-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Binoculars and young children (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ehrodz
- Start date
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
I don't know the answer to your question but my two-year old daughter loves looking at birds through binoculars, although I'm never entirely sure that she is really seeing anything! She doesn't use them all that often, so I doubt if it does her eyesight any harm.
Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
Two years sounds about right, but their motivation is usually low. I've had more luck with little kids (2-3 yrs old) and spotting scopes, which they readily learn to see through and focus.
I can't imagine how it could. It was by observing how my son's notion of best focus consistently differed from mine when focusing my spotting scope that I first learned he was near sighted. A subsequent trip to the optometrist and fitting with glasses brought him better vision than he would have enjoyed at that age in a family that did not use optics.
--AP
Kevin Conville
yardbirder
I don't know the answer either, but at the risk of being obvious be damn careful they don't point them at the sun.
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
Goes without saying. I never let her use them unsupervised, although it's more the neck cord I'm worried about.
The RSPB do a kids' binocular called the "Wildlife Explorer". It's very light, a reverse-porro compact, 6x magnification (so the kids get a big user-friendly field of view, to save them searching for the target). It has a side hand-strap rather than a neck-cord...Capercaillie has mentioned the danger of the latter. I'm sure similar kids' binoculars are made by US manufacturers. That said, my 9-year old daughter prefers my Swaro EL 8x32 (she would, wouldn't she!
). I don't think binos do kids any harm, let's face it they only look through them for very short periods anyway. I've also found over the years that my kids don't cope well with prolonged birding outings, it's better if I mix the activity with something for them, as they can't concentrate on birds for very long. Best of Luck!
). I don't think binos do kids any harm, let's face it they only look through them for very short periods anyway. I've also found over the years that my kids don't cope well with prolonged birding outings, it's better if I mix the activity with something for them, as they can't concentrate on birds for very long. Best of Luck!
Steve C
Well-known member
It probably depends a lot on the individual child as to when they have suffucuent interst in looking through binoculars. If their parents use them then they will probably want emulate mom and/or dad. I agree with Alexis in that I can't imagine that any harm would come to their sight, but a simple call to an optometrist would likely answer that one. Kevin's comment should be taken to heart because kids curiosity can get them into trouble. Proper supervision is th only thing I'd require with a kid and binoculars. And proper kid's binoculars.
Keep in mind that the Leupold Yosemite was designed for kids. As a bonus they also make great adult binoculars, and they don't cost very much in case junior destroys one.
Keep in mind that the Leupold Yosemite was designed for kids. As a bonus they also make great adult binoculars, and they don't cost very much in case junior destroys one.
