When I was a child, I dreamed of owning my own telescope. As a parent now trying to give some of that same joy and wonder to my son, I recently made an impulse purchase - this awesome telescope! It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever given him and he loves it! Now he can explore far off galaxies and distant planets with his own two eyes through the telescopic lens. Seeing their excitement as they observe the night sky has been truly wonderful.
From tracing constellations together to pointing out shooting stars in real time, there’s simply no better gift for aspiring stargazers than a quality telescope set up for adventure. Here are my best tips and tricks for you, so you can also give this gift to your children! I’m thrilled to share this with you, and hope you will enjoy this as much as we are!
When to Introduce Your Child to a Telescope?
The best age for children to start stargazing and sky watching with telescopes depends on the child’s interest level, the quality of optics of the telescope, and its size. Telescopes can be tricky devices to operate, but they offer an amazing opportunity for children to explore the night sky. Let's look at how old a child should be before introducing them to a telescope.
Age Considerations
It is important not to introduce too young of an age group as it can be difficult for even adults to understand how a telescope works. Generally speaking, most experts recommend waiting until a child is about 8 years old before allowing them to use one. This allows enough time for the child to have developed some scientific knowledge and fine motor skills needed to operate a telescope properly. If you have any doubts about when your child should begin using one, talk with your pediatrician or other healthcare provider.
Size and Quality Optics Matters
The size of the telescope is also important as larger models are more difficult for smaller hands and arms to maneuver. A good rule of thumb is that kids over age 8 should be able start using a small-to-medium sized (50–80mm) refractor or reflector telescope with little difficulty. Larger aperture sizes are usually reserved for older children or even adults because they require more strength and skill levels in order to use them properly. Additionally, it's important that you purchase a high-quality optical system so your child will get clear images during their explorations of the night sky.
Introducing your young one into star gazing through telescopes can be very rewarding! It helps children develop lifelong interests in science while providing an eye opening experience of our night sky! It is also such a great family time, believe me - this is the greatest gift I ever gave him!
What Do I Look for in a Kids Telescope?
Shopping for a telescope can be an intimidating process, so it’s understandable if you feel overwhelmed! If your kid is dreaming of exploring the night sky, then let us give you some great tips to make sure they're set up with just what they need. Let's find that perfect telescope and get those star-gazing adventures underway!
Age Appropriateness
When choosing a telescope, it’s important to consider your child’s age and interests. If they are just getting into astronomy, then you should look for something with an easy-to-use design that will allow them to explore the night sky at their own pace. For older children who have more experience with telescopes, then something with higher quality optics might be more suitable.
Field View
Another key factor in choosing the right telescope is field view – this refers to how much of the night sky your child will be able to see through their telescope. If you’re buying for someone older and more experienced, then a larger field view might be better as they may want to observe larger areas of sky or further away objects. For younger children, a smaller field view may be better as it will give them a more focused look at specific objects in the night sky that they may have heard about from others or seen pictures of online.
Size & Portability
When shopping for a kid’s telescope, size and portability should also come into play. Telescopes come in all shapes and sizes, but if you’re buying one for younger children then you should look for something smaller and easier to transport so they can take it with them when they go out exploring or on trips with friends or family members. Also keep in mind that larger telescopes can be bulky and difficult to maneuver, while smaller ones are lighter and easier to handle even by smaller hands!
How Easy It Is To Operate
Finally, when selecting the right telescope make sure you consider how easy it is to operate. Look at what type of mount it uses (altazimuth or equatorial) as this will affect how easy it is to use. Also check what type of eyepiece comes included with the telescope as these determine how much magnification your child can get from their observations and whether or not additional accessories need to be purchased separately.
Believe me, finding the perfect telescope for your kids doesn't have to be difficult if you know what factors to consider before making your purchase decision. Make sure you think about age appropriateness, field view size & portability, and ease of operation when selecting which model is best suited for them so they can enjoy hours of stargazing fun! With these tips in mind, happy shopping!
What is the Best Telescope to Buy for a Child?
FYI, Prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
Highlights: 18X “wide-view” and 90X “close-up” eyepieces, very easy and super portable, sets up in less than 1 minute
Helpful review: "solid begginer telescope. its easy to assemble about 5 minutes. the scopes are made well and built to last. the legs are not as long as I wish they were but it's a beginner telescope so it passes. i usually set it on my patio table and look at the stars. I've been able to see passing planes with it too. the instructions are clear and helpful. i think it's worth the money to get started. in the future i plan on upgrading to a bigger one but for now this will do" - Lexus
Get it from Amazon now: $25.99 - $36.99 & FREE Returns
Trending review: "Ok so I got this telescope for my 13 year old sister that loves astronomy, and she has been obsessed with it since I got it. The assembly wasn’t hard just followed the instructions and we took it out for a spin and got to see the full moon. It was a beautiful experience overall. I recommend." - Genesis Zelaya
Get it from Amazon now: $25.99 - $36.99 & FREE Returns
Reassuring review: "This product is for my great grandson's sixth birthday. As he is into all things regarding planets, stars and sky, this is an ideal product for him to enjoy a close up of everything. Also, this telescope is being shared with my great grandson and his father." - phyllis wagner
Get it from Amazon now: $25.99 - $36.99 & FREE Returns
Highlights: 360mm focal length, X90 magnification, foldable and portable tripod, Made of premium ABS acrylic and aluminum alloy, very durable, lightweight and portable, insuring long serving time
Helpful review: "Perfect beginners telescope for children, purchased this for my 8 yr-old son as a birthday gift,We found it very easy to use, with a sturdy and strong tripod, he and I have enjoyed hours of fun, not only looking at the stars, but also birdwatching in our backyard, it’s compact and lightweight , super easy to transport, we have brought it to park and large fields to get better views. It Came beautifully boxed, makes Great for gifting! At $30 this telescope was an amazing value! I have Purchased a few different models in the past and this has been by far the best in this price range. Highly recommended!" - Sunrise Circle
Get it from Amazon now: $27.89 - 35.98 & FREE Returns
Trending review: "Gift for my grandson, who's a science guy and he loved it. I think his mother loved it more!!😊 - Catherine
Get it from Amazon now: $27.89 - 35.98 & FREE Returns
Reassuring review: "We got this for my 7 year grandson and its the perfect starter telescope. He is having a great time learning about the stars..." - Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon now: $27.89 - 35.98 & FREE Returns
Highlights: 360mm(f/5.1) focal length and 70mm aperture, quick and easy to set up,
Helpful review: "This Telescope was far better than expected, not only in quality, but a real teaching aid. Well packaged and each part secured in an additional plastic bag. It came with a huge chart of the Planets and the moon. Its instruction book also gave amazing information on the Physics and Mathematics of optics and how to use them. Great for Astronomy and daylight viewing. All of the objectives had caps, and also the front lense. The tripod was very stable. I especially liked the section on the care of the scope and its components, as well as warnings as to what you should never do. A terrific teaching aid all around, and a perfect price" - medprofessor
Get it from Amazon now: $69.99 - $93.99 & FREE Returns
Trending review: "My 11 year old son said he likes his telescope! He said it's cool to see the stars and planets closer; he was able to see the color of Jupiter! We have to play around with it more and switch the lenses" - Lakera Long Robertson
Get it from Amazon now: $69.99 - $93.99 & FREE Returns
Reassuring review: "What do you do when everyone is practing "safer at home" to help "flatten the curve" for the Coronavirus? Lots of arts and crafts and any possible activities to entertain the kid while we stay home. We purchased the telescope originally with the intention to use it on our upcoming camping trip (which is now cancelled by the way) but instead, now we use it every night (when the sky is clear) as part of our bedtime routine. The pieces are very easily assembled, comes with a bag to store. Size is perfect for taking it on the go. We have never own one before and find it very easy to use and adjust all the setting, and we can see the surface of the moon easily. Definitely would recommend this to other family who are stuck at home as it serves as perfect entertainment for the kids for 10-15 minutes every night. Would also recommend searching youtube video or tutorial for stargazing to make the activity more educational" - Penny
Get it from Amazon now: $69.99 - $93.99 & FREE Returns