7 Best Microscopes for Children of All Ages You Can Buy Online Under $50

Every little scientist will tell you that there isn't a better toy than a microscope. From those with a simple magnifying glass to those digital models with an LCD screen - the choice is immense. Yours is just to find the age-appropriate toy that will speed up the curiosity and creativity of your child. And in order to help you, we've reviewed seven most popular microscopes for children.

1. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. My First Microscope

$15

$15

This colorful microscope is designed primarily for younger children. Sturdy, but still light enough for a child to carry it around. A chunky, rubbery focusing knob makes it easy for your child to adjust the magnification from 2.5 to 8x, which is enough to make younger children familiar with how the microscope actually works, but older children may have a slightly higher expectation (even though this is just a toy). This microscope is ideal for studying objects such as stones, shells, flowers... What makes this microscope special is the fact that it features two extra-large eyepieces, instead of just one, so your child won't have to close one eye.

2. Little World HOMEE Science Kits for Kids Beginner Microscope with LED 100X 400X and 1200X

$15

A plastic, lightweight microscope, ideal for younger children to get familiar with the microscope and its way of functioning. It has a monocular viewing head with LED light and magnifies 100x, 400x and 1200x. Comes with some basic equipment - plastic container, six blank labels, five specimens of glass, two collecting bottles and tweezers. It will surely entertain your children for some time, but just like with any other toy - after a while, they’ll get bored, because except for three levels of magnification, this microscope doesn’t provide much.

3. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Original Talking Microscope

$18

Another colorful microscope intended for younger children – a 5x magnification simply won’t be enough for the older ones. Colorful, made of solid plastic and easy to handle. Once you figure out how, of course. It comes with 12 slides with pictures of different bugs. Not only that kids can observe them, but they can also hear and learn some interesting facts, as well as to test their knowledge in the quiz. To start a microscope, your child has to enter a combination of codes from each slide, so this might be a little bit difficult for younger children.

4. Science kits for kids microscope Beginner Microscope Kit LED 100X, 400x, and 1200x Magnification kids science toys, red

$16

With this plastic beginner kit, for a lower price, you will get everything you need to interest your child for science. A microscope comes with a plastic container, six blank labels, five specimens of glass, two collection bottles, forceps and a manual. It has an adjustable LED light and magnifies 100X, 400x, and 1200x, so you shouldn’t expect much from it. Be careful when adjusting the magnification or you’ll hit the tray with a tube. 

4. Educational Insights GeoSafari Micropro 48-Piece Microscope Set

$29

5Another set that contains all the necessary accessories for the little scientists to prepare their own specimen, if they don’t want to study one of the prepared slides that come with the microscope. It also comes with an 18-page instruction and activity guide with few microscopic activities, tool usage and care tips. It has a built-in light for direct illumination and 50x, 100x, 150x, 300x, and 600x magnifications, which, with the appropriate settings, will be enough for your child to play.

5. Educational Insights GeoSafari Micropro 48-Piece Microscope Set

$29

5Another set that contains all the necessary accessories for the little scientists to prepare their own specimen, if they don’t want to study one of the prepared slides that come with the microscope. It also comes with an 18-page instruction and activity guide with few microscopic activities, tool usage and care tips. It has a built-in light for direct illumination and 50x, 100x, 150x, 300x, and 600x magnifications, which, with the appropriate settings, will be enough for your child to play.

6. AMSCOPE-KIDS M30-ABS-KT2-W Microscope Kit with Metal Arm and Base, 6 Magnifications from 20x to 1200x, Includes 52-Piece Accessory Set and Case, Awarded The 2016 Top Pick of Microscopes For Beginners

$40

This microscope comes with enough accessories to make your child interested long enough. Everything is packed in a solid plastic box, so you don't have to worry that after a while your child will lose tiny parts. Specimen slicer, plastic tweezers, scalpel and spatula, needle, prepared and blank slides... those are only some of the additional things that come along with the microscope. The microscope has a monocular viewing head with LED and mirror illumination, and a built-in color-filter wheel. It magnifies 120x, 240x, 300x, 480x, 600x, and 1200x. In order to get a good look at the samples, you need to fine-tune the microscope, so this toy is intended for little older children.

7. Smithsonian Microscope in Carrying Case 300x/600x and 1200x with slide kit NN22244

$45

In this carrying case, you'll find a microscope and some necessary laboratory equipment. All accessories, including a knife, are safe for children to use them. And as they arrive in the suitcase - you won’t have to worry that small parts will be everywhere. The microscope comes with five prepared and seven blank plastic slides. With a built-in light and 300x, 600x and 1200x magnification your child can look microscopic specimens. The microscope is plastic with a metal base. It’s small, easy for kids to use and durable.