I have a nearly three year old boy, and another bun in the oven...

 

My son loves Transformers!  (I don't know where he gets *that* from.) 

 

My collection is mostly G1, but I have the leaders from Cybertron on display, etc.  I also buy most of the current release toys, fidget with them, and put them away.  Anything that's not on display, I let my boy play with.

 

He's starting to take notice of the toy's on display, especially Cybertron Prime.  (ooohh, look at dat big wig wobot. dat's daddy's wobot.  i wanno hold it, pweeeeesee!?) 

 

My son is very good with only touching what he's allowed to touch.  And he get's more than enough of my Transformers to play with. 

 

But...  I'm tempted to buy him his own Cybertron Prime, Metroplex, etc.  I can afford to do that, but it seems like overkill and a bit wasteful.

 

What do you guys do?  Do you share across the board with your tikes, or do you have some that are untouchable?  I'm sure when he's a little older, I won't mind sharing anything, but right now he's a little destructive...

I think some of the parents here share their "meh" toys with their kids...they ones they grow tired of, or that they didn't like much after buying. I can't speak from experience...I'm still living the college life. :D

My son is allowed to transform one of my TFs a day, that is it. At my discression as well. He can't transform GF Soundblaster or my TRU Convoy Sonic Bomber set but pretty much any of the other ones he is OK to transform.

 

He is not so much into TFs tho. He likes to transform them once or twice and then put them back on the shelf. He is more into Hot Wheels. I have bought him his own TFs at times but they just end up in his toy chest to rot with all the other non transforming toys he has.

 

If you can afford it, buy him his own. If he does not play with them, then stop. Up to you I think.

 

Spencer.

Don't have kids yet, but if I were in your place, I don't think you can go wrong getting him either Cyber OP or Metroplex. Either one can keep him preoccupied for a bit... That or get him an Alt...

it depends on why you collect transformers. since i dont see any beyond the ORIGINAL g1 releases appreciating in value, dont waste your money on duplicates until he starts to ask for his own. Hell they are toys and designed to be played with, its not like they are china dolls. my girls have always been allowed to play with my toys and even though the toddler is a little rough with them, nothing has ever been broken and she hasnt been hurt (which is more of an issue since cyberkeys look like candy)

 

I dont let other kids play with my transformers because I havent taught them to value thier toys like my own children, and their parents would neccessiarly be able to replace something they broke. If my kids break it, that is one less toy they will inherit... thier loss

 

On different  occasions my oldest used to sleep with Anni Prime, and carry optimal optimus around like a baby doll in a dolly bassinette (i wish i had taken pics) with the exception of some drool and pride, both figures have survived to this day.

 

I say that as a parent, if you are too selfish to share some plastic with you own children, either give up the hobby or put your kids up for adoption

Well, I deal with some of it by getting them the Go-Bot preschooler type transformers, the chunky three-step ones. When they're younger they're toptally happy to play with those.

 

As they get older, spare Armada, Energon and Cybertron figs are fun for them.

 

G1 is Daddy's, period. Along with the Alternators. Daddy will bring them out now and then and we have supervised play, then they go up.

 

Energon and Cybertron is considered joint-owned with Daddy as guardian  of them, so they're played with mostly wirth Daddy around.

well if he realy likes prime let him have is and get a 2nd for you but keep it in box

 

i supose if you do share it would be best to keep the missles and key safe since kids often loose those things (or at least i did)

My 3 year old girl loves TFs...shes just now trying to learn her limit as to what to touch and not.  For example, I have a box of TFs sitting on the floor in our comp room and she grabbed Evac and placed him on the floor....waited for me to get out of bed and then asked if she can play with him heh.  We just sit and play with them together.  This way, not only are you bonding with your child but your keeping an eye on your toys.

 

If your son is into big bots but not very picky, look into KO maybe?

^nice idea with the KOs maybe give him one of those Marvel morphers thier pritty big and they seem to be on clearence (well in my part of the world any way)

KO's can be "unsafe" quality sometimes, I'd advise against that.

 

 

 

My opinion: Buy repaints & keep the one you like for yourself. ie: Buy C-Prime for yourself (original = best IMO) and give the lil'uns C-GF (black-pants repaint)-Prime to mess around with.

 

Nearly every mold has a repaint. Sounds like a winnah?