Stocking filler similar to lock picking kit

[TakingTheHorseToFrance]

Biggest hit in the house last year. If my kids like a lock picking set they would also like......... what? Age is 9+

Ideally some transportable as the locking picking set gets brought when we are travelling

I hope you don't travel to my area OP 🤣.

If you search Amazonf for 'Worlds smallest' there are a couple of cool things, e.g. the worlds smallest Etchasketch or the worlds smallest yo-yo.

What about contact juggling balls or proper pens for spinning?

Head torch?

😶

Burglar fancy dress

edited as link didn’t work

Carson X-scope
Multi-tool pen
LED Magnetic pick up tool

Multitool pen
Screwdriver set
Torch
First aid kit
Penknife and whittling book
Compass
Carabiners
Knot tying kit

Do you have a link to the lock picking set?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eventronic-17-Piece-Lockpicking-Extractor-Locksmiths/dp/B072DWLG1W

This is the one we have.

I'll have a look through suggestions but again just to say I'm looking for something you can bring in the car/on a plane - so the knot tying kit could work but a juggling set wouldn't.

The lock picking kit is often favored I sted of the Nintendo switch by my 9 year old so trying to think of similar things to past time when travelling

A chinese puzzle box, something like a cheaper version of this?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sun-21-Steps-Japanese-Winshare/dp/B01MDVDSDG/ref=asc_df_B01MDVDSDG/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463172802140&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1881058527647255671&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006804&hvtargid=pla-804524767429&psc=1

I'm intrigued - what gave you the idea to buy a 9 year old (or anyone !) a lock-picking kit in the first place? 🤔😀

I have one, but not like the OP it's because I like puzzles, and unlocking a lock is a puzzle to solve.

It has spoiled some TV watching, I have been known to say, "No, that's a yale, use a rake" when watching Hustle.

OP I got an electronics kit at about that age. Mine was quite a big one with springs but you can get the boards and wires separately. So you could start with a small kit, maybe to make a radio or a 'buzz off' game - easier to do with a light rather than a buzzer.

This one looks like you could make quite a few things but is not exactly stocking filler price

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ELECFREAKS-microbit-Starter-Kit-Micro/dp/B09QPVC3WT/ref=sr_1_43?crid=JWB28P19B899&keywords=Electronic+Project+lab&qid=1695526591&sprefix=electronic+project+lab%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-43

BBC microbit might also be fun - it's actually a computer

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GeeekPi-BBC-Micro-Development-Programming/dp/B0BB949JCP/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1LYDNK8W4068G&keywords=bbc+microbit&qid=1695526823&sprefix=bbc+microbit%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-4

Do they have top trumps?

Rubix cube?

I know they are old but they are still entertaining.

I got a friend a mini arcade game that plugs into the tv and has a joystick, we spent hours playing packman, there were 3-4 other games.

Some kids love old tech, things like an old dictaphone with mini cassettes.

Years ago a friend's mother moved to an old house that still had a dial phone, my friends kids thought it was wonderful.

I've just remembered I had a kit to make a pin hole camera and camera obscura.

And I built a calculator.

Another thing, not a stocking filler, is a polaroid camera - mine is very popular with children at my family gatherings.

I was a geek before geekyness was even invented.

Just wanted to reply to the but where you said a juggling kit wouldn't work. Contact juggling isn't juggling in the traditional sense. I recommend you check it out. No balls are thrown, generally. Top tip, the bigger the balls the easier it is to master, then you work your way down to smaller balls. Perfect for a car or plane.

I have a ds that loves lock picking and he also loves contact juggling, cardistry, pen spinning and learning tricks with finger nunchucks.

I was going to suggest one of these but I don’t think you’d be able to use it on a plane. Maybe ok once at your destination.

Raspberry pi maker codemas projects

Spy pen, code cracking kit, SAS survival handbook, infrared goggles, binoculars, Krav Maga lessons - everything the young aspiring security operative ( or master criminal) could want 😃

Sorry - missed the bit about taking in car/ plane. Krav Maga on a plane would be nasty

Hanayama puzzles to solve?

This company has lots of dexterity/skill toys - knucklebones, yoyos, etc

https://www.oddballs.co.uk/

and I highly recommend the ever-wonderful Grand Illusions (check out the little videos by the shop owner when he gets new things in)

https://www.grand-illusions.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ExitMobile=1

That shop is fab, wish I'd have known about it when ds was into all of this!

Begleri, that's what they were not finger nunchucks! No wonder I had trouble finding any for ds, I was googling the wrong name!

Hand manipulation toys was the category op, so might be worth googling those to get ideas.

Absolutely amazing suggestions that I wouldn't have thought of and even the ones that are not travel friendly look great and may be included in the stockings.

The pi advent calendar looks super

@Bubbleandsqueak22 I have just bought a LED Magnetic pick up tool, thanks to your brilliant suggestion - I didn’t even know these existed 😁 but I have a Grandson who will be thrilled with this!

This thread is fantastic!!! So many ideas

i know not something for a journey op but a metal detector might be fun?

My son must be similar as a lock picking kit is on his birthday list! As is a laser pointer, an Andymation flip book kit with light and a magnetic ferrofluid toy. He absolutely loves rubix cubes - you can get various different ones not just the classic. And also I highly recommend smart games pocket games for restaurants/ planes. If you lose a piece they send you a replacement

https://www.smartgames.eu/uk/collection/pocket-games

@Candymay would you believe he has a much loved metal detector - and it came on our holidays with us to france (along with his fold up shovel) just in case he were to discover some interesting artifacts :-)

I thought of you today OP when we were in John Lewis and saw this Gift In A Tin range.

They look fabulous