Let Your Kid Uncover Mysteries With the Best Spy Kits

Buying Guide: Spy Kits

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, non-educational screen time for children between the ages of two to five should be only one hour on weekdays and three hours on weekend days. In that light, spy kits aren’t just fun and exciting to play with, they’re an interactive, screen-free activity that triggers problem-solving, intellectual, and motor skills. But choosing the right kit from a plethora of options available is overwhelming, which is why we’ve curated this detailed buying guide to help you choose the right spy kit for your kids. 

Who Should Get Spy Kits?

When you become a parent, it’s natural to think about your child’s development and engage them in healthy habits at the same time. Some kids like violent video games because of the actions and level of activity and engagement they feel. Playing secret agents or solving mystery missions with friends and siblings is the ideal way to give your children a break from screens and enhance their imagination skills.

Spy and detective kits go a few steps beyond the most traditional toys in that they secretly enhance your child’s motor skills, improve their imagination and brain power, and help with learning development. If you want your child to be an active thinker and problem solver, you should get a spy kit for them. 

Benefits of Spy Kits

Enhance problem-solving skills

Most spy kits have a built-in storyline that consists of a problem to which your kids need to find a solution. Clever detectives can use the gear and contents of the spy kit to solve the mystery, which is the basic practice in problem-solving. 

Introduce science principles

If you’ve got a science enthusiast in your home, some spy kits come with scientific experiments like DNA-matching activities or fetching and analyzing fingerprinting sets. These activities introduce basic scientific concepts to children and mimic the real-life forensic experience, widening their worldview and expanding their professional horizons. 

Boost creativity

According to different studies, roleplaying is something that helps your kid think out of the box. This type of imaginative play helps teach different language skills and what different philosophers call “theory of mind”, in which your kid gets to know that they are different from others. With a spy kit, they try to find out different ways to solve a mystery or get to the solution of a problem, which ultimately boosts their creativity.

How To Choose the Perfect Spy Kit

Durability

Many toys don’t last long and sometimes only serve one child, but fortunately, spy kits are generally inexpensive. Consider selecting an inexpensive one that will last at least long enough for your toddler to lose. Try to find a mix between fun and durability so you don’t have to replace them every few months.

Safety considerations

Not only are unsafe toys of poor quality, but they are also not worth your money. Good spy kits avoid toxic materials, sharp edges, and the possibility to trap fingers, as well as anything else that might cause injury to your kid.

Some may include lithium batteries, which might pose a risk to younger children or siblings so always ensure that the battery compartment is properly secured. If a toy is likely to create problems for your kid, avoid it at all costs.

Fun value

Once you’ve selected a safe and sturdy toy with learning potential, look for ones that also engage your kid and get them excited about playing. Often, children want to spend extensive amounts of time on the computer, tablet, or watching television, but the perfect toy forces them to leave the screens and enter a realm of fantasy.

Recommended age

Depending on the contents and the degree of danger posed by the components, some kits have a certain recommended age. While a spy kit is unlikely to include anything harmful, some of the smaller components in the kit are a choking hazard for children. So, if you want to introduce a toddler or younger child to the world of spy toys, the various fake magnifying glasses on the market should satisfy that need.

Activities and missions

Different spy kits come with different missions and activities, letting you choose one that matches the interests of your child. You should either refer to the product’s description or look at the elements included in the kit to know the type of activities and mission included. You can also create different activities with the spy kit yourself by using the gear and your imagination to keep your kids interested.

Technology

Most children today are well-versed with technology and spend most of their time glued to gadgets and gizmos, so they can handle technology-focused spy toys very well. If you somehow can’t figure out how to use a spy toy, most companies have video tutorials on their websites or on YouTube to help you figure out that specific toy. 

Complete Spy Kits vs. Spy Toys

Some spy gear comes alone while others are available in a complete kit, allowing your kids to engage in the spy activities right away. While spy kits are better because you get different equipment in the same kit, single spy toys work well to upgrade your existing spy kit or the one you’re thinking of purchasing. For instance, if you plan to give your little one a briefcase-style spy kit, you can add a pair of spy sunglasses for more fun. 

The downside of getting a single-piece spy toy, however, is that it doesn’t have a story like the spy kits that come with puzzles, missions, or mysteries for a more structured playtime. 

Which Type of Spy Toy Should You Avoid Purchasing?

Detachable toys with smaller pieces

If your kid is sloppy, avoid toys with a lot of little pieces. Remember that you will most likely be the one cleaning up their messes and looking for toys’ lost pieces.

Lack of interest

Don’t choose a toy that your child has no interest in; just because you wanted that toy as a child doesn’t imply your child will love or enjoy it. At worst, it will just be another item taking up space in their room.

Violent toys

Avoid getting too many violent spy gear toys, as these toys promote violence — overall, espionage should be about the mystery, not the violence. If your kid insists on playing with fake spy guns and other objects, explain that this is not how spies behave in real life and that it’s nothing like it’s in the movies.

Also, caution kids against performing stunts they see on TV shows and in movies, as they are performed by experts.

Components of a High-Quality Spy Kit

Night vision goggles

These are perfect for children who love exploring things in the dark. Night vision goggles are ideal for kids between 4 to 6 years old.

Video walkie talkies

Unlike the regular walkie-talkies we have back in the day, these are more high-tech options that allow you to video chat with your fellow agents rather than just exchanging voice messages. Due to their advanced features, manufacturers recommend them for kids above 6 years of age.

Invisible ink pens

No spy kit is complete without an invisible ink pen. They usually come with a UV light and are great for kids of all ages, but younger kids should use them under adult supervision to avoid accidents. 

Binoculars

If your children often hide behind the sofa to observe things secretly, you should get a kit with binoculars. While these are a classic pick, binoculars are extremely easy to use and recommended for kids of any age — that said, younger children might need some help at first to get the hang of them. 

Action cameras

If you want to capture memories of your little one’s fun moments, you should get an action camera. These let your kid capture different actions when solving mysteries or even going on a vacation. Best of all, they are ideal for kids as young as 3 years old.