History Main / SnoopingLittleKid

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* Alexander in ''Film/MurdersheSaid''. Miss Marple harnesses his inquisitive nature by inveigling him into her investigation and using him as source of inside information on the Ackerthorpe family.

The Snooping Little Kid will hide where the bad guys are and try to listen in on their conversations, usually [[ExactEavesdropping picking up just enough information]] to prove that something sinister is going on, even if the kid doesn't know exactly ''what''. That often is what kickstarts the plot, or at least advances it into high gear.

* Subverted by Malicia in ''Discworld/TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents'', who is clearly familiar with the trope, but very bad at the actual sneaking around. People stop what they're doing to ''watch'' her sneak around.

* The main characters of ''ScoobyDoo'' were [[YouMeddlingKids treated this way]], despite the fact they clearly weren't little kids[[note]]they were all teenagers[[/note]]. Hanna-Barbera made up for this with actual kids in most of their subsequent Scooby-clones (See: ''WesternAnimation/ClueClub'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingChanAndTheChanClan'', and the 80's cartoon called ''A Pup Named ScoobyDoo'' that followed the same characters when they were children.)

If the kid does more investigative work than just eavesdropping, they're a KidDetective. DoNotTryThisAtHome - tell a responsible adult or call the cops if you see something suspicious!

YouMeddlingKids can result once the bad guy is caught.

* Arya Stark from "Game of Thrones" Arya is ususally sneaking around somewhere, trying to find out the baddies plans.

* Several episodes of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'' see Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby fulfilling this trope. Notable examples include "Sir Gyro de Gearloose," "Hotel Strangeduck," "Duckman of Aquatraz," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mcduck" and "The Billionaire Beagle Boys Club".

* Antimony from ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' carries around a set of lock-picks (and knows how to use them) [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=49 for this very purpose]].

* Several episodes of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'' see Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby fulfilling this trope. Notable examples include "Sir Gyro de Gearloose", "Hotel Strangeduck", "Duckman of Aquatraz", "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mcduck" and "The Billionaire Beagle Boys Club".

* Ben from "Ben 10" Ben is usually found snooping around, eavesdropping on bad guys in his kid form, though sometimes when he is caught he transforms into one of his alien shape shifting forms. This only lasts for a little while though, shortly expiring after, making him realize he's still just a kid

* The main characters of ''ScoobyDoo'' were [[YouMeddlingKids treated this way]], despite the fact they clearly weren't little kids[[note]]they were all teenagers[[/note]]. Hanna-Barbera made up for this with actual kids in most of their subsequent Scooby-clones (See: ''Clue Club'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingChanAndTheChanClan'', and the 80's cartoon called ''A Pup Named ScoobyDoo'' that followed the same characters when they were children.)

* Max in "Max Rules" a spy kids family movie knockoff, in which a bunch of kids try to foil the plans of a baddie to steal a high tech fbi chip. Max and his friends are usually sneaking around trying to find clues, and in one instance, him and the kids are caught by the bad guy they're spying on and left duct taped inside a car.

* In LittleWomen's TheFilmOfTheBook, Beth (Margaret O'Brien) and Amy (Creator/ElizabethTaylor) fulfill the role in the Christmas party (which is a mix between the Christmas party of the book and the parties Meg attends when in the Moffat household). They overhear some GossipyHens speculating about their belief that Marmee wants Jo or Meg to go GoldDigger mode on Laurie, which causes both girls to [[HeroicBSOD almost shut down]]...

If the kid does more investigative work than just eavesdropping, they're a KidDetective.

* Subverted by Malicia in ''Discworld/{{The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents}}'', who is clearly [[GenreSavvy familiar with the trope]], but very bad at the actual sneaking around. People stop what they're doing to ''watch'' her sneak around.

* The main characters of ''ScoobyDoo'' were [[YouMeddlingKids treated this way]], despite the fact they clearly weren't little kids[[note]]they were all teenagers[[/note]]. Hanna-Barbera made up for this with actual kids in most of their subsequent Scooby-clones (See: ''Clue Club'', ''TheAmazingChanAndTheChanClan'', and the 80's cartoon called ''A Pup Named ScoobyDoo'' that followed the same characters when they were children.)

** The 1994 PG-rated version had Beth (''Creator/ClaireDanes'') and Amy (''Creator/KirstenDunst'' and ''Creator/SamanthaMathis'') snooPINGAS Usual when they get caught.

[[folder: Comics ]]

* A curious example: There used to be a long series of Disney Comics rooted in their ''Little Hiawatha'' shorts, who were basically family sitcom adventures about a little Native American boy. Whenever there were enemy tribes, dishonest white traders or greedy settlers wanting to steal stuff off tribal lands about, Hiawatha (who is eight, tops) and his little sister Sunflower would be the only ones who would notice. Appearently AdultsAreUseless regardless of your ethnicity.
* Sometimes they show up in ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}''. Being very cunning, the titular VillainProtagonist is ''terrified'' by them. And with reasons, given that random kids nearly got him arrested on multiple occasions and got him to crash his car once.

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[[folder: Film ]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail'', Fievel was being a SnoopingLittleKid when he snuck into the secret hideout of the cats and found out Warren T. Rat [[spoiler: was really a cat in disguise.]] He ends up captured and locked in a bird cage.
** The same thing happens in the sequel, when he overhears Cat R. Waul's evil plan to lure the New York mice out west so he can eat them. When discovered, they boot him off the train.