There’s nothing that can create a sense of wonder in a child quite like the night sky. Fairytales and epic sci-fi stories are built on the wonders of the universe. Thanks to their creative little minds, children often have a much greater appreciation for the mysteries of the cosmos than adults do! Getting your kid interested in outer space early on has several benefits. Stargazing is an educational hobby that can get them away from their screens and out in the real world.
If you’re worried about the complexities of having your child set up a traditional telescope, don’t fret. There are some better alternatives that your youngster can use to observe the stars on their own time!
Astronomy binoculars for kids are easy to use and offer a great viewing experience. Kid binoculars will put the power of observation in your kid’s hands, allowing them to stargaze whenever they want.
Ready to see the best astronomy binoculars for kids that money can buy? Check out our top picks below!
Best Astronomy Binoculars for Kids – Reviewed
Living Squad Kids Binoculars 8×21
Your kids will love these binoculars from Living Squad! Available in a slew of bright colors, the binoculars look like fun toys. They’re built tough and feature several safety features. The body has a safe rubber coating to prevent shock damage. There’s also rubber on the eyepieces to prevent injury.
Despite the bright colors, these binoculars are packing some serious optics. A wide 21mm aperture lets a lot of light in. Meanwhile, the 8X magnification lets young stargazers zero-in on their favorite star or constellation. There’s also a sizable focus knob to sharpen the image to your child’s liking.
Key Features:
- Kid-centric design
- Available in multiple colors
- Shockproof body
- Rubberized eyepieces
- Comes with carabiner and neck strap
- Storage case included
- Large focus knob
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Mahauk Compact Binoculars 10×25
Great for adults and kids alike, these binoculars provide high magnification and great clarity. Inside the instrument are BaK-4 prisms. These prisms bounce the light to increase the focal length, resulting in more magnification. Not only that, but they offer exceptional clarity and a better field of view.
Whether your child is looking at the moon or distant nebulae, these binoculars ensure that they’re getting the very best view possible. The aperture is 25mm wide for plenty of light while the maximum magnification level is an impressive 10X.
Key Features:
- BaK-4 prism
- Autofocus system
- Lightweight build
- Compact design
- Rubber skin
- Shock-resistant and waterproof
- Large focus knob
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
SkyGenius Binoculars
Here’s another fun-colored optical device that will get your child excited about stargazing! Tipping the scales at only 6.35 ounces, these binoculars are perfect for young hands. They’re comfortable to hold and feature a neckstrap for easy transport.
These binoculars are all about safety. There are a few different features that can help your child focus the image and avoid vision problems. First, there’s a large focus wheel between the eyepieces. It’s easy to use and does a lot to remove fuzziness.
Secondly, there’s a dedicated inspection wheel. On the right eyecup, you can adjust the focus on a single eye to make up for any visual imbalance issues your child might have.
Key Features:
- Multi-coated lenses
- 8X magnification
- Safer eye relief
- Lightweight construction
- Wide field of view
- Dedicated inspection wheel
- Rubber eyecups
- Comes with many accessories
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Celestron UpClose G2 10×25
Celestron is no stranger to creating quality binoculars and astronomy gear. This model is no different. Great for amateur astronomers of all ages, the binoculars are lightweight and easy to handle. They fold up for easy transport and even come with a neck strap.
The performance of the optics does not disappoint. The lenses have multiple coatings that work to improve light transmission. This results in less chromatic aberration and distortion. With the handy focus knob, your kid can get a crystal-clear image.
Key Features:
- Compact folding design
- Resistant to water damage
- Multi-coated lenses
- Ergonomic holding area
- Includes neck strap and case
- Simple focus knob
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Kylietech 12X42 Binoculars
Thanks to its multiple lens coatings, these binoculars from Kylietech offer exceptional light transmission. Pair that with the 24mm aperture and your kid can get a very impressive view of objects in our solar system.
The binoculars have conical optical tubes, which can help improve grip. The entire unit is also coated in rubber for a more tactile feel in the hand. Overall, the binoculars are well-built. They resist water and environmental damage to stay in good shape for years to come.
Key Features:
- BaK-4 prism
- 99.5 percent light transmission
- Rubber coating
- Individual diopter rings
- Dual-focus system
- Smartphone adapter
- Waterproof and fog-proof
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
POLDR 12X25 Small Pocket Binoculars
Need a super-compact pair of binoculars that can fit in the palm of your hand? Check out this model from POLDR. This optical instrument can fold down to a very small size. It measures only 3.9 inches long by about 2.2 inches wide when folded. When you open it up, the unit is still only 3.8 inches wide.
Don’t let the small size fool you. Inside the binoculars are BaK-4 Porro prisms. The prisms increase the focal length significantly to provide up to 12X magnification.
Key Features:
- BaK-4 Porro prism
- Under 4 inches long
- Compact folding design
- Large field of view
- Diopter adjustment
- Central focus wheel
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Vanstarry Kids Binoculars 8×21
Let your young one get in on the optical action! These binoculars from Vanstarry are a great way to get your child excited about stargazing or nature watching. Designed to look like a toy, these binoculars are fully functioning!
You have impressive optics inside that provide up to 8X magnification. The 21mm aperture allows plenty of light in to create a clear image. If your child needs to make adjustments, they can turn the focuser ring on the left eyecup.
In terms of build quality, this device is great for kids. It’s made of predominantly plastic, but rubber throughout keeps your child safe. The rubber is on the eyepieces and around the main optical tubes to prevent damage from accidental drops.
Key Features:
- 21mm aperture
- Up to 8X magnification
- Adjustable focus ring
- Soft rubber eyecups
- Rubber handgrips
- Water-resistant
- It comes with a case and lanyard
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
THINKPEAK TOYS 8×21 Binoculars
With a few different colors available, you can get these binoculars in a shade that matches your child’s personality. The kid-focused design is fun and playful. But, the optics inside are great for serious stargazing.
There are BaK-4 prisms inside. The prisms provide a good field of view. Not only that, but they improve the magnification power while keeping the length of the optical tube pretty short.
On the outside of the binoculars, you’ll find a rubberized grip and a durable plastic housing. The plastic resists impact damage when dropped.
Key Features:
- Shockproof housing
- Rubber eyepieces
- Large focus knob
- Non-slip rubber grip
- Single eye adjustment
- Available in several colors
- Neck strap included
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Celestron – Cometron 7×50
These binoculars perform well in low-light conditions. The first thing you’ll notice about this tool is the massive objective lenses. Thanks to the conical shape of the optical tube, Celestron was able to add 50mm lenses without sacrificing the portability of these binoculars.
The aperture collects a ton of light. On the opposite side, the binoculars also have larger exit pupils than normal. These two features work together to provide a very bright image that can capture even distant night sky objects.
Key Features:
- Wide 50mm aperture
- Multi-coated optics
- Larger exit pupil
- Water-resistant
- BaK-7 prism
- Rubberized aluminum housing
- Easy focus knob
- Folding design
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
PHELRENA 20×50 Binoculars
Made for serious stargazing, these binoculars are great for astronomers young and old. The optical device is foolproof. It has an ultra-wide aperture for collecting light, multi-coated lenses, and high-quality BaK-4 prisms. These features combine to provide a great image regardless of how experienced you are.
You can easily set this unit up on a tripod for comfortable viewing. Point it in the direction of your target and take a look! Or, you can attach the included smartphone adapter and snap some pictures.
Key Features:
- BaK-4 prism
- Coated lenses
- Up to 20X magnification
- Mountable
- Simple focus system
- Waterproof rubber coating
- Comes with a smartphone adapter
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Gosky Skyview 20×80 Astronomy Binoculars, Giant Binoculars with Digiscoping Adapter
When most people think of stargazing, they picture large telescopes. However, you don’t need a traditional long-tube telescope to see the cosmos! These binoculars from Gosky are perfect for viewing close-range objects like the lunar surface and stars. It’s also great for checking out wildlife or appreciating the scenery.
However you decide to use it, Gosky made sure that your target looks its best. The 80mm objective lenses are massive, allowing light to pour into the optical tube. Pair that with the BAK-4 roof prisms, and you get stunning clarity. The high transmission optics ensure that your view is as bright and true-to-life as possible!
When it comes to quality, Gosky doesn’t disappoint. The framework is made of aluminum polycarbonate. Over that, the binoculars have rubber armor. It improves grip and reduces the chances of irreparable damage should you drop the binoculars.
Of course, the best way to use this device is with a stable mount and tripod. The binoculars are ready for mounting. It even comes with a smartphone adapter to help you take pictures and remember your stargazing ventures.
Key Features:
- 80mm aperture
- 20X magnification
- BAK-4 roof prisms
- Aluminum polycarbonate
- Rubber armor
- Diopter system
- Includes smartphone adapter
- It comes in a carrying case
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
POLDR 8X21 Small Pocket Binoculars
This model is similar to the other compact binoculars from POLDR. But, they have different performance specifications that are a bit better for kids.
It’s lower-powered, but the 8X magnification level is easier for a kid’s eyes. The binoculars also have a great focusing system. Your child can use the separate diopter adjustment ring on the right eye to ensure that both eyes are focused. Then they can use the central knob to remove any haziness.
The binoculars are ultra-compact and fold up to fit nicely in a pocket or bag.
Key Features:
- Porro prism optics
- Miniature design
- Lightweight build
- Foldable
- Center focus wheel
- Right eyepiece adjuster
- Coated lenses
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Why Buy Kids Binoculars?
Astronomy for kids can open up a world of possibilities for your child. These days, you can find tons of virtual products and STEM-related toys that are meant to promote education. Unfortunately, many of them are focused more on the toy side of things rather than learning.
Astronomy binoculars are an entirely different ballgame. They’re powerful optical tools that just happen to be designed for young eyes!
Kid binoculars let your children explore starts light-years away on their own terms. When you give a child instructions or assignments, they’re not going to want to learn. But when you give them their own tools to experiment how they want, a beautiful new hobby will emerge.
Kids can learn about so many different topics under the guise of outdoor fun. You can teach them about constellations while turning the lesson into a fun game. Or, you can present a challenge to find celestial bodies like Venus, Saturn, Alpha Centauri, or the distance Andromeda Galaxy. The possibilities are endless!
While any telescope, monocular, or pair of astronomy binoculars will help instill the joy of stargazing in kids, those specifically designed for children do it best.
Kid’s Astronomy Binoculars Buying Guide
If you want to turn your child into a young astronomer, you have to get them a pair of binoculars that work. Those cheap plastic binoculars made for bird-watching and simple outdoor fun aren’t going to cut it. You need a model that has real optics to provide an enjoyable viewing experience.
Not only that, but you need to choose binoculars that are tuned to young eyes and built to withstand accident-prone kids! There are lots of astronomy binoculars for grown ups out there, but they are likely to be too big for little eyes.
Not sure where to start on your search? We have you covered. Here are some important things to keep in mind. The following factors will help you understand what a pair of binoculars has to offer so that you can make an investment you’re confident with.
Kid-Friendly Design
First things first, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re getting a kid-friendly model. If this is the first time your child will use binoculars, you want it to be approachable and comfortable for them to use.
Many manufacturers produce optical devices that look like toys. These are perfect for young astronomers who are a bit wary about using heavy-duty tools. They might feature bright colors, fun graphics, or a host of other kid-friendly design elements.
Despite looking like a toy, these binoculars have all the high-powered optics your need to get a close look at star clusters.
Most importantly, these kid-centric binoculars are built for smaller hands. Details like contoured holdings points and close-set eyepieces are pretty common. You can invest in binoculars that both adults and kids can use. But, you need to ensure that the device has a kid-friendly design that youngsters won’t have any issues using.
Portability
Chances are, your kids are going to use their binoculars in the backyard, on camping trips, and hikes through the woods. They may even want to use it during the day for bird-watching!
The point is that the binoculars you buy are going to do a lot of traveling. So, it pays to have a portable design.
Many kids binoculars are compact in size. They can fold up to fit in a pocket or backpack. Others come with dedicated carrying cases for added protection against bumps and falls.
If you want binoculars that are always at the ready, go for models that come with wrist or neck straps. Just wrap the strap around your kid’s neck before your journey and let it hang down. Whenever they see something exciting they want to get a closer look at, the binoculars will be right there for them to use.
Durable Construction
Kids will be kids, right? No matter how careful your child is when handling their new binoculars, accidents are bound to happen! Luckily, many manufacturers have considered potential accidents and damage.
The best binoculars for kids are models with durable construction and tons of extra safety features. Rubber coatings over the body provide a more tactile grip while also reducing the risks of shock damage. Meanwhile, sealed housings keep all of the optics inside free of water damage.
Coatings and gas treatments can create a fog-proof build that stops condensation from ruining your kid’s view, too.
There are a lot of available durability features out there. Don’t hesitate to pay a bit more for them. It could save you money in the long run!
High-Quality Focusing System
Young eyes are very delicate. The last thing you want to do it give your child something that’s going to harm their eyesight. A robust focusing system will eliminate those risks.
Simple turn knobs can change the eye relief, which is perfect for young kids who wear eyeglasses. The eye relief is the distance between the last lens and the viewer’s eye. Light travels through the exit pupil before going into your child’s eye. Adjusting the eye relief can help you fine-tune the instrument to work for your kid’s vision.
Many binoculars also have larger adjustment knobs or zoom dials. All of those features work to clear up the image and reduce eye strain.
Performance
You can’t forget about the performance of the binoculars. What good will the tool do if it can’t provide a better view moon or stars than the naked eye?
There’s a lot that goes into creating an efficient optical device. But for the sake of simplicity, we’re going to go over two of the most important specifications: Aperture and magnification.
When you’re shopping for binoculars, you’ll see two numbers that represent the instrument’s capabilities. For example, you might see a kid’s binoculars being advertised as “8×21.”
The first number represents the magnification power. In the example above, those binoculars would provide up to 8X magnification. The magnification power is directly related to the focal length, which is the distance from the objective lens to the focal plane.
So, binoculars with longer tubes usually offer higher magnification rates. That’s not always the case, as Porro and roof prisms can manipulate light to increase focal length. Either way, pay attention to that number and choose a magnification level that’s right for your kid.
The second number tells you the aperture of the binoculars. The aperture is the diameter of the objective lens. If you’re not familiar with optics, the objective lens is the outermost lens that light hits first when it enters the binoculars.
A wider aperture is always better. With a larger diameter, more light can fill the binoculars and provide a clear image.
Available Accessories
Last, but not least, you should think about any available accessories that come with the binoculars. While not a requirement, extra accessories could make using the device easier or more enjoyable.
One good accessory to have is a mount. It’s hard to keep still when you’re holding binoculars up the sky. When you’re magnifying the image several times over, even the slightest tremble can throw off positioning.
A mount and tripod will keep the binoculars stable for comfortable viewing.
Also available are smartphone mounts. Perfect for astrophotography, these mounts clip right onto the eyepiece so that you can capture a photo. It’s a great way to save memories and give your child something to show off.
Conclusion
We hope that one of our recommended picks can serve your child well on their stargazing adventures. The right pair of kids astronomy binoculars can instill a sense of wonder in your child. It lets them get up close and personal with the stars for an out-of-this-world good time.