What Exactly Does It Take To Become A Spy Kid?

Being a spy kid is lots of fun and encourages kids to think out of the box. While their missions may not be as dangerous as those of Juni and Carmen in the Spy Kids movies there’s still a lot of safe and fun spy stuff they can do at home.

So what exactly does it take to become a spy kid?

If your kids haven’t yet watched the movies start with that even if it’s just the first one. It’ll give them a rough idea of where to start.

Once their imagination has been sparked here’s what they need to do to become the next James Bond.

How to be a spy kid

1. Put together a team

You can become a solo spy but it’s more fun to do it with friends. A spy also needs help and resources if they are going to execute their missions.

So the first step should be putting together a strong spy team. It can range anywhere from 2 to 10 kids or more depending on the kind of missions you’ll be doing.

The ideal number is between 3 and 8. If you are too many it may become impossible to keep your valued secrets within the team.

When assembling a team focus on finding kids with different natural talents and abilities. Spying involves all sorts of activities from hiding to surveillance to disguises. One person can’t possibly do everything.

Here are the different types of spy skills you need.

  • Someone who is good with computers and tech gadgets. They’ll come in handy when you need to plan mission, do reconnaissance and find the best gadgets for spying.
  • A strong team member whose physical abilities will come in handy when you need to lift or carry something.
  • A quick-thinking spy who is good with strategic planning and can get you out of sticky situations in a pinch.
  • Someone who is good with words. They’ll come in handy when you need to gain access to a location or sell an alibi. They need to be confident and convincing. Being cute doesn’t hurt either.

After you’ve set up the team it’s time to hand out different roles.

Establishing hierarchy is extremely important for the success of your missions. Everyone needs to know who is the leader and to whom they report to.

Have a captain who’ll be in charge overall and a vice captain to help the captain and take their place when necessary. You can also have someone who is in charge when in the field and directs the action.

Remember to have a team name and give each spy an identifying codename.

2. Get the right spy gadgets

Time to make sure your team is well equipped.

When choosing the right kids spy gadgets consider your spying needs such as communication.

Get walkie talkies to communicate with each other. A whistle can come in handy too when you need to send a quick signal. You can also use small flashlights to discreetly send signals at night.

You’ll also need gadgets for reconnaissance. Get a camera, a disguised audio recorder and a zoom lens. You can also buy a toy drone to carry out surveillance from the air.

Other essential spy gadgets include a motion alarm to warn you if someone is close, night goggles, a notebook for your mission plans and notes and a tactical mirror to see around corners.

3. Training

Don’t begin missions before you’ve adequately trained. Start with the basics such as hiding, escaping, surveillance, picking locks, taking pictures and disguises.

Play out different scenarios and make sure everyone knows what to do in case of anything; e.g. If you are caught, the mission fails or one of the members cannot continue.

This is also the time to come up with a secret code for communication. You can turn letters into numbers or use secret phrases to signal different things. This way, even if your communications are intercepted no one will have any idea what you are up to.

4. Choose your missions

Finally, select your first mission.

You can try to figure out where something is hidden, help a neighbour find a lost item or find out who has been stealing the newspaper every morning.

You can also create your own missions. Have an adult or one of the spies give you a puzzle or treasure hunt.

Most importantly, stay safe and have fun.

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