A selection of some models recommended for children:
Collection: The Best Binoculars for Kids in 2023
Children are naturally curious and love to explore the environment. They have a taste for adventure, which includes outings in the great outdoors.Binoculars are an excellent tool to help your children enjoy their outdoor escapades.. If, in addition, your child enjoys stargazing, binoculars are also ideal forintroduction to astronomybefore considering the purchase of a telescope.
Good news :children's binoculars are more than just plastic toys and quite affordable. As usual, we've done the hard work of researching and comparing them for you, and have selected the best binoculars for kids that you can also enjoy.
Why buy binoculars for kids?
If your child likes to go on adventures and explore everything around them, then they'll love their binoculars. Children love to see things up close, and when they can't see what they'd like to, because their target is too far away, they quickly become frustrated. That's where binoculars come in. They allow you to observe things that would otherwise be out of reach. So your child can explore and study his environment, the sky and the Universe simply and safely.
Whether it's bird-watching, whale-watching, stargazing or just admiring a beautiful landscape,binoculars are an excellent way for your children to discover the planet and the Universe.. Not only will your children be able to identify birds and animals, for example, but they'll also be able to learn more about the stars and the different constellations.
How to choose the right binoculars for children?
When it comes to choosing binoculars for children,one of the first things to consider should be weight. Traditional Porro prism binoculars (W-shaped) can be heavier than the new roof prism binoculars (H-shaped). In fact, as they are specially designed to be more compact and lighter, children find them easier to hold and use.
Another factor affecting the weight of binoculars is the lens diameter. These are the optical instruments that point at your target, not the eyepieces through which you look.
The diameter of the objective can be important, as it determines the amount of light the binoculars can collect. This is because the objective lenses are made of glass,larger lenses will, of course, be heavier. Lens diameter is measured in millimeters and varies from 20 to 70 mm.
If your child is interested in ornithology, whales, hiking or simply enjoys observing landscapes through binoculars,a lens diameter of between 20 and 35 mm will suffice. However, if he also likes to observe the stars, we recommend a lens with a diameter of 30 mm or more.
Smaller lenses are generally suitable for daytime use, when light is abundant, but to observe certain distant, dimly-lit stars, binoculars with a larger lens will be required, in order to gather more light.
Many amateur astronomers therefore like to use 10×50 binoculars. But what do these numbers mean?
Features you need to know
All binoculars are distinguished by two numbers and you'll often hear people use them to designate the binoculars they're using. For example, you may hear someone talk about 8×40 or 10×50 binoculars, but what exactly do these numbers mean?
Fortunately, these numbers are easy to understand. The first number indicates the magnification. So 8x40 binoculars have 8x magnification, while 10x50 binoculars have 10x magnification.
The second number corresponds to the lens diameter (also called the aperture), measured in millimeters. As we saw earlier, the lens diameter determines the amount of light the binoculars can collect. The more light they can collect, the better you'll be able to distinguish low-light features, a crucial factor in astronomy. With binoculars featuring a large-diameter objective, you'll be able to see more detail and, in theory, the image quality should also be higher.
On the other hand, remember that image quality and the ability to see more detail also depend on the quality of the optical instruments (i.e. lenses and prisms). However, while this is important for birdwatchers and amateur astronomers, it's generally not so important for children. In fact, this problem generally only arises with cheap, generic binoculars. Rest assured, the models we've selected are all from reputable manufacturers, so you won't have to worry about their quality.
Frequently asked questions :
At what age can a child start using binoculars?
Realistically,any child aged three or over can start using binoculars.. Probably the most important thing is that the child has good hand-eye coordination (to know how to aim the binoculars) and is able to hold the binoculars without dropping them. If they can focus the binoculars themselves, that's a plus, otherwise you may have to help them or do it for them.
What to look out for when choosing binoculars for children?
Weight and height play an important role in the decision-making process. That's why, in this case, we've only selected roof prism (H-shaped) binoculars. These are specially designed to be more compact and lightweight, making them more suitable for hikers and children. Unlike traditional Porro prism binoculars, which are larger (and heavier), their small size and light weight mean you can take them with you wherever you go, and use them for long periods without tiring your arms.
Which resolution to choose for children's binoculars?
In general, for children, binoculars with a magnification of around 8x and a lens diameter of 20 to 30 mm are ideal.. This will give your children an unobstructed view of their surroundings. Imagine how delighted they'll be to observe forest animals, whales or their favorite pet. If you need binoculars for stargazing, it's usually best to opt for more powerful binoculars, such as 10×50 binoculars, as smaller models may not allow you to distinguish less luminous objects, as their lenses collect less light. But with smaller binoculars, you can observe the Moon without any difficulty.