The 7 Best Microscopes For Kids That Will Make Them Little Scientists

Many parents we have eaten the coconut many times trying to think of ways to make science attractive to kids, have you bought hundreds of books and encyclopedias? Error! Practice making perfect and we also fall in love with the unknown, so a very good idea is to have your own laboratory at home. Do not be afraid to approach it with the best microscope for children, it will make it much more attractive and interactive and you can catch the least expensive one below, result? They both come out winning big.

Best Microscopes For Kids

Here are  the best microscopes for children: 

1. TELMU XSP-11XT Children’s Pocket Microscope

Easy to transport

 

One of the advantages of this model is that it is a microscope with a portable size and comfortable to carry anywhere, so that children will even be able to take it to school or they can play at being scientists at their friends’ house.

Sometimes we think that because it is for children it should have a more childish design and the truth is that it is not always the case, in this case, we are talking about a fairly professional and realistic model that is ideal for children who take their game very seriously. and that they dream big.

It is equipped with 70 parts and accessories, like prepared slides for example, making it an excellent starter kit for all the little scientists around the house. In addition, it is quite easy to use, while being robust and durable, so it is very resistant.

2. Microscopio infantil de ChangSheng Toys

For the little ones

 

 

When it comes to helping children develop an interest in science, you have to do it big, so it pays to make an investment like this and get a complete and well-equipped microscope.

It is recommended for children older than 3 years of age, so they can have a lot of fun while they learn and discover curiosities of everything that surrounds them. It is slightly smaller in size than professional microscopes, so it is better adapted to smaller children, their height and their little hands, so it will be easy and comfortable to handle.

It is made entirely of strong plastic, so it is light to carry, but not flimsy, on the contrary, it is durable. It weighs only 240 grams. In turn, it includes prepared slides, blank label, tweezers, plastic container and two refillable jars.

3. Maxlapter WR851 Portable Children’s Microscope

Can be connected to mobile

 

 

It has a very professional style, although it is for the use and enjoyment of children. Because of how advanced it is, it is recommended for children 10 years of age and older. We are talking about a model that has been designed for the teaching, education and research of natural and biological elements in a family environment because it can be used by all members of the family. In turn, it can be used without problems indoors or outdoors because it is portable .

It is a 100-1000x monocular microscope, with 4x, 10x, 40x objective lenses and a 45-degree tilt lens that reduces the strain on the eyes and neck, while protecting the spine with a comfortable vision so that you do not have to take bad posture.

Thanks to the LED lighting incorporated in the upper and lower part of the microscope, the brightness and light they offer are improved, making it easier to observe the samples and to use, in general. The base also comes with a brightness adjustment knob that can, according to the actual situation, adjust the intensity of the light. It is equipped with a monocle, but also with a clip to connect the mobile and see everything more widely.

4. Microscope for children 6 years old Buki France

For your little scientist

 

 

Not because it is for the little ones, we should settle for less, so in this comparison I have included this powerful, robust and durable metal frame model that is of indisputable quality. In addition, it has glass optics and eyepieces for an observation of ten.

As if that were not enough, this model includes 50 experiments so that your little one never stops enjoying knowing his world and everything that surrounds him, he will marvel at everything he can discover with his own eyes.

And, come on, even if I leave it last, the truth is that few things are as essential as a good instruction book and, fortunately, this model includes one of 63 very complete pages in which you will find information and illustrations of how operate the appliance and how to get the best out of it. This microscope is ideal for children over 6 years of age, even up to 16 years of age.

5. Buki France MS907B Children’s Microscope

Very complete!

 

 

Playing at being a scientist will never be more interesting and professional than with this super fabulous 23 cm microscope, where the body and the foot are made entirely of metal to stay stable because it is also robust. This model also includes objectives, color filters and three magnifications of x200, x600 and x1200.

It is one of the most complete models when it comes to microscopes for children because it contains, like few others, a very good quality LED illumination for really clear observations. This does not stop here because, in addition, it has numerous added accessories such as a coverslip, clamp, four flasks, Petri dish, micro cutter, labels, needle and four specimen slides.

To all this, there is a brochure with 30 experiments to learn how to prepare slides, take samples, adjust the microscope and its illuminations like a professional. A battery is required for it to function and is suitable for children over 8 years of age.

6. Buki 9003 5-year-old children’s microscope

With illustrated instructions

 

 

When we think of educational games for the little ones at home, it is cool to include some ideas of options that can bring them closer to things like science and make it much more entertaining than what many paint it out there, if you agree with me surely this binocular microscope super eye-catching and attractive that will surely make children curious little ones.

It is indicated for children over four years old and this is not in vain, as it is one of the stages in which their concern to discover what surrounds them is even more awakened and this is the perfect tool to discover it from the smallest to the biggest.

The coolest thing is that it has 10 predetermined experiments so that you have a better idea what to do with it and your approach to this instrument is more natural and fluid because they are all very well described with their step by step to know very well how to do them.

7. Science4you 10-year-old children’s microscope

Ideal

 

 

Whether at home or at school, this microscope is capable of satisfying the needs and all the curiosity of your children who want to explore everything or who simply have school activities, experiments or normal school chores and need an effective tool in the which to lean on. Do not doubt that this is, in short, an excellent option.

Children from the age of 10 can get a lot out of it, but also those who are eight or nine years old and who are crazy about biology or science, in general, it all depends on the interest that your child has and the ability you have when handling it.

In any case, it has been thought and designed to favor the motor, intellectual and sensitive development of the child and help him to discover his surroundings with much detail and delicacy, in addition, it has been shown that it favors the understanding of the cause and effect relationship from very early age.

Buying Guide: Best Microscopes for Kids

Why buy a microscope?

 

Many adults can come to truly underestimate children, assuming that everything must be classified between things for adults, such as telescopes , microscopes, or anything that sounds very professional, and things for children. But the truth is that microscopes can be the perfect gift to make a child begin to know science or for the one who already loves it.

In childhood it is in the stage in which humans feel most curious, wanting to discover our world, what surrounds us, so it is not surprising that children can spend hours collecting materials for new slides and later hours in careful observation. He will always want to tell you about new things that he has discovered.

In addition, it is true that books with scientific information can be a bit dense for them if they do not have science at hand and in a way as didactic and entertaining as having their own microscope, that is why they can become the best tool for learn about biology and complement academic material. We all prefer hands-on learning to a boring textbook, and children are no exception to this.

The coolest thing is that a microscope can be accompanied by additional material that will make the excitement to discover never end. For example, not only on specialized web portals but also on YouTube you can find easy activities to do at home and microbiology videos so that you can continue to discover your world through trial and error.

Three main types of microscopes

 

When we refer to microscopes, we are talking directly about optical microscopes , often known as light microscopes, but there are three other basic ones:

Simple

It magnifies through a single convex lens and is essentially a glorified loupe or eyepiece.

Stereo

It allows to obtain a three-dimensional visualization of the sample, but without seeing cellular activity. It is the best choice for large specimens and dissections.

Compound

It allows you to observe things at the cellular level. They always use slides and they should have a light source shining from underneath.

What is a toy microscope?

In general, the toy microscopes that we find available on the market are closer to being a glorified magnifying glass than anything else. It should also be borne in mind that the cheaper , the simpler, but, of course, it will also depend on the brand .

However, stereo microscopes intended for children between the ages of 4 and 8 will be visually designed to look like fun toys. Although it must be said that they will also have a medium level of quality, that is, we must not think in any way that all stereomicroscopes are for children, because the reality is that many professionals use them.

Now, when it comes to the most professional microscopes, which would be the compound ones, it must be said that they are much more complicated to get in a children’s version, at least when it comes to those that are truly powerful, designed with bright colors and rubber edges.

What type of microscope should I buy?

Like everything you buy for your kids, surely you want it to be made to measure, so before buying one you should look at these details:

Age and interest

Have you seen your boy’s interest in science? A good choice depends on the age and maturity of the child because perhaps buying a high-end one, with too much power, to introduce a young child to science can be a bit wasteful because it can be scratched with too much technicality at the outset. The same happens when we give a very simple one to an older child who is in love with science, it would also be a waste.

Complexity and difficulty

It depends on the capacity of your little one, you can choose more complex or difficult to manipulate models:

For children under the age of ten:

For them, surely a compound microscope is unsuitable, especially without the supervision of their parents or an adult who can tutor them because they are not easy to handle and the glass pieces can become dangerous for them. But if you still want to go for one, you can do it, you just have to take into account some security considerations. However, the smaller it is, the more appropriate way will be to look for colorful models of toys that he can manipulate by himself and with him magnify everyday objects such as insects, flowers, leaves, food, for example.

For kids in middle school:

Here it is safer that a compound microscope receives much more use and attention, even more if it has gone from a toy one to one more similar to that of adults. Your observations can be used for a class, a science fair project, or just for fun.

Maturity

It might be a good idea to start with a children’s toy microscope so that your child learns how to care for the lenses and the slide, before facing a more complex model.

Curriculum

It will depend if you are in preschool , if you are in primary or secondary school , but some specialists recommend microscopes from € 80 to even € 200 for those who study at home and are interested in the world of science. And it is that the skills of the microscope are valuable if we talk about a student really interested in studying life sciences at university.

Qualities of the best microscopes

To find out which is the best, you have to know the characteristics that make microscopes great.

Extension and Resolution

Not necessarily more magnification means a better microscope. It may be that, even if it gets very close, the quality will fade and then you will end up seeing a giant blurry point with some color. You will need it to produce a good quality, high resolution.

Fine focus

A fine focus knob allows you to change the depth of vision within a sample and thus see all cell structures clearly.

Marco

If we talk about a toy model, you will go well with a plastic model, but regardless of a robust and durable cradle the manufacturer tells you that it is plastic, you should not take it as an option when it comes to a professional model, for that it will be better than be a metal frame.

Adjustable

It will be easier to focus the slide, doing it manually can be really annoying.

Why does your child need a microscope?

Microscopes are literally a lens that allows us to see the little things that this world is made of. So when we teach our kids about nature looking at big trees and amazing mammals is fine, but going a little further to see insects or those little details that hide is what can make magic happen and that is done by most wonderful way with a microscope.

Because we can see the real colors and details of the insects or small twigs, With a microscope at home we can create the beautiful tradition of collecting something every day to observe as a family. There is no better tool to arouse curiosity!

What accessories will you need?

In general, you can opt for a complete microscope set , which includes many of the most basic tools that you will need to optimally use your microscope, but in case it was not the most affordable option for you at the time, surely today you are in the position where you will require a few more things to get even more out of it.

In general, it is a good idea to have a brochure, guide or instruction that gives us detailed information about the microscope, its operation and simple instructions that are also a good way to familiarize yourself with the terminology. It will be more functional the more and better illustrations you have, especially if it is for a child because it will keep them captivated and it will be easier for them to understand the information. You will also need forceps, slides and coverslips.

Microscope slide

It is a key piece to observe a sample under the microscope. A slide is a rectangular sheet of transparent glass on which the sample to be observed under the microscope is placed. They are usually made of soda-lime glass or borosilicate glass.

Tweezers

They are very important to manipulate the sample without ruining it, move them around, move them a little, place them or remove them without being too rough.

Coverslips

It is a thin sheet of transparent, square or rectangular material that is placed on an object that is going to be observed under a microscope, which is usually found on a slide.

Frequent questions

If you still have any doubts, you will surely find an answer below:

Do my children need support?

Do not forget that a microscope is a scientific instrument and by its very nature it may not be too easy to start with for your children, so it will undoubtedly require adequate support for its use, at least at the beginning. In the end, misuse or rough movement can severely damage the appliance.

You will also need guidance in preparing more samples, unless you are buying ready-made slides. And, come on, we must not lose sight of safety considerations to protect not only the microscope itself but also the child because some chemicals used to prepare samples are toxic. Although you can do research on non-toxic alternatives.

Is there anything I shouldn’t buy?

The best practice is to stay away from second-hand microscopes, unless the supplier or seller can still provide warranty and service. Also stay away from specialized microscopes, such as inverted microscopes, metallurgical or polarization microscopes. Do not buy telescopes that only have a mirror instead of a lamp because children can point them at the sun and destroy their eyesight, and mirrors generally do not provide enough light intensity either. Ah! And forget about historical microscopes, unless you own a museum.

What objectives and eyepieces should I buy?

Ideally, buy DIN achromatic objectives with 4x, 10x, 40x magnification and a 10x eyepiece. If you want to go for something more than 40x, don’t go straight for the 100x ones, stick with the 60x ones. This is a standard combination and microscopes usually come with it.

What about computer microscopes?

Around 1999, Intel introduced the QX3 Play microscope, which needed to be connected to a computer and was later replaced by the QX5. The image quality of this device appears to be good, plus it can cover both worlds, compound microscopes and stereoscopic microscopes.

But they are still being sold as toy models and are not capable of offering the same image quality as dedicated student and educational microscopes. In addition, they must be connected to a PC so that they can work and that can be a great disadvantage.