually turn out to be an all star and increase the value of that card.

Maybe you’ve seen the videos of kids pulling the card they wanted and they just start sobbing. I get it. I’m sobbing too. And not just because I know how much of my student loans I would be paying if I sold a card like that. But when I say nothing feels better, that’s not completely true, because there are a lot of things that feel that good. And the reason for this seemingly innocent feeling is that when those moments happen, it is actually a chemical effect. When those moments happen, it actually gives your brain a dopamine hit. And the more it happens, the more your brain starts craving that experience to get the dopamine.

The Rowan Center for behavioral medicine just published an article recently that talks about how and why brains get stuck in these dopamine loops. For a moment, just think back to some mechanical science and remember the power of a “lever”. A lever uses a tool that makes it easier to lift something up. The same things can happen in the brain and often will in regards to any collectible hobby. Here are some examples.

Uncertainty – The idea that you are not guaranteed to get the card you want by opening a random pack.

What it creates in the brain – This creates curiosity and a thrill of chase.

Scarcity – The fact there is always a limited amount of something

What it creates in the brain – This creates a sense of urgency. “I have to get it before it’s gone.”

Randomness – The fact that every pack has a random assortment of cards, so it is possible to pull a really awesome amazing card!

What it creates in the brain – This starts the brain down a road of Dopamine anticipation so it feels really good to even open a pack even before seeing the cards.

Social Proof – The physical item proves that you have it. You can prove to people you own the item by showing it off.

What it creates in the brain – Belonging, or proof of social belonging. It almost acts as a status indicator.

Near-miss scenarios – Opening a pack and not getting what you were looking for can leave somebody feeling like they were “so close” to getting what they want.

What it creates in the brain – It offers a “try again” compulsion. Because it’s random, all you might have to do is try again to get what you want.

Once the brain associates a behavior with relief, it begins to pre-grant dopamine before the behavior happens. That’s why the impulse feels so strong.

I love how the article from the Rowan Center mentioned puts it, “Each of those alone is motivating. Stack them together and you get compulsion disguised as play.” The article goes on simply to offer some recommendations to this help with disrupting these cycles, and they really aren’t that elaborate. Simply adding things like social environments, opening packs together or with friends, shifts the dopamine from solo dopamine to social, and also clearly identifying things when they become a problem helps too. But just to be clear, the problem isn’t a card problem, it’s a brain problem.

The loop the brain is in is not a “buy toy” loop. It’s a self soothing loop. There was a time when my son Oliver would lose his pacy in the crib at night. And If he didn’t get one he would cry. He was in distress. Eventually he learned that if I lose my pacifier, I feel around until I find one, then I am good. 

His brain learned a soothing loop. Once the brain associates a behavior with relief, it begins to pre-grant dopamine before the behavior happens. That’s why the impulse feels so strong. The goal is not moralizing (“just stop buying”). The goal is metacognition awareness of the loop.

Here are some of the ways it is recommended to help avoid some of the problematic brain loops:

1. First lets call a spade a spade (or in our case lets call a Pikachu a Pikachu)

When you can help your child understand that there is a possibility that the act of cracking a pack is actually what they are craving and not the cards themselves, you can help them understand themselves a bit more. I think it’s ok to ask them the question point blank. “Do you really want to open a pack or are you feeling like you NEED to open the pack to feel good?” Help your kid understand that part of why they love their hobby is simply because their brain is trying to connect the feeling with the thing.

2. Build in intentional waiting periods.

Keep it from being too routine. Waiting a day or two before picking up and opening another pack will help weaken the compulsive thought without getting rid of the hobby altogether. So give it some time in between opening packs and trips to the store. Make it intentional. 

3. Partner the experience with your presence.

Opening packs together and doing things like trading cards, playing the game together and things like that will move the type of dopamine from solo dopamine to social dopamine which is a huge plus!  So make it a family affair! Especially when you gift your collector with the cards for a special occasion, or to highlight a moment, don’t let them run off to their room to start opening packs alone, but sit with them. Celebrate with them. Jump around the room with them. I can almost promise you they will remember that you were there for the big moment if it happens to come. They will remember that you were excited too.  

4. Make the timing a choice.

The act of cracking a pack isn’t a bad thing, but like we just said timing is everything. You can shrink the randomness of the demand by offering packs as rewards for good grades, good behavior, or just to surprise them for a fun event. It also says “you earned this moment” which can add to the value of the experience even more!

The third and final warning I think you should know as a parent is that these card games are called trading card games for a reason. It is totally ok to trade, and remember, the cards are worth as much as somebody says. But some of these cards have assigned value.

In fantasy football, you can get in trouble for Collusion. That’s when two people agree to a terrible trade, and one person is getting a way better deal. Usually the league manager steps in and vetoes those trades, but there is no league manager on the playground. Pokémon is really interesting here because kids might have a “favorite Pokémon” that they are willing to trade anything for, but still we recommend that you are involved enough in your kids trade binder that you can approve any major trades they want to do. Maybe you are involved enough that there is one binder that you say “hey whenever you trade out of this binder, you have to ask me first” or “wait 24 hours to be sure”. 

One consistent thing that rings true for every trading card game, is that not a single one of them was ever meant to be done alone.

These things can help your kids have fun experiences when it comes to trading cards. Because remember, yes, there are cards that are worth way too much money, and sometimes for no apparent reason. 

So those are some warnings for you, but please hear me when I say, I am not anti-trading card. I love collecting, I love playing the games and I try to enter some competitive tournaments whenever I get a chance! Trading cards and the games we collect them for are literally made to be fun. If you love board games, or even strategy card games, these are great ways to connect with your kids in a fun, safe way.

I once heard Magic the Gathering as a card game that is like “chess if you got to pick all your own pieces”. There are so many awesome opportunities to connect and have fun with your family via these card games. I have seen first hand how amazing trading card game communities can be and there is so much fun to be had.

One consistent thing that rings true for every trading card game, is that not a single one of them was ever meant to be done alone. Chances are that if your kiddo is enjoying something, taking an interest in it yourself will make their experience that much more valuable and you will never be able to put a price on the time you get to spend together as a family.