If your child loves to explore the outdoors and watch for birds and other animals, a pair of binoculars may be just what they need. These are a fun tool that can promote a new love of hiking or bird watching in your child or just allow them to have fun playing in the yard.
Choosing a pair of binoculars for kids can be challenging. You’ll need something durable and good quality, but also affordable. I’ve created this list of the 7 best binoculars for kids to take the guesswork out of it for you.
Why it’s great: These binoculars are compact, lightweight, and designed just for kids. They have a non-slip grip and are shockproof, making them very durable. There’s rubber around the eyepieces for maximum comfort, and the adjustment controls are easy for young kids to use. These offer high resolution up to 8X magnification, making them perfect for bird watching, star gazing, and much more. They come in thirteen different colors, so you’re sure to find one that your child will love. They also come with a velvet bag, case, cleaning cloth, and instructions.
Keep in mind: These do have a neck strap, but it’s attached directly to the binoculars, so you’ll have to glue it back on if it gets pulled off.
Good for: Kids ages 3-12 years old that want good quality binoculars in the color of their choice.
Why it’s great: These binoculars come in a set with a mini compass and magnifying glass. They have 8X magnification and are easy for little ones to adjust and focus. They have a rubber shell, making them shockproof, scratch-resistant, and durable. They even come with a satisfaction guarantee! These binoculars will help teach your child how to use real binoculars and a compass for navigation. They’re great for children that love hiking and exploring the outdoors.
Keep in mind: The magnifying glass and compass are pretty small, which is great because they fit in little hands easily.
Good for: Kids ages 4-8 years old that want to start exploring.
Why it’s great: These binoculars come in various colors in a stylish frame with gold accents. They come with a case, cleaning cloth, and breakaway strap for easy portability and safety. They also come with an ebook about birds to get your child interested in bird watching. These are lightweight and compact, with a non-slip grip for little hands. The rubber shell makes these shockproof, and they’re even water-resistant. They have rubber around the eyepiece for added comfort and protection. These binoculars have 8X magnification, offering your child high-quality images at a reasonable distance.
Keep in mind: While these are water-resistant, they shouldn’t be submerged in water.
Good for: 3-12 year olds who want binoculars that can stand up to the elements.
Why it’s great: This is a whole kit of adventure accessories. It includes a vest, hat, drawstring backpack, magnifying glass, binoculars, compass, whistle, flashlight, bug tongs, bug jar, buttons, and a fake bug. You’ll even get an ebook about bugs. If you want to get your child exploring outdoors, this kit has everything they need to get them started. The binoculars have 5X magnification, allowing your child to look for birds and other animals or insects in the yard. Everything is made with quality materials and is highly durable. In fact, the company offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee!
Keep in mind: These binoculars are not as good as some of the others on the list, but they’re still real binoculars that allow your child to see short distances.
Good for: 3-10 year olds who love exploring in their neighborhood.
Why it’s great: These binoculars are perfect for getting younger kids interested in exploring. They’re made for younger kids ages 3 and up and have a hard plastic shell that won’t break. The eyepiece is large and comfortable for preschoolers. They have a breakaway neck strap for added safety and portability. These binoculars have 2X magnification and are focus-free, so you don’t have to worry about trying to teach your child how to get their binoculars appropriately adjusted. They are a great scientific tool to help little ones learn about and explore their environment.
Keep in mind: These are more of a toy than real binoculars, although they do have some magnification.
Good for: Preschoolers and younger kids who want to try out binoculars.
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Why it’s great: These binoculars are an excellent choice for kids and adults. They have 10X magnification, allowing your child to see up to 1000 yards out clearly! Plus, the lenses are fully multi-coated, cutting down on glare and giving you a crisp image at any magnification. They’re lightweight and compact, with a textured grip, so they won’t slip out of anyone’s hands. They come with a neck strap and a case that can attach to your belt, making them perfect for hiking and bird watching. They are very durable because they are skidproof, shockproof, and waterproof, making them resistant to any weather conditions. They even have low-light vision, so your child will still be able to use them in the early mornings or evenings.
Keep in mind: These are a little more complicated to use, so they’re suited best for older children.
Good for: Older children who want a high-quality pair of binoculars.
Why it’s great: Not only are these binoculars adorable, they also double as a fan to keep your child cool while they’re outside exploring. The binoculars are low magnification, allowing your child to see short distances. They have a fun airplane on top with propellers that actually spin and operate as a fan. Don’t worry, though! The propellers are soft foam that won’t hurt your child while still offering plenty of airflow. These also come with stickers so your child can decorate the binoculars and plane however they’d like.
Keep in mind: These are more of a toy than real binoculars, but they will allow your child to see short distances and get them interested in exploring.
Good for: Toddlers and preschoolers who want to start using binoculars.
The OBUBY Real Binoculars for Kids is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..
If you love hiking or bird watching, getting your child their own pair of binoculars can get them interested too. Binoculars are very exciting for children, as it allows them to see all kinds of things up close. They’re even fun for young kids to check out bugs in the backyard. They allow kids to explore the world and get a closer look at it.
This really depends on the child, but normally you’d want them to be closer to 5 or 6 to start using real binoculars. There are plenty of toy binoculars or low-magnification binoculars that toddlers ages 2 and up can play with and still get a little bit of a feel for them too. Real binoculars have adjustments to help focus images, so your child needs to be old enough to figure out how to do that since you won’t be able to do that for them.
For younger children, such as toddlers and preschoolers, you’ll want a low magnification up to 2X. As your child gets into grade school, you’ll probably want to bump that up to 8X. This allows them to see longer distances and really get a feel for using binoculars. As your child reaches the teenage years, you can consider bumping up the magnification even more.
It’s best if you get your child a pair of binoculars designed for kids. Adult binoculars will be too big for their face, so they won’t be able to get a good view. They’ll also be heavier and harder for your child to hang on to. Children’s binoculars also usually have a wider field of view, making it easier for them to focus and see the images. They have a lower magnification, which is easier on kids’ eyes as well.
You’re going to want something lightweight that’s easy for your child to carry around. A durable frame is also a must since kids tend to be a little less careful and may drop their binoculars. Having a neck strap can help to prevent these types of accidents too. Follow the magnification guidelines from the previous question based on your child’s age. You’ll also want to consider the cost. If your child is an avid nature watcher, you may want to spend a little more to get them a higher-quality set of binoculars. If you don’t know how interested they are, you can buy something cheap and upgrade later if your child stays interested.
Whether your child is just excited to see things up close or is developing a new bird-watching hobby, choosing the right pair of binoculars can keep them engaged for hours.
Consider their age and level of interest before you make your purchase. You’ll also want to think about how mature your child is about taking care of their possessions. This list has a variety of options that should cover all the bases, so you can find the one that suits your child the best.
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