Learning Resources GeoSafari Jr. My First Microscope

Good quality toy

My 5 yr old grandson loves it, he’s always looking for things to see under the microscope and plays for hours on it. It’s a good educational item for a child and worth the money.

Will know after Christmas Day of a hit with a 4 year old! Been collecting leaves, feathers etc. to look at under microscope

Sadly the first one arrived broken, a replacement was sent out immediately received it within 2 days but have just opened the replacement today to play with it with my son and it turns out its also broken exactly the same way. For something designed for young children it's very cheaply made and not very robust at all. As stated I've had 2 and both were broken in the box, both also in the same place. Seems like a design flaw.

Fun looking kid friendly more of a toy

This was to replace the same one that got broken and impossible to repair, there is a inherent weakness in the design that holds the binoculars to the slider unit thin weak plastic. Saying that the actual product is a good way for children to study tiny objects whether alive or dead!

Let's get over the unfair comments posted by 1 and 2 star reviews.The magnifying power of this microscope is 2xIt is most definitely NOT a toy - it's a genuine microscope of the type which lets you look AT not through objects. (ie: no slides)So why have I awarded it 5 stars?I bought it for our granddaughters, the eldest of whom (just turned 5) has been showing a real interest in the natural world and the how and why of plants, seeds, insects etc. She has used a magnifying glass and thoroughly enjoyed that - but just as recorders don't naturally move on to any other instrument such as reed instruments, so magnifying glasses don't, of themselves, move on to anything other than larger magnifying glasses.A main point about this GeoSafari microscope is that it IS a microscope.It has the traditional knurled wheel which lifts and lowers the barrels.It works in EXACTLY the same way as a traditional stereo microscope which lets you look AT objects, rather than THROUGH them (such as when using slides).When in use, even when looking at a small insect in a small container, you can concentrate on looking as opposed to when you use a magnifying glass and have to also concentrate on keeping it still and steady.The GeoSafari leads on naturally to the use of more advanced microscopes, whether stereoscopic or slide-based. Examples of which are The Apex Examiner Microscope The New Apex Learner Microscope There are also pocket microscopes such as the type associated with the Natural History Museum but I've yet to give this a thorough test. Natural History Museum Pocket Microscope I'm attaching a few photos of our granddaughter using the GeoSafari for the first time.She ended up scouring the house and garden for things to study and even began to dissect flower-heads to see what they looked like inside. This COULD have been done with a magnifying glass, but when using the microscope she could use both her hands to carefully move the object to and fro on the viewing platform.I have nothing against magnifying glasses - they're very useful and they have their uses, but the GeoSafari is a fantastic introduction to the world of a microscopy.

It's simple design is ideal for my 3 nearly 4 year old, there's a button for a light on the front and a simple good sized focus gear on the sides. My only down sides are the plastic is quite squeaky and there is the a SLIGHT mark scratched on the front, nothing that will effect the use just annoying when it's a gift however overall I'm happy with it and think it's brilliant for younger children ☺