10 Best Microscopes For Kids To Suit Any Budget

AmScope Kids' Beginner Microscope STEM Kit‍

Ideal for beginner scientists, this microscope set comes in a sturdy portable case with 49 great accessories including ten prepared slides that are perfect for learning how to set up and use it properly. The microscope itself comes with six adjustable magnifications (from 120x to 1200x), a bright LED light and a built-in colour filter wheel. The accompanying kit is really comprehensive for such a reasonable price, featuring reusable slides, a petri dish, tweezers and more. Overall, this is an excellent choice and is sure to inspire enthusiasm and curiosity.

Learning Resources Nancy B's Science Club Microscope

This microscope has a fun, kid friendly design but is also a high quality piece of kit. A great introduction to science, it is geared toward younger kids but will keep them happy for many years. The microscope itself enables children to view slides at 30x, 100x and 400x magnification and features LED lights. More than 20 accessories are also included in this kit, such as slides, a petri dish and test tubes. Best of all is a great little activity journal which provides inspiration for lots of different experiments and activities.

Learning Resources Geosafari Jr My First Microscope

Colourful and lightweight but durable, this fun little child's microscope is perfect for toddlers. Two extra-large eye pieces and the large focusing knob make this easy and straightforward for younger children to use and the viewing compartment is large enough to house lots of interesting objects. Because it is intended for youngsters it only has one magnification level (8x) and no accessories such as petri dishes or tweezers, but for charm and ease of use, it's a great bet.

Learning Resources Geosafari Jr Talking Microscope‍

For something a little more complex but still colourful and simple to use, this talking microscope is a great alternative children's microscope. The low 5x magnification is low but still reveals more than can be seen with the naked eye. The real attraction, though, is the fun-filled audio recording by Australian conservationist Bindi Irwin that accompanies 600 colourful images and more than 100 facts and questions. A quiz mode lets your toddler test their knowledge, helping them learn about nature up close.

Thames And Kosmos Biology Tk2 Scope‍

This great microscope for children is sophisticated enough to engage older children but still straightforward enough for a beginner to get to grips with easily. The colour manual gives clear instructions on how to set up and use the microscope and how to prepare slides, as well as suggesting several fun experiments to get your kid started. With two LED lights to illuminate specimens from above and below, optical grade lenses and 40x, 100x and 400x magnification, this microscope offers amazing clarity compared to other beginner microscopes and the 20 tools and accessories are great too. Among the most simple microscopes out there, this one is a great bet!

Vinco My First Lab Duo-Scope

While simple enough for older beginners to use (although probably not four year olds in our opinion, as the makers suggest), this microscope is versatile and sophisticated enough to keep advanced young scientists well occupied. A real science microscope with a 10x to 400x magnification and dual focusing knobs, this is much more than a toy. The dual light sources magnify both slides and solid objects, meaning this works as both a compound microscope and a stereo microscope. The set also comes with 50 accessories including blank slides, prepared slides, petri dish, test tube and stain.

AmScope Student Biological Cordless LED Compound Microscope‍

Another offering from AmScope UK, this is more advanced than most other microscopes for kids and is easily of classroom quality up to GSCE and beyond. The 360 degree rotating head allows kids to share the microscope without disturbing the specimen, while the LED illumination and powerful 40x to 1000x magnification ensure excellent clarity of vision. The light is only from below and no slides are included with this microscope so it is a little more restricted in some ways than other microscopes for kids, but it makes up for that with sheer sophistication.

USB Microscope,Digital Mini Microscope Camera‍‍

For a less analogue experience, this digital microscope has a type-C USB that is compatible with plenty of other devices including smart phones, laptops and PCs. The high power 40x to 1000x magnification and eight built in lights provide adjustable illumination and good quality viewing. With some devices, focus can be lost when zooming in and if the scope is mounted on the tripod in a fixed position zooming is not possible at all. But this is made up for by the star function: a 30MP camera, which will allow your child to photograph their fascinating findings with the click of a button.

Plugable USB 2.0 Microscope‍

This alternative digital microscope is a good option for more flexible use. The four foot cable allows kids to move about with it with relative ease and it can be held by hand for easy inspection, while the flexible stand is helpful for lower magnifications. The USB interface and webcam chip set and sensor can be connected to laptops or desktops and support nearly any operating system. With less powerful magnification than some (0x to 250x), the adjustable LED illumination still allows good viewing.

Carson MicroBrite Plus 60x-120x Power LED Lighted Pocket Microscope

If your kid loves examining nature in a more natural setting, this is the best microscope to take with them while they are out and about. Lightweight and compact, it is still durable and able to withstand plenty of adventures in the great outdoors. With 60x to 120x magnification, this has a shorter focal distance than some other microscopes but its portability means specimens can be placed directly underneath the lens for a better viewing experience. It is also designed so that the light rays that go through the lens converge at a single point, minimising distortion and making images clearer, and for the size and price the image quality really is exceptional.  

Kidadl Best Buys selects the top, parent recommended products for families of all ages. If you liked our suggestions for the best microscopes for kids then take a look at our top ten list of great robot toys, or, if you're after some more outdoor fun, why not try this list of amazing garden toys.