Microscopes are the best way to help your young scientist begin to explore their curiosity with the natural world. We’ve read through countless reviews for the best microscopes for kids and found these products, one of which is certain to be perfect for your little one. They range from beginner microscopes to more advanced models with impressive sets of features. Our overall favorite microscope is from AmScope, for its affordable price, ease of use, and strong magnification. If you’re looking for the perfect microscope for your child, keep reading. These are the best microscopes for kids.
Our Top Picks
  | Best Overall: AmScope Kids Beginner Microscope Our overall top pick for the best microscopes for kids comes with all the accessories and easy-to-use functionality that make it perfect for budding scientists. |
  | Runner-Up Best: JuniorScope Microscope for Kids The runner-up pick will easily magnify anything from leaves to bugs. It’s easy to learn how to use and perfect for young scientists. |
  | Best Budget: Educational Insights Nancy B’s Science Club Microscope Not all microscopes are expensive. This affordable option from Educational Insights aligns with nearly every budget and gives kids easy access to explore the outdoors. |
  | Best Digital: National Geographic Handheld Digital Microscope The best digital microscope can be taken almost everywhere as it is more compact than the majority of its competitors. It’s perfect for examining specimens in the field. |
  | Best Splurge: National Geographic Microscope Kit National Geographic has the best microscope kit for kids and it’s also our favorite pick for the best splurge option. It’s one of the best sets for beginning scientists. |
  | Best for Young Kids: Educational Insights Microscope for Kids For younger kids that are also interested in stretching their science muscles. It’s small, durable, and very easy to use. |
  | Best for Students: Emarth Microscope for Beginner Students This is one of the best-reviewed microscopes for kids, especially for students. It allows students to feel like they’re using a professional device while making it easy to use. |
A Closer Look: Best Microscopes for Kids
Like always, we made sure to reach maximum magnification for our top picks. Check the slides down below to see what separates these microscopes from the rest.
1. AmScope Kids Beginner Microscope
The best microscope for kids overall
Brand: AmScope | Magnification: 1200x | Accessories: 52-Piece Introductory Science Kit | Case: Hard ABS | Price: 💰💰
AmScope’s kids beginner microscope is fully equipped for beginning scientists to get a feel for using a microscope. The microscope and all the accessories come in a hard case that will protect them when the microscope isn’t in use and when moving it from one place to another. The monocular viewing head has LED lights, mirror illumination, and a built-in color filter wheel for the best experience when viewing things close up. Kids can examine anything from a blade from grass to insects found in the backyard. For a unique and fun experience examining the natural world, AmScope is a great option.
Reviewers Like
- Has experiment prompts to try out
- Excellent for children ages 10 and older
- Comes with a few prepared slides to get kids going
Reviewers Dislike
- Entire device is made from plastic
- Field of view moves a lot while adjusting the magnification
2. JuniorScope Microscope for Kids
The runner-up best microscope for kids
Brand: JuniorScope | Magnification: 400x | Accessories: Petri Dishes, Forceps, and slides | Case: No Case Provided | Price: 💰💰💰
Equipped with a petri dish, forceps, dropper, test tube, and more, this microscope for kids is an excellent option to get them acquainted with using a microscope. It comes with two microscopes in one. Use the lower power microscope to look at solid objects and a higher power microscope to see transparent objects. Anything from insects to bacteria is within viewability when using this microscope. The build is sturdy and durable, making it better for young kids to use and more likely to withstand being dropped.
Reviewers Like
- Included materials are easy and insightful
- Very easy to focus using the blue EZ handles
- Comes with “The Amazing Microscope Adventures” for kids to learn how to use it
Reviewers Dislike
- Might be too expensive for most budgets
- Nothing to prevent lens for hitting the slide
3. Educational Insights Nancy B’s Science Club Microscope
The best budget microscope for kids
Brand: Educational Insights | Magnification: 400x | Accessories: Forceps, Pre-Made Slides, and Eyedropper | Case: No Case Provided | Price: 💰
Many microscope options may be more expensive than some budgets allow. However, don’t give up on finding the perfect microscope for your kids just yet. Educational Insights offers an excellent option for less than $35. It only requires 3AAA batteries to function and comes with all the basic accessories needed to get started. Nancy B’s is also a multiple award-winning kids microscope, winning the Parents’ Choice Gold Award and Family Fun Magazine’s Best Toy Award. Kids can use the activity booklet for prompts to find various things to examine under their microscope. For a quality microscope that aligns with almost every budget, definitely check this one out.
Reviewers Like
- Makes a perfect introductory microscope
- Comes with activity journal to report findings
- Able to put iPhone up to microscope to take photos
Reviewers Dislike
- Made from plastic, not incredibly durable
- Somewhat difficult to adjust at the higher magnification settings
4. National Geographic Handheld Digital Microscope
The best digital microscope for kids
Brand: National Geographic | Magnification: 800x | Accessories: Forceps, Pre-Made Slides, and Eyedropper | Case: No Case Provided | Price: 💰💰💰💰
Take your microscope on the go with this digital handheld microscope from National Geographic. It’s small and compact with a 4.3’ LCD screen that allows kids to examine plants and insects in nature without having to bring them home. It comes with a removable SD card that you can plug into your computer and see the image you captured on a larger screen. This microscope is perfect for young scientists who want to look closely at the natural world while out in the field. It even comes with a mini geode to help kids practice using the device before taking it into nature.
Reviewers Like
- Very versatile, able to capture photos and videos
- It takes roughly six hours to charge between uses
- Very mobile which allows for non-stop microscope discoveries
Reviewers Dislike
- Images tend to get blurry at the highest zoom
- Some users experienced the screen breaking after a handful of uses
5. National Geographic Microscope Kit
The best splurge microscope for kids
Brand: National Geographic | Magnification: 200x | Accessories: Petri Dish, Eye Dropper, 35 prepared slides, 10 blank slides, and more | Case: No Case Provided | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰
The most powerful microscope for kids on this list is also from National Geographic. Dual LED microscopes lend to an even more powerful magnification. The 35 prepared slides that are included help your young scientist get used to using the microscope before setting out into nature to collect their own samples. A detailed learning guide makes it easy to learn how to use the microscope and all its features. It’s the perfect introductory microscope that comes with all the features that kids need to spark their scientific creativity.
Reviewers Like
- Parents love it for their homeschooled kids
- Comes with 35 prepared slides and 10 blank slides
- Included accessories made creating individual slides extremely easy
Reviewers Dislike
- Might be too expensive for most budgets
- Lens on microscope fell off for some people
6. Educational Insights Microscope for Kids
The best microscope for young kids
Brand: Educational Insights | Magnification: None | Accessories: 20 Prepared Slides for Viewing | Case: No Case Provided | Price: 💰💰💰
If you’re looking for a beginner microscope for young kids this one is probably for you. The set comes with up-close and quality images with the voice of Bindi Irwin to help young scientists expand their knowledge of the natural world. The microscope only requires 3AAA batteries and comes with standard English, Spanish, French, and German audio language options. It comes with 20 prepared slides that can be followed by a Quiz Mode to test their scientific skills after learning. Reviewers love that this microscope can be used for homeschooled kids, especially with the voiceover option containing interesting facts about what young scientists are seeing. This microscope is a perfect option to get young kids interested in science.
Reviewers Like
- Included slides are extremely durable
- Excellent for kids younger than 10 years old
- Prepared slides contain images of insects, plants, and even a human tooth
Reviewers Dislike
- Requires batteries that aren’t supplied in kit
- Cannot create your own slides so some kids might get bored
7. Emarth Microscope for Beginner Students
The best microscope for kids
Brand: Emarth | Magnification: 1000x | Accessories: 52-Piece Science Kit | Case: No Case Provided | Price: 💰💰💰
As one of the easiest microscopes to use, this device is perfect for students. It’s professional design and quality material make it feel like students are using a professional microscope. A double light compound feature allows lighting to illuminate the object in view from above or below depending on what is being viewed. Six different color filters prevent the user from having to stain slides and make the microscope as a whole easier to focus and rotate. The set comes with easy-to-read instruction manuals for how to use the microscope to properly look at different subjects. Your student will be examining specimens like a professional scientist in no time.
Reviewers Like
- Very easy to operate for kids
- Resolution is bright and adjustable
- Changing magnification and making minor adjustments is really easy and smooth to do
Reviewers Dislike
- Batteries are not included
- Microscope made from plastic
Microscopes make a scientist out of any curious child. They allow kids to engage with the outside natural world up close. Choosing one of these microscopes helps ensure that you’re budding scientist will easily be able to explore their world.
Our Process
For this guide on the best microscopes for kids, our team spent 1.5 hours researching the most popular options from over 25 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about one hundred and thirty user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each microscope for kids. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 7 kids’ microscopes on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.
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Further Reading
