Table of Contents

7 Best Spy Kits for Kids – Clever & Exciting Fun (2025 Reviews)

Kids hanging out together on a bench
seen in: national geographic, cnn, travel + leisure, new york times
the guardian, lonely planet, usa today, forbes
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Whether your child loves watching ‘Spy Kids’ or reading ‘Nancy Drew’ books, a good spy kit for kids will get them excited. Spy gear can help your child use their imagination, be creative, and learn to pay attention to details. It’s important to encourage your child’s curiosity and a spy kit allows them to explore the world in a unique way.

There are plenty of different types of spy gear, all of which encourage your child to learn new skills and focus. I’ve gathered the 7 best spy kits to help you narrow down your choices and find the one that suits your child the best.

Best Spy Kits for Kids

  • 1. Spy Kit for Kids

    (Best for role playing — $$$)

    Why it’s great: While this may not have all the spy gear available, it does have everything you need to turn your little one into a detective. It even comes with a cute spy costume that includes a jacket, hat, and sunglasses. You’ll also get a magnifying glass, a LED UV light, an invisible ink pen, a fingerprint collection book, and all the necessary tools for fingerprinting. You’ll even get evidence cards, just like the ones used at real crime scenes. The guidebook has step-by-step instructions for your child to follow, teaching them all the necessary skills to create and solve their own mysteries.

    Keep in mind: This kit mostly focuses on fingerprinting, so it doesn’t offer much versatility.

    Good for: Kids who want a spy costume along with their detective gear.

    Spy Kit for Kids

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 2. Alex Undercover Spy Case Detective Gear Set

    (Most portable — $$)

    Why it’s great: This kit comes with everything your child will need to be a spy, all wrapped up and organized in a spy case so your child can take it with them wherever they go. Inside the case, you’ll find an ink pad, binoculars, a flashlight, a magnifying glass, fingerprint powder and brush, a marker pen set, code files with a booklet, and batteries. This set allows your child to crack codes, make discoveries, match fingerprints, and solve mysteries. Your little one will have a blast pretending to be a spy and creating different scenarios and cases to solve.

    Keep in mind: This is another set that’s best for children ages 8 and up, as it requires more scientific and critical thinking skills.

    Good for: Kids who love pretending to be a spy and want to take their spy gear wherever they go.

    Alex Undercover Spy Case Detective Gear Set

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 3. Project MC2 Pretend Play Super Spy Gear STEM Science Kit

    (Best for girls — $)

    Why it’s great: With this kit, your child will be learning problem-solving skills and using science and critical thinking to solve mysteries. Not only is it fun and educational, but it also allows your child to use their imagination to create their own puzzles to solve. While it does come with instructions, your child will be using their own creativity to design crime scenes. Then, they’ll use the evidence they’re collected to solve the case. This kit is based on the NOV8 characters from the Netflix show, and your child will love pretending to be secret agents just like them.

    Keep in mind: The characters in the show are all girls and some of the tools are pink or purple, so this is designed more for girls.

    Good for: Little girls who want to play detective just like their favorite NOV8 characters.

    Project MC2 Pretend Play Super Spy Gear STEM Science Kit

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 4. Melissa & Doug On the Go Secret Decoder Deluxe Activity Set and Super Sleuth Toy

    (Best budget option — $)

    Why it’s great: Melissa & Doug create all kinds of quality toys to help kids think and be creative. This super sleuth set comes with multiple activities that will have your child decoding and looking for secret messages. It includes three different activity books with pages of mysteries for your child to solve. It also comes with other necessary accessories to complete the 50+ activities. This set will help your child learn problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and they’ll have a blast while doing it.

    Keep in mind: This is geared more towards detective skills and solving mysteries and is best for kids ages 7-9 years old.

    Good for: Kids who love cracking codes and solving mysteries.

    Melissa & Doug On the Go Secret Decoder Deluxe Activity Set and Super Sleuth Toy

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 5. Scientific Explorer Crime Catchers Science Kit

    (Most educational — $$)

    Why it’s great: This little kit offers multiple ways to explore and play. It comes with two mysteries for your child to solve, including decoding secret messages and matching fingerprints. They’ll even learn how to make and match DNA! There are 8 different activities that your child will go through to solve the mysteries and it comes with everything you’ll need to catch the criminals. Your child will be using scientific methods and learning forensics, all while having fun.

    Keep in mind: This is a little more complicated for younger kids and is best for ages 8 and up.

    Good for: Kids who are interested in detective and forensic work.

    Scientific Explorer Crime Catchers Science Kit

    View on Amazon.com ➜

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  • 6. STICKY LIL FINGERS Light-up Spy Goggles - Spy Gear for Kids

    (Best value — $$)

    Why it’s great: These spy goggles with LED lights allow your child to see up to 25 feet away in the dark. They have an ergonomic fit and comfortable nose pad, so your child will be able to wear them as long as they want. They have a battery pack on the back to keep the lights working and an adjustable strap to get the perfect fit. These goggles don’t have to be used just for spying; they can be worn as protective glasses for biking and other activities, too. You’ll also get an invisible ink pen, so your child can write and uncover secret messages.

    Keep in mind: This isn’t much of a kit, but the spy goggles are really neat and will keep your child entertained for hours.

    Good for: Kids who love sneaking around and want to be able to see in the dark.

    STICKY LIL FINGERS Light-up Spy Goggles - Spy Gear for Kids

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 7. Ryan’s World Secret Agent Mystery Mission Case, Spy Case

    (Best for younger Kids — $$$)

    Why it’s great: If your child loves watching Ryan’s World on YouTube, they’re going to love doing their very own unboxing with this super-spy kit. Even before they can start playing with all their new spy gear, they’ll have to unlock the code to open the case. Inside, they’ll find three exclusive spy-themed figures, two wrist communicators, a flashlight, goggles, a code-breaker spinner, stickers, and accessories. It offers loads of fun and mysteries for your child to solve.

    Keep in mind: Once your child solves or figures out all the mysteries, gizmos, and codes, they might get bored with it.

    Good for: Kids who love Ryan’s World and want to be a spy.

    Ryan’s World Secret Agent Mystery Mission Case, Spy Case

    View on Amazon.com ➜

Best Overall

Spy Kit for Kids

The Spy Kit for Kids is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..

Spy Kit for Kids

View on Amazon.com ➜

FAQs about Spy Kits for Kids

  • 1. Why should I get my child a spy kit?

    A spy kit usually includes at least a few different pieces of spy gear, which makes it easier for your little one to learn and practice new skills. Spy gear sparks their curiosity and allows children to explore new challenges. They nurture your child’s creativity and are a lot of fun, entertaining your child for hours.

  • 2. What kinds of things are usually included in a spy kit?

    Every kit is a little different and includes different items. Some of the types of things you’ll find are magnifying glasses, binoculars, invisible ink pens, flashlights, fingerprinting kits, etc. Most items can be used to spy on someone else or just to look for clues and pretend to be a detective.

  • 3. At what age can my child start to play with spy gear?

    You should be able to find spy kits geared towards all different ages. It’s not just for older kids who can handle electronics or more logical reasoning. There are plenty of spy toys that are designed for younger kids to get them interested in this type of creative play.

  • 4. How can I encourage my child to play with a spy kit?

    The best way to encourage your child to play with anything at all is to play with them. In the case of spy gear, you could set up a mystery for them to solve or have them spy on a younger sibling and report back to you. Getting involved and encouraging your child to think outside the box will be fun for both of you.

  • 5. Are spy kits safe for kids?

    Most spy kits are geared towards the intellectual side of detective work rather than spying on enemies or fighting, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any type of violent content. Other than that, as long as you choose a kit that’s appropriate for your child’s age, they should be perfectly safe. Just make sure that younger children don’t have any small pieces included in their kits and keep an eye on them while they’re playing.

Conclusion

Kids love sneaking and sleuthing because it’s fun and gets them thinking. It allows them to find clues and solve mysteries, building their cognitive thinking, focus, and attention to detail. They also get your child up and moving, expending physical energy while they’re on the hunt.

Spy kits are a great way to make learning so fun that your child won’t even realize they’re playing with an educational toy. With plenty of choices for all ages, you’re sure to find a spy kit that sparks your child’s interest.