I'm not usually one to follow trends, but this Pokemon one is far too cute for me to ignore.
While I have questions about the ethics of forcing a kid out on the road to battle wild animals and fight random strangers when they turn 11, there's no denying how iconic it is to choose your first Pokemon in the video game series. Whether it's the very original trio from Professor Oak or a brand-new game that'll be some young fan's introduction to the series, it's the kind of moment that stays with you. With that in mind, I've seen a trend going around where parents recreate that moment with their children in real life. They lay out three plush Poke-toys (usually Kanto starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle) and let their toddler choose whichever one they like best. It's absolutely adorable, and as a Pokemon-obsessed parent to a two year-old, I have to try it myself. Sorry, little one. You have no choice in the matter. You will enjoy the best Pokemon merch.
I fully acknowledge that this could go amusingly wrong. Toddlers are a law unto themselves and might do anything from grabbing all the plushies at once to turning on their heel and announcing "nah." But if it works as intended, the cute factor will be too much to cope with. I might spontaneously combust from adorableness overload.
Do I already have an idea of what my kid would choose? Not a clue – they haven't been introduced to Pokemon yet beyond a themed water bottle, so they're going in blind and I've got no inkling of which way the wind would blow. But seeing as my wife always went for Charmander and I'm a Bulbasaur fan for life, I'm hoping we can get a Squirtle to complete the set.
All that's left after that is to push them out the door and force them to collect random animals from the long grass, I suppose. After all, that is tradition.
Or maybe I'll just let them try the video games when they're old enough. Who can say?
For more Nintendo goodies, be sure to check out the best Legend of Zelda merch and the best Lego sets.
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