A veritable Q Branch for kids, Spy Gear's 2007 line will empower your junior 007 while driving you batty, but that's the point: Kids love playing secret agent, and these toys' literal bells and whistles (and beware, the alarms are LOUD) give them the feeling they're pulling one over on Mom and Dad. Our 7-year-old had fun rigging the house with the Tri-Link Alarm System ($39.95, pictured), whose motion sensors trigger alarms and launch plastic darts (ouch) at enemy spies. His brother, 4, went for the Agent Action Briefcase ($26.95), mainly because it also launches darts (again, ouch) from a hidden compartment. The case also includes a motion alarm, spy scope and flashlight, but as you might expect when handing off such items to a 4-year-old, these quickly ended up scattered about the house. (Note to the more responsible among you: Spy Gear has a 6-and-up age recommendation.) I'm personally digging the Mobile Spy Ear ($19.95), which allows for crystal-clear eavesdropping from up to 50 feet away and thankfully doesn't have an alarm. You should hear what the neighbors are saying...
Available from Wild Planet and offline at Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl’s, Toys 'R Us and other retailers.
