If you are looking to buy kid microscopes for your son or daughter’s upcoming birthday, you can’t merely buy the first item you see in a store. You should consider a lot of things before you buy expensive gifts like these.

Parents who wish to buy their kids a microscope as a gift for a certain occasion should follow certain guidelines when shopping for one. Kid microscopes have a lot of features that tends to be overlooked by parents who are not familiar with these devices. Always assume that you are buying regular compound microscopes when it comes to features and performance, even though you are merely looking for a quality kid microscope. This way, you will get the best product in the market that fits the strains of your child’s usage.

Here are the guidelines you should follow when buying kid microscopes:

1. Is the magnification level of the microscope good enough?
The selling point of most microscopes would be its magnification power. Regular tabletop microscopes used in schools are capable of magnifying specimens to as much as 1000x. For kid microscopes, that much magnification power not really necessary. A 400x magnification level should be good enough. Kids will already learn a lot from that.

2. Is the kid microscope easy to use?
There are a lot of technicalities associated to using a ‘real’ microscope. The diaphragm, condenser, objectives, and eyepiece should all be calibrated for best viewing. Kids won’t like preparation rituals and technicalities. What they want is a microscope that they can use without much of a hassle. Give them the type of a microscope that works easily and seamlessly without the need for a complex setup.

3. Is the microscope durable?
You know how kids play. And even though you tell your child that the microscope is not a regular toy, they can’t help playing with it in the same way they play with their dolls or cars. So make sure that the microscope you will buy can withstand the antics of your child. Some kid microscopes are made of durable plastic. This type is perfect for children six years old and below. The ones made of die-cast metal should be right for children seven years old and above.

4. Can the microscope be attached to an external device such as a computer or a camera?
This feature is perfect for bigger kids. They may want to explore the things around them and record their findings in a digital format they can retrieve so they can show it to others. If your child were old enough to own a personal computer, then it would be nice if you get him or her a microscope that can be attached to it through a USB cable. That way, they would be able to feel more like a young scientist than a small child merely fiddling with his new toy.

5. Does the microscope come with the compatible software?
For the type of kid microscopes that can be connected to a computer, the software that it comes with should be functional enough to add to the microscopes features. For example, the software should allow zooming in and out, contrast and brightness control, and precision fine-tuning. Kids perform better controlling the buttons through their computers rather than doing it on the actual device. Check out what the software can do before buying the kid microscope.

6. Does the kid microscope come in a complete set?
Compete set means everything you needed to make the microscope function well is included in the package, plus a lot more extras. Some kid microscopes contain prepared and labeled slides that youngsters can simply put in the microscope’s stage and view. It is more preferable to buy the microscope that comes in a package rather than those that includes merely the basic set.

7. Is it affordable?
When it comes to shopping, it is important that you take on a budget even though you are rich enough to afford anything pricey. Set a budget for the kid microscope. Then determine what features you like to go along with it. Stick to your budget and hunt for the best buy. Sometimes, this is what makes shopping pleasurable. Kid microscopes are priced anywhere from $20 to a little more than $100. Choose the set that perfectly fits your requirement and your budget.

If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to find the best possible microscope for your child. Give your child something fun and educational to play with. Kid microscopes are exactly that.